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All Illegal Goa Nightclubs Will Be Demolished, Says CM Pramod Sawant After Fire Tragedy
The Goa government has demolished the unauthorised portion of the Romeo Lane Club at Vagator Beach, one of the properties owned by Gaurav and Sourav Luthra.
Licences of Goa tourist establishments flouting safety norms will be cancelled: CM Sawant
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the government will cancel the licences of tourist establishments that do not comply with the fire safety norms. In the wake of a nightclub fire that claimed 25 lives , Sawant held a high-level meeting with officials of the North and South Goa district administrations, police and tourism stakeholders to ensure strict safety measures ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. State Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte also attended the meeting. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sawant said that the fire safety audit committee formed by the government has begun visiting various tourism establishments and will submit its report after the inspections. If the committee finds that the establishments have not complied with the fire safety norms, then their licences would be cancelled and their premises will be sealed, he said. A devastating fire on the night of December 6 at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora in North Goa claimed the lives of 25 persons. The chief minister said that to ensure such accidents do not recur, the establishments have been asked to follow all the rules and regulations. Safety precautions will also be implemented for water sports and adventure sports, he said. The tourism stakeholders have also been asked to ensure that there are no physical fights between their employees and tourists, the CM said. He also said that strict action would be taken against touts.
Goa Club Fire: Luthra Brothers Are Habitual Offenders, Have High-Profile Links, Says Whistleblower
Goa nightclub fire: The structure was built in CRZ violation as they used concrete for construction. They have encroached upon 500 sqm of property meant for tourism, said Ravi
Sergio Ramos Bids Farewell To Monterrey After Contract Ends
Ramos, who became captain of Monterrey, played in 34 matches in all competitions and scored eight goals
Mindset Was About Coming Back 'stronger, Bigger And Better': Hardik
New Delhi: After being named Player of the Match in the first T20I against South Africa on Tuesday, all-rounder Hardik Pandya set his sights on larger goals. Fully embracing his comeback, he aims to cherish every moment ahead. Any doubts over his fitness were settled when he demonstrated his form in his first match since the Asia Cup 2025 injury. He delivered an impressive all-round performance, taking 1-16 with the ball and scoring an unbeaten 59 runs, aiding Indias 101-run victory over South Africa in Cuttack and securing a 1-0 lead in the series. You should be a rockstar, come perform for 10 minutes, and the crowd goes berserk. That has been the biggest motivation for me. Life has always thrown a lot of lemons at me, and I always thought that I would make lemonade. Ive always believed that if I dont believe in myself, how will others believe me? My mindset was really about coming back stronger, bigger and better, Hardik said in a video shared by the BCCI. Every time that I walk in, I feel like the crowd has been waiting for this moment. Theyve come to watch me bat. Because I have stood strong, I have done a lot of things with grace. That has helped me become even more confident, back myself, and really trust my skill set. I really believe in myself as a player. Injuries test you mentally as well, and at the same time, it puts you in a lot of doubt, he added. Hardik also credited his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, for bringing positivity into his life before confidently stating that his goal is now to pursue bigger ambitions and excel in every opportunity he gets. Every time that I walk in, I feel like the crowd has been waiting for this moment. Theyve come to watch me bat. Because I have stood strong, I have done a lot of things with grace. That has helped me become even more confident, back myself, and really trust my skill set. I really believe in myself as a player. Injuries test you mentally as well, and at the same time, it puts you in a lot of doubt, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Ive been a very honest and very real person in life as well, which has helped me a lot. I dont really sugarcoat a lot of things in my life. Its never about the other person, never about how others think or how others perceive. It is always about how I feel inside. Now its a time where Hardik Pandya just wants to play the sport and enjoy every second on the ground. And yes, bigger and better will be the motto in my life, he added. Article Source: IANS
Goas Death Club: Two Years Of Warnings, Zero Action, And A Tragedy That Could've Been Prevented
The first complaint in 2023 warned of illegal construction, foul water being dumped into the river, and an underwater dance floor that was on the verge of collapse
Sumadhura Group to invest 600 crore in Telangana industrial and logistics park
Sumadhura Group will invest 600 crore in Telangana to develop a 100-acre industrial and warehousing park, aiming to attract global manufacturers in aerospace, auto, pharma, and e-commerce. This initiative supports Telangana's goal of becoming a $3-trillion economy by 2047 and is expected to create 8,000 jobs.
Goa Nightclub Fire: Officials Build Strong Extradition Case Against The Luthras. What's Next?
If the accused entered Thailand legally, Indian agencies have to file formal dossiers, present evidence, and allow Thai courts to evaluate the request
TimbuckDo , India’s leading student-focused gig platform, has announced a strategic partnership with CoverSure, a trusted name in the consumer-first insurtech space, to launch an ultra-affordable, student-first wellness plan priced at just INR 299 annually. TimBuckDo annd Coversure unveil an affordable INR 299/year wellness plan delivering trusted, judgment-free healthcare support for students across India With this collaboration, TimbuckDo expands its mission beyond opportunities and income for students evolving into a holistic ecosystem supporting their work, wellness, and everyday needs. The partnership aims to close a critical gap in student life: accessible, reliable healthcare that fits their unique schedules, budget constraints, and well-being challenges. Designed specifically for college students across India, the wellness plan ensures easy access, zero hidden charges, and complete affordability, empowering students to take charge of their physical and mental well-being. The student-first wellness plan offers unlimited online consultations with certified general practitioners, along with real doctors on call for instant support whenever students need it. It also provides multi-language consultations, enabling students to speak to doctors in the language they’re most comfortable with, while offering holistic wellness guidance across stress, sleep, nutrition, mental health and general well-being. Additional benefits include free follow-ups and e-prescriptions, along with significant savings such as up to 22% off medicines through Apollo, 1mg and PharmEasy, and up to 30% off diagnostic tests at NABL-accredited labs. Importantly, the plan maintains a 100% student-friendly approach with complete transparency and absolutely no hidden charges, ensuring seamless and affordable access to healthcare and wellness services. Mythri Kumar, Co-founder, TimbuckDo , said, “ This plan reflects what students genuinely need: simple, accessible, dependable healthcare and wellness that understands their lifestyle. CoverSure shares our vision of student well-being, and together, we’re making preventive and everyday healthcare more accessible than ever before. At just INR 299 a year, we’re ensuring every student, regardless of background, can put their health first .” Apoorv Sharma Prasad, Co-founder, TimbuckDo , added, “ Students shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and wellness. With this partnership, we’re closing that gap. Our goal has always been to empower students not just with opportunities to earn, but with the support they need to stay healthy, confident, and secure. This collaboration with CoverSure is a major step toward building a truly student-centric ecosystem .” Saurabh Vijayvergia, CEO & Founder, CoverSure , said, “ Students deserve healthcare that is as agile and ambitious as they are, and this partnership with TimbuckDo helps us deliver solutions built around their real needs. Together, we’re not only redefining accessible, preventive, student-first healthcare - we’re also building greater trust in insurance and wellness among young Indians. With TimbuckDo, we will continue to innovate and shape how students view protection and proactive health as they step into the mainstream of the Indian economy .” About TimbuckDo TimbuckDo is India’s fastest-growing student-focused gig platform, built to empower college students with flexible earning opportunities, real-world experience, and essential life-support services. Founded with the mission of helping students become financially independent while developing future-ready skills, TimbuckDo connects students to meaningful, part-time, and project-based work that fits seamlessly into their academic schedules. Beyond gigs, TimbuckDo is evolving into a holistic ecosystem for students, offering support across work, wellness, and everyday needs. With a rapidly growing community and strong partnerships, the platform is shaping a new generation of confident, empowered, and opportunity-ready young Indians. About CoverSure Founded in January 2023, CoverSure is building India’s most trusted and unbiased insurance platform - one that empowers users, not pushes products. CoverSure goes beyond just selling policies; it helps users understand, manage, and truly benefit from their insurance. The platform offers a personalized insurance portfolio, democratized risk management, and family-first care tools - making insurance simpler, smarter, and genuinely useful. Whether it’s discovering hidden covers, preparing for claims, or closing critical gaps in protection, CoverSure puts users in control of their coverage. CoverSure combines AI-driven insights with human-first design to solve real, everyday problems across health, life, and motor insurance. Backed by credible institutions and trusted by 5 lakh+ users, CoverSure is committed to making insurance transparent, unbiased, and consumer-first - the way it should be.
Goa Fire Tragedy: Anticipatory Bail Moved By Luthra Brothers, Cops Arrest Driver For Questioning
The district administration has also begun demolishing structures linked to the brothers, including portions of the Romeo Lane restaurant in Vagator
Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers still in Thailand can they be extradited?
Goa police are pursuing nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled to Thailand after a fire killed 25. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice, and India's extradition treaty with Thailand is now central to bringing the brothers to justice. The treaty obligates both nations to surrender individuals wanted for serious offenses.
In a new shocking twist in 'Birch by Romeo' Goa Nightclub fire, the dancer, Kazakh National Kristina is under police scanner. Kristina was seen in a video, dancing at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub on 'Mehbooba, Mehbooba' song moments before a massive blaze erupted and claimed 25 lives.
Goa nightclub fire: 'I am only a partner,' says co-owner Ajay Gupta
Ajay Gupta, one of the co-owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, was brought to Delhi Polices Crime Branch on Wednesday in connection with the devastating fire at the North Goa nightclub that claimed 25 lives. Speaking briefly to reporters while entering the office, his face largely concealed by a mask, Gupta insisted he was only a partner in the establishment. According to sources, Goa Police questioned Gupta in Delhi and have begun formal procedures to take him into custody, including seeking a transit remand. Investigators say Gupta had been untraceable since the December 6 blaze in Goa. A Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued after officers failed to locate him during their initial search in Delhi. He was eventually found at a private hospital in Lajpat Nagar, where he had reportedly admitted himself for spine-related ailments. Once doctors cleared him, he was detained and handed over to the Crime Branch for further processing. Officials indicated that Gupta is expected to be formally arrested once Goa Police complete the required paperwork for transit remand. Five staff members of the nightclub, chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli, were earlier arrested in connection with the tragedy. Meanwhile, two other key owners of the club, brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, left India shortly after the incident. Authorities have since secured an Interpol Blue Corner Notice to trace their whereabouts.
Building Financial Protection and Long-Term Goal Planning with Bajaj Life ULIP Plans
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Nightclub Fire: Co-Owner Ajay Gupta to be Brought to Goa for Questioning
Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the two primary owners of the nightclub located at Arpora in Goa, had fled to Phuket in Thailand following the tragedy
'I Was Only A Partner, Dont Know Anything Else': Detained Goa Nightclub Co-Owner Ajay Gupta
Ajay Gupta, a co-owner of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, has claimed he was only a partner, further asserting that he does not know anything else.
Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta to be brought from Delhi for questioning
PANAJI: Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, who was detained in Delhi, will be brought to Goa on Wednesday for questioning in connection with a fire at the establishment that claimed 25 lives, a senior official said. Earlier, a Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against Gupta after a Goa police team failed to find him at his Delhi residence. We later managed to detain him in Delhi, the official said, adding that Gupta would be placed under arrest after the completion of formalities to bring him to Goa. Gupta will be flown to Goa on Wednesday for interrogation, the official said. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra , the two primary owners of the nightclub located at Arpora in Goa, had fled to Phuket in Thailand following the tragedy on the night of December 6. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice has been issued against them. Besides, an LOC has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, according to police. The police have so far arrested five persons - the nightclub's chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli. Twenty-five persons were killed in the fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight on December 6.
Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta to be brought for questioning
PANAJI: Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, who was detained in Delhi, will be brought to Goa on Wednesday for questioning in connection with a fire at the establishment that claimed 25 lives, a senior official said. Earlier, a Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against Gupta after a Goa police team failed to find him at his Delhi residence. We later managed to detain him in Delhi, the official said, adding that Gupta would be placed under arrest after the completion of formalities to bring him to Goa. Gupta will be flown to Goa on Wednesday for interrogation, the official said. Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra , the two primary owners of the nightclub located at Arpora in Goa, had fled to Phuket in Thailand following the tragedy on the night of December 6. An Interpol Blue Corner Notice has been issued against them. Besides, an LOC has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, according to police. The police have so far arrested five persons - the nightclub's chief general manager Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and employee Bharat Kohli. Twenty-five persons were killed in the fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight on December 6.
I Was Only A Partner: Detained Co-Owner Of Goa Nightclub To NDTV
NDTV confronted Ajay Gupta, the co-owner of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa, where a massive fire broke out, killing 25 people.
'We both trying to play for India': Jitesh on competition with Samson
Jitesh Sharma expressed gratitude for Sanju Samson's presence in the Indian team, viewing him as an elder brother and acknowledging their healthy competition. Sharma highlighted the immense talent within the squad, emphasizing their shared goal of playing for India.
Assam Man Killed In Goa Fire Leaves Behind 3 Kids, Family Says Was 'His First Night Shift At Club'
Three men from Assam were among the 25 killed in the Goa nightclub fire. Their bodies were brought back to their villages, where grief-stricken families performed their last rites.
Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat Express too short; commuters call for expansion
Holidayers push for longer 16 or 20-coach rake as Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat runs packed every trip
Kerala local body elections: Big promises, bigger dreams
KOCHI: keralas local body elections have traditionally centered on the basics roads, drains, streetlights and waste management. But this time, the three major fronts the CPM-led LDF, Congress-led UDF and BJP-led NDA have released manifestos that read less like routine civic checklists and more like ambitious blueprints for parallel futures. If polls were a contest for imagining the most expansive version of Keralas cities, this election would easily qualify as the masterclass in political imagination. The full-fledged, multi-page poll documents for corporations and districts in particular carry a flood of promises some practical, some aspirational and some that wander into the territory of wishful planning. Growing public expectation Micro-level manifestos in local body elections mark a significant shift in Keralas political culture. While many promises may be aspirational or beyond the immediate powers of local governments, the trend itself signals a growing public expectation for accountability and decentralised decision-making. Detailed ward or city-specific pledges push parties to engage more closely with voters everyday concerns and create a record against which their performance can later be measured. In an increasingly urbanised and globally aware electorate, such granular manifestos encourage healthier debates on governance and, over time, can strengthen the relevance and responsiveness of local bodies even if the feasibility of the promises remains uneven. Im happy, said D Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). Praising the sudden surge in detailed manifestos, he said, This will help prompt more discussion on decentralised government, and the public will demand such things. He also believes that global political trends and high-profile campaigns elsewhere may be influencing Keralas political tone. He sees the trend as healthy: When you promise 100 things and dont implement even 10%, someone will question you. I see it as the next level of development as we move towards greater decentralisation. For him, the very presence of detailed manifestos marks a shift toward increased accountability. Economist Jose Sebastian, however, has a sharply different view. The manifesto is a wrong trend. Its becoming a mockery, he said. According to him, none of the fronts, regardless of ideology, explain how they plan to mobilise funds for these expansive promises. Its all tall promises without any substance. Just to create a narrative, he says. Sebastian also argues that Keralas local governments are not autonomous enough to shoulder these grand visions. They have become implementing agencies of central and state schemes. If they had focused on their own resource mobilisation, we wouldnt be in this situation. With the first phase of polling over on Tuesday and the second set for Thursday, the electorate has already begun casting its verdict on these big-ticket manifestos. Saturdays results will reveal which promises resonated, and which remained on paper. OLYMPICS IN TPURAM & METRO TO COIMBATORE? Leading the pack in audacity is the BJP. Its manifesto for the Thiruvananthapuram corporation promises to prepare the capital to serve as one of the venues for the 2036 Olympics. The host city is still undecided, and Ahmedabad is widely tipped as Indias official bidder, but the NDA is confident Thiruvananthapuram can aim high. If that wasnt bold enough, the party has also promised to extend the Kochi Metro all the way to Coimbatore a proposal that would involve overcoming the trifecta of funding challenges, inter-state coordination and monumental infrastructure planning. Alongside these headline-grabbing pledges, the party has also offered more grounded commitments: a Surat-inspired drainage system, Indore-style waste management, and centrally-monitored street lighting. A FULLY SMART KOCHI The Congress-led UDF has filled its Kochi corporation manifesto with everyday urban concerns: garbage, mosquitoes, traffic jams, stray dogs and public health. Its major pitch is a Zero Waste Kochi project aimed at resolving the long-standing issues surrounding the Brahmapuram waste plant. The manifesto also promises to turn Kochi into South Indias first total smart city, a vision based on efficient mobility, digital governance and better civic services. The list of promises is sweeping: garbage-free streets, mosquito control, smoother traffic and a crackdown on drug lobbies. If executed, it would address many chronic complaints of Kochis residents. However, whether these proposals survive the constraints of local body finances remains unclear. INFRA-HEAVY AGENDAS FOR KOCHI, U.N. GOALS ROADMAP FOR KOZHIKODE The CPM-led LDF has released detailed manifestos for multiple corporations. In Kochi, its focus is on practical improvements: canal rejuvenation, systematic road cleaning, value-added waste products, and EVs for the Haritha Karma Sena. It also proposes an electric bus network with KSRTC, renovation of key bus stands and new mobility solutions like multi-level parking and bike sharing. In Kozhikode, the LDF has gone a step further. Its manifesto states the corporation will work to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2031 if the front returns to power. The document outlines a sweeping development agenda: Transforming Kozhikode into an IT hub; implementing a light metro project; continuing the City Road Improvement Project; building new roads and infrastructure; and constructing a flyover at Eranhipalam. LDF, which has governed Kozhikode for over 45 years, attributes its long run to timely implementation of development projects, an argument it hopes will resonate again.
India on Reform Express drive, Modi tells BJP MPs
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the NDA Parliamentary Party on Tuesday that laws must never place unnecessary burdens on citizens. He said rules and regulations should exist only for peoples convenience, not to make their lives harder. According to a senior NDA source, the Prime Minister told MPs that the government has now entered a full-fledged Reform Express phase, where reforms are moving rapidly and with clear intent. He stressed that all reforms under the NDA government are entirely citizen-centric and not merely economic or revenue-driven, with the goal of removing everyday obstacles so people can reach their full potential. Reinforcing that making life easier for people is the central priority of his governments third term, Modi emphasised that the reforms being undertaken are meant to benefit ordinary citizens directly, not just improve systems on paper. Modi urged NDA MPs to bring forward the real problems faced by people so that the Reform Express can reach everyone. He strongly criticised the long-standing culture of lengthy paperwork, pointing out that it is time to end 30-40-page forms and unnecessary procedures. He underlined the importance of making sure services reach people at their doorstep and stopping repeated data submissions that waste time and energy. He also said that Ease of Life and Ease of Doing Business will remain top priorities for the government. Later, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju briefed the media on Modis message. He said the Prime Minister had given clear guidelines, stating that the most important focus in the governments third term is the Reform Express. Rijiju quoted Modi, saying, Whatever law is framed, it should have no provision which is harmful or causes inconvenience to any citizen. The rules and laws should not become a burden on the life of a common citizen. He added that rules must improve the system, not harass people, and that there should be no law which harasses people without any reason. Modi also reminded MPs that the government had shown trust in citizens by allowing self-certification, which has worked well for ten years without misuse. At the start of the meeting, Modi was felicitated for the NDAs Bihar victory. Sanjay Jha and Upendra Kushwaha garlanded him, and senior leaders, including Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, and BJP president J P Nadda, were present.
Goa Nightclub Tragedy: Co-Owner Ajay Gupta Detained, Luthra Brothers Still Absconding
A Lookout Circular (LOC) was issued against Gupta, and when he was not found at his residence, an arrest warrant was obtained. Following this, he was detained in New Delhi.
Quote of the day by Mahatma Gandhi: 'The future depends on what...'
Mahatma Gandhis enduring words highlight the significant influence that present actions have on future outcomes. His quote, The future depends on what you do today, serves as a practical reminder that consistent, steady efforts in the present moment form the foundation for achieving long-term goals and personal growth.
Delhi Pushes For Faster, Transparent Fire NOCs After Goa Nightclub Fire
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday ordered a revamp of Delhi's fire safety NOC process, aiming to make it simpler and faster for businesses. The move comes after a nightclub fire in Goa killed 25 people, exposing gaps in fire safety nationwide.
Liverpool saw an early Ibrahima Konat header disallowed by VAR for a handball in the buildup. Despite the setback, Dominik Szoboszlai converted a late penalty after Florian Wirtz was fouled, securing a vital win against Inter Milan and ending their unbeaten home run. The victory came amidst internal tension surrounding Mohamed Salah's absence.
Dozens killed in Haiti's capital following internal clashes within a powerful gang coalition
Violent clashes within Haiti's powerful gang coalition, Viv Ansanm, have resulted in dozens of deaths, including 10 children, in the capital. The infighting, which has seen a high-ranking member beheaded and another injured, threatens to escalate violence in a city already largely controlled by gangs. This internal conflict marks a significant departure from the coalition's initial goal of reducing violence.
Goa police detain nightclub owner Ajay Gupta in Delhi
Two more owners of the nightclub Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra are on the run and a blue corner notice has been issued against them
Key Accused In Goa Nightclub Tragedy Detained In Delhi: Cops
The Goa police on Tuesday detained Ajay Gupta, one of the four owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, where a devastating fire claimed the lives of 25 persons.
Garca inspires Osasuna win over Levante
Madrid, Dec 9: Rubn Garca made one goal and scored another as Osasuna beat Levante 2-0 to ease the clubs relegation worries and condemn its rival to a fifth consecutive Spanish La Liga defeat. The game on Monday pitted fourth-bottom Osasuna against last-place Levante. The home side controlled the game from the kick off, with []
Goa aftermath: Govt and MCD turn focus to fire safety
The family home of Goa nightclub owners Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, implicated in a fatal fire, stands deserted in Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar. Neighbours recall the family as religious and good-natured, expressing shock at their alleged flight to Phuket. The brothers' business journey from local boutiques to successful cafes is also detailed.
Maha Govt. Plans To Use Goat To Manage Leopards
Maharashtras forest minister Ganesh Naik on Tuesday told Vidhan Sabha during the Winter Session of the State Legislature that he had advised wildlife officials to release goats in large numbers inside forests to dissuade leopards from wandering into human settlements in search of prey.
Interpol has issued a blue corner notice for nightclub co-owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, believed to be in Thailand, following a deadly blaze. Goa Police detained a partner and are seeking to impound the brothers' passports. A team is being sent to Thailand to bring them back, with authorities also investigating their finances.
No scope for fire-safety lapses: Gupta; MCD initiates compliance survey
Inspection of major events, commercial spaces vital to avert Goa-like tragedy:CM; asks Chief Secretary, fire dept. officials to review current mechanism, frame new guidelines if necessary; civic body panel chair seeks compliance report in five days
Release goats into forest to curb leopard attacks: Maharashtra Forest Minister
HC to hear PIL seeking judicial probe into Arpora nightclub fire
Panaji: A public interest litigation (PIL) filed for seeking probe into the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub fire will be heard by the High Court of Bombay at Goa on December 16. The petition calls for the constitution of a Judicial Commission headed by a retired High Court judge to investigate administrative negligence and crowd-management [] The post HC to hear PIL seeking judicial probe into Arpora nightclub fire appeared first on The Navhind Times .
IAS officer-led panel to draft SOPs for safety audit, nods to tourism estb
Panaji: Following the deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora on Saturday midnight, which killed 25 people, the Goa government on Tuesday constituted a high-level safety audit committee headed by Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer to formulate standard operating procedures (SoPs) for carrying out a comprehensive safety audit and for granting [] The post IAS officer-led panel to draft SOPs for safety audit, nods to tourism estb appeared first on The Navhind Times .
327 candidates in fray for 50 zilla pyat seats
Panaji/Margao/ Vasco: A total of 327 candidates have filed nominations for the 50 seats in the North Goa and South Goa Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections scheduled for December 20. Nominations opened on December 1, and Tuesday was the final day for submission. Both North and South ZPs have 25 seats each, marking the sixth elections [] The post 327 candidates in fray for 50 zilla pyat seats appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Congress, GFP tie-up for 45 seats; friendly fight in Corlim, Morjim
Panaji: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Tuesday announced its alliance with Goa Forward Party (GFP) for the ZP polls . Of the 50 seats, Congress has fielded candidates in 36, GFP has put up candidates in nine, and the remaining five will see independent candidates backed by the alliance. Interestingly, Congress and GFP [] The post Congress, GFP tie-up for 45 seats; friendly fight in Corlim, Morjim appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Bitcoin price forecast 2025: Standard Chartered has significantly lowered its 2025 Bitcoin price forecast to $100,000, citing a slowdown in ETF inflows and the waning impact of corporate Bitcoin accumulation. The bank's long-term outlook of $500,000 remains, but the timeline is now extended to 2030. Near-term BTC price action is heavily influenced by the upcoming FOMC meeting.
Makers and Materials: Goa Past and Present which is currently on at Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts, explores Goas material and visual heritage, connecting centuries-old craft traditions with the work of contemporary makers in India Positioned at a historic global crossroads, Goa has long been a site of vibrant exchange, where ideas, skills, and [] The post Memory of materials appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Twenty artists pay homage to the late Dr. Pedro Alexandre Amor de Fonseca Cabral Ado in Paintings & More which opens at Art Chamber- Galeria de Belas Artes in Calangute In December 2005, Dr. Pedro Alexandre Amor de Fonseca Cabral Ado, then Consul General of Portugal in Goa (Feb 2005-Nov 29, 2006) hosted Portugal [] The post A legacy lives on appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Venkata stars with five-wicket haul; visitors end Day 2 at 201/6 Kalyani: Goa produced a spirited fightback on Day 2 of their Cooch Behar Trophy Elite clash against Bengal, clawing their way back into the contest at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani. After bowling Bengal out for 325adding just 32 to their overnight [] The post Goa bowl out Bengal for 325 appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Wanton negligence: on the Goa blaze
Regulatory failure was a contributory factor in the Goa blaze
Court upholds detention for alleged anti-national posts
Jammu Tawi: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recently upheld the preventive detention of a man under the J&K Public Safety Act in view of allegations that he had been uploading anti-national content on Facebook with the goal of promoting terrorism and radicalizing the youth. Justice Sanjay Dhar dismissed a habeas corpus [] The post Court upholds detention for alleged anti-national posts appeared first on Northlines .
Fake CMO man donated 31 laptops to Goa police
Nations way off track to meet climate goals: UN
The seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), A Future We Want, released at the seventh UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi on Tuesday, provides the most comprehensive assessment of the heavy toll that climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, desertification, and pollution and waste have taken on the planet, people and economies.
ALC students told to aim high to achieve goals
Goa Nightclub Fire Show Held Without Any Safety Equipment, Reveals FIR | Top Updates
According to the FIR, the nightclub staged a high-risk fire performance despite having no extinguishers, sprinklers, alarms, or smoke-extraction systems.
Goa Club Fire: Repeated Warnings For Years, Zero Action, Then Disaster
The very construction of 'Birch by Romeo Lane' was patently illegal, documents accessed by NDTV show, and 25 lives could have been saved if action had been taken on the notices - including at least one for demolition - issued against the nightclub.
Goa nightclub fire: Interpol issues blue corner notice against Birch nightclub owners
MUMBAI: Goa police on Tuesday issued a Blue Corner Notice against the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, where a fire on December 6 killed 25 people . The main accused Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra along with partner Ajay Gupta, fled from Delhi to Thailand just hours after an FIR was registered against them on December 7. According to Goa Director General of Police Alok Kumar, the Luthra brothers reached Delhis international airport at 3 am on Sunday and boarded IndiGo flight 6E-1073 to Phuket at 5:30 am, within three hours of the blaze. The Interpol notice seeks information about the accuseds identities, locations, and activities to facilitate their arrest. The Bureau of Immigration has also issued a Lookout Notice, and Goa authorities are coordinating with the CBI and Interpol. Kumar said the brothers flight indicated their intent to evade police investigation. Following the FIR, a Goa police team travelled to Delhi with arrest warrants and conducted raids at the brothers offices and residences, but they were not found. Deputy Inspector General Varsha Sharma said five people connected to the nightclub, including operational managers, have been arrested so far. She added that two government officials were suspended for negligence. The owners financial dealings and the NOC issued to the club are under close scrutiny. The brothers switched off their phones within hours of the probe, and more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses, she said. The passport authorities have also issued notices to the Luthra brothers, asking them to justify within seven days why their passports should not be impounded. State sources said the two, currently suspected to be in Thailand, must respond promptly. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has ordered the demolition of the clubs Vagator branch. Goa tourism authorities, under heavy police security, pulled down the 198 sq ft unauthorised structure that extended onto the beach without permission.
Another milestone for Messi! Argentina legend becomes first ever to ...
Lionel Messi has made MLS history by winning the MVP award for the second consecutive year, solidifying his status as a dominant force. Despite playing in only half the games, his remarkable performance of 29 goals and 19 assists led the league. Messi's commitment and unique talent have earned him widespread admiration and a clear-cut victory in this year's voting.
Can Goa Club Owners, Hiding In Thailand, Be Extradited? What Treaty Says
Before India can put the Luthra brothers - Gaurav and Saurabh, owners of the Goa nightclub where a devastating fire killed 25 people - on trial for alleged negligence and murder, it has to get them back in the country.
Telangana ready to evolve into a catalyst to achieve $3 trillion economy goal
CBI seeks Interpol notice against two Goa nightclub owners after deadly fire
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has requested Interpol to issue a Blue Colour Notice against two owners of the Birch nightclub in Goa, where a fire on December 6, 2025, claimed 25 lives . The notice comes as Goa Police conduct raids to locate the third owner in India. The accused owners, Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, reportedly fled to Thailand shortly after the tragic fire. The CBIs request follows a call from Goa Police to issue the notice, which is used to gather information on a persons identity, location, or activities during a criminal investigation. The third owner, Ajay Gupta, remains in India. Police are carrying out raids to trace him, with his last known location in Gurugram. A senior IPS officer said, The local police are helping in locating the accused. Authorities have also issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against him, alerting airport staff and immigration officials. All three owners were in Delhi during the incident. Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra were tracked by the Bureau of Immigration in Mumbai as having boarded a flight to Phuket at 5:30 am on December 7. So far, Goa Police have arrested five people connected to the club, including chief general manager Rajiv Modak, gate manager Priyanshu Thakur, bar manager Rajveer Singhania, general manager Vivek Singh, and operations head Bharat Singh from Delhi. According to the FIR filed at Anjuna Police Station on December 7, the fire occurred around 11:45 pm during a fire show organised by the club owners, managers, and event staff. The FIR names Saurabh Luthra, Gaurav Luthra, and other unidentified persons as accused under sections 105, 125, 125(a), 125(b), and 287 read with section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The FIR states that the fire show was organised without proper safety precautions or adequate fire equipment, despite the known risk of accidents. The restaurant lacked emergency exits on both the ground and deck floors and was operating without the necessary licenses and permissions from authorities. The blaze resulted in 25 deaths and multiple injuries to tourists and staff.
Telangana must grow 8-9 pc yearly to hit USD 3 trillion goal: Ex-RBI chief
Hyderabad: Telangana needs to grow at 8-9 per cent annually to become a USD 3 trillion economy by 2047, former RBI Governor Duvvuri Subbarao said here on Tuesday. Speaking at the launch of the Telangana Rising 2047 Vision Document, Subbarao said that economic growth cannot be sustained unless its benefits are widely shared. The government 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 .
Days after Goa nightclub fire, another property owned by Luthra brothers demolished, here's why
The demolition work started on Tuesday evening following an order from Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant, reports said. Pictures and videos circulating on social media platforms appeared to confirm the government action.
Goa nightclub fire: Interpol issues Blue Notice against 2 owners
An Interpol colour-coded notice alerts all 196 member countries of the Lyon-based organisation about a member countrys request to find particular information
Telangana aims to boost tourism for 3 trillion economy goal
Centre Moves To Impound Passports Of Luthras, In Thailand After Goa Fire
Taking a step towards revoking the passports of the Luthra brothers, who fled to Thailand after a fire in their Goa nightclub claimed 25 lives, the Centre has sent them notices asking them to explain why their passports should not be impounded.
Goa nightclub fire: Interpol issues Blue Corner Notice against owners. Here's what it means
Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice for the missing owners of Goa's 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, where a fire tragically killed 25 people. The notice, secured within 48 hours, aims to track brothers Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra. Local authorities have also partially demolished another outlet of their chain.
Its the end of another year, so its time for the Engadget staff to compile a list of the years biggest losers . We scour over articles from the previous 12 months to determine the people, companies, products and trends that made our lives worse over the course of the year. Some selections may be so pervasive they actually make our list of biggest winners. But, for the most part, were confident youll share in our collective rage over the biggest losers of 2025. OpenAI OpenAI CEO Sam Altman delivers a speech with video at the SK AI Summit 2025 at COEX in Seoul, South Korea on November 3, 2025 Anadolu via Getty Images In 2025, OpenAI shed any pretense it was committed to anything more than making money. There are a few different things you could point to, including the company's successful reorganization into a more traditional profit-seeking business , but I think the most damning sign was OpenAI's response to the tragic death of Adam Raine . In August, Raines parents sued OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT was aware of four suicide attempts by their son before it helped him successfully plan his death. At first, OpenAI's response appeared commensurate with the gravity of the situation. A week after news of the lawsuit broke, the company announced in early September it was working on parental controls . That same month, the company said it was working on a system that would automatically identify teen users and restrict their ChatGPT usage. Then came the announcement of a new wellness advisory council . Setting aside the question of whether OpenAI would even follow the advice of the council, it was peculiar that the company chose not recruit a single expert on suicide prevention . At that point, it was still possible to give OpenAI the benefit of the doubt, but then information about the company's legal defense against the Raines started to trickle out, including the fact it had reportedly asked to see the memorial guest list for Adam Raine's funeral, a request the family's lawyers described as intentional harassment. In late November, court documents revealed the company planned to argue Raine's misuse of ChatGPT was to blame for his death, not its own insufficient safety systems. We live in a world where tech giants are rarely held accountable for the great harm they've shown themselves capable of inflicting on people. As things stand, OpenAI's handling of Adam Raine's death is further proof something must change. Igor Bonifacic, Senior reporter Xbox An Xbox Ally X running the Windows full screen experience. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Did anything go right for Xbox this year? While price increases have also affected Sony and Nintendo, Microsoft cranked up the prices of both the Xbox Series S and X twice in the last year. Its bad: The Series S is now $100 more than at launch, five years on. Previously the best deal in gaming , the Xbox Series X/S combined with a Game Pass subscription gave you a ton of games to play, including any of Microsofts own titles on their launch date. However, the subscription is now $30 a month, up 50 percent. (It was previously $17 per month the year before.) I agree with Nathan Ingrahams take: $30 for literally hundreds of games, plus launch-day availability for major games that typically cost $70, is reasonable. But its still a harder sell when the price has jumped. Are you getting 50 percent more games? Not yet. According to Bloomberg , Microsoft demanded higher profits from Xbox back in 2023. When the gaming division reached around 12 percent growth in the first nine months of 2022, that was an ambitious goal. Day One launches on Game Pass apparently dented Xboxs ability to pull profits from its biggest titles. Microsoft no longer shares console unit sales, but in its most recent earnings report, the company announced that hardware revenue dropped 29 percent. Thats including those price increases, meaning console sales fell even further. Estimates over the last few years put the PS5 tens of millions of units ahead. An annual subscription to Game Pass is more than double the Sony consoles most premium plan, although its not an apples-to-apples comparison. This year, Microsoft collaborated with ASUS to create Xbox-branded handheld gaming PCs. In that form-factor, I was on the precipice of grabbing Game Pass and barreling through Xbox titles I never had the chance to play. Then, I reassessed exactly what I was missing out on. It wasnt the inclusion of a Fortnite Crew subscription . Despite its developer shopping spree, Xbox exclusives remain few, with many appearing on rival platforms. This year, Indiana Jones and even the Forza series is available to play on PlayStation. And next year? Halo . Where are the exciting new games going to come from? In the middle of 2025, Microsoft announced major layoffs affecting over 9,000 employees across the company. with the gaming division being hit exceptionally hard. Cuts and closures across many of Microsofts game studios led to cancellations like a Perfect Dark reboot and Rares Everwild . Xboxs 2025 was bad on both the business and creative fronts. The decision to hike console and Game Pass prices didnt immediately turn around revenue. At the same time, layoffs and high-profile game cancellations make Xbox a challenging pitch for anyone deciding which console or platform to invest in. Right now, looking at Engadgets pick of the top Xbox games, the only game I feel like Im missing out on is Avowed . Many of our favorite games are already available on PS5 and several can be played on the Switch. The reverse, however, isnt true. Mat Smith, UK bureau chief Grok The Grokipedia page about Elon Musk NurPhoto via Getty Images It's hard to even know where to begin. X users have long noticed that Grok, the site's built-in chatbot, is less filtered than other AI tools. But this year, Grok went off the rails in some truly unhinged and disturbing ways. There was the time Grok randomly began talking about a nonexistent white genocide in South Africa in response to completely unrelated questions. There was the time it declared itself MechaHitler , much to the delight of neo-nazi fanboys on X. There was the time it was caught posting Holocaust denial tropes, and the time researchers noted its Wikipedia knockoff that contains dozens of citations of neo-Nazi website Stormfront. There was the time it became so embarrassingly obsessed with Elon Musk it claimed he was a better basketball player than LeBron James and a better actor than Tom Cruise. It later brought both its anti-semitism and Musk sycophancy together when it stated that it would choose saving Musk's brain over saving 16 million Jews. His potential long-term impact on billions outweighs the loss in utilitarian terms, it stated in a post that's since been deleted. Besides the horrifying racism, what all of these incidents have in common is that xAI, Musk's AI company that acquired X earlier this year, has failed to fully explain how its chatbot went so far off the rails. The company has blamed an unnamed rogue employee , its own Nazi-loving users and adversarial prompting for Grok's missteps. Karissa Bell, Senior reporter EVs in the US Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles are seen for sale on a dealership lot on June 24, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell via Getty Images EVs sales across the globe are up around 25 percent this year . Germany broke records in the first half of 2025, with electric cars accounting for nearly one in five new registrations. Meanwhile, back in September, sales of BEVs in the UK grew by almost a third , setting a new high for our neighbors across the pond. And in China, EV sales are growing so fast ( over 50 percent market share ) that the country is beginning to flood the global market with gas-powered cars that it can't sell at home. So naturally, what did our esteemed leaders in the US do in order to help companies here stay competitive? They ended the EV tax credit. And wouldn't you know it, after a spike earlier this fall just before the credit went away, sales of EVs in the US began to slump , with some automakers like Ford seeing a drop of 60 percent year-over-year. No matter how you slice it, this is bad for any company that sells EVs in the US and particularly bad for anyone considering purchasing a new one in the foreseeable future. As an EV owner, that just bums me out. Not only does this policy change put more roadblocks in the way of making battery-powered cars more affordable, it also puts a damper on EV investment and threatens to cause US automakers to fall even further behind their rivals in China and elsewhere. Manufacturers across the Pacific are going so wild, they are making EVs that can jump like the Mach 5 from Speed Racer . That isn't to say there aren't any promising developments on the horizon. Ford's Universal EV Platform and the arrival of the Rivian R2 sometime next year are a couple of examples. But it's clear that our politicians wanted to target EVs in the US this year and they sure made it happen. So the next time someone asks why we can't have nice things here, you know who to blame. Sam Rutherford, Senior reporter DJI drone customers DJI Neo 2 Steve Dent for Engadget Barring a miracle, DJI will be banned from selling any new drones in the US starting December 23rd and buyers will feel the pain. As I wrote last month , the company has been targeted by regulators since 2017 over concerns that its products could be used to spy on sensitive US infrastructure on behalf of China. Whats the big deal? you may ask. Surely people can buy from other drone companies. Indeed, but the problem is that DJI has such a monumental technological lead and high market share (over 75 percent) that its absence will effectively upend the industry. Commercial buyers have checked other (approved) options from the likes of Skydio, but found them wanting. In one year and a half, we had five failures of the manufacturers on the list. DJI, none, Orlando police Sgt. David Cruz told the Miami Herald . I work for a popular UAV photogrammetry company, said a user on Reddit. [A] ban will set back the drone industry in the US by several years. Theres no competitor to DJI right now. The same applies on the consumer side. DJIs drones outperform rivals in nearly every area including range, battery life, subject tracking, obstacle detection and video quality. Its so one-sided that when testing DJI drones, I struggle to find other options for buyers with anywhere close to the same capabilities. The US government does have reason to be concerned about DJIs drones. They present an obvious national security risk due to their ability to fly over sensitive areas, take photos or video and transmit them, live, to any location in the world. And being a Chinese company, theyre compelled by law to cooperate with state intelligence services. However, the US government hasnt attempted to work with DJI to determine whether its products pose a risk so far. DJI made a final plea for a security review recently by sending letters to five US agencies that could assess its products. If that fails, chaos among drone users is likely to ensue. We just want the best technology that keeps our citizens safe for the most reasonable price, Sgt. Drew Fennelly of the Lawrence, Kansas police department told The Wall Street Journal last year. The technology in the US-made drones has not caught up with the Chinese-manufactured drones. TV streaming Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison speaks during the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles on October 9, 2025. PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images In 2015, Sling TV arrived with ESPN, CNN, TBS, HGTV, Disney Channel and others for just $20 a month. A couple years later, YouTube TV debuted for just $35 monthly and showed local CBS, Fox, NBC and ABC stations plus dozens of other channels including ESPN, Fox Sports 1 and Bravo. Streaming TV had arrived. It was here to unfetter TV watchers from cables onerous contracts, high prices and carrier monopolies. Take that, Comcast! In your face, Charter! (But theyd still like to pay you for internet access, please.) Fast forward to 2025: Streaming TV and its low-price, monopoly-free, contractless freedom is all but dead. Every major live TV service provider raised prices this year . Currently, YouTubeTV, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV all go for a minimum of $83 per month. Thats before you opt for cable-inspired package upgrades and channel add-ons. Throw in perks like 4K, additional sports channels and a couple of one-off networks and youre easily shelling out $150 every month. Youll pay less for chopped-up live TV plans from Sling TV, but be prepared to create a spreadsheet to make sure a plan has the channels you want. This year, consolidation came for TV streaming, giving strong Cox/Charter/Comcast monopoly vibes. Disney, which completed its buyout of Hulu in 2023 , acquired Fubo this year and plans to combine the two . The combo makes Disney the second-largest live TV streaming provider behind Google. DirecTV already owns Sling TV , so that leaves just three big players in the live TV streaming arena. With Netflix's move to buy Warner Bros , the traditional streaming market is getting narrower, too. We can safely assume good ol market competition wont be bringing prices down anytime soon. But its not just consolidation fragmentation also contributes to an overall crappier streaming experience. In 2025, Disney launched a standalone ESPN service (no, not that one , nor that one ) for $30 per month. So far, that doesnt mean you cant find ESPN content through other providers. But we did see Disney flex its increasingly large TV muscles in drawn-out contract negotiations with Google. The dispute darkened ESPN, ABC and other Disney channels on YouTube TV for two weeks this fall which, Ill point out for the cynical crowd, was less than two months after the standalone service launched. YouTube TV subscribers got a $20 credit , but that probably didnt placate NFL and NCAA football fans who missed out on ESPN-carried games. Then in November, Fubo quarreled with NBCUniversal, saying the Peacock parent was shifting content to their own streaming services and forcing up rates. The spat turned off NBC, Bravo, USA and other channels for Fubo subscribers, no doubt infuriating both NBA and Real Housewives fans , despite a $15 credit. Of course, Fubo is Disneys newest affiliate, so there are no non-bad guys here. The only advantage TV streaming has in its favor is the lack of cable-style contracts and I havent heard any murmurs of such a thing forthcoming. We are still all free to hop around between the big three TV streamers until we give up and just go back to DVDs . Amy Skorheim, Senior reporter The work of DOGE Elon Musk at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD on February 20, 2025. The Washington Post via Getty Images An Elon Musk-led attempt to rein in federal spending with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been a failure by almost every metric. As of November, it was reported that DOGE is no more, even though the initiative ostensibly had eight months left to run. An official told Reuters that DOGE doesn't exist, and it never should have in the first place. Though Musk was only at the helm of DOGE for a few months , he and his team caused chaos. Adopting the slash-and-burn tactic Musk employed when he took over Twitter, he swung a chainsaw through myriad government departments, with DOGE firing workers who were actually essential and quickly had to be hired back . By August, the government was said to have fired some 300,000 federal workers , with DOGE taking responsibility for most of those. Among other things, cuts at the National Institutes of Health resulted in the end of funding for hundreds of medical studies, which is said to have affected tens of thousands of patients . It's also estimated that the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development had resulted in more than 650,000 deaths around the world by early December, with children accounting for two-thirds of those. DOGE workers seemed to be busy, though. They reportedly monitored government communications for criticisms of both Musk and President Donald Trump, while implementing generative AI chatbots in an attempt to automate some government tasks. But for all the blustering about making the government much more efficient, DOGE did not meet its stated goal. Musk initially promised to reduce government spending by $2 trillion, but it didn't take long for him to reduce that pledge to $150 billion . And yet government spending has actually gone up . In October, the first month of the government's fiscal year, its total outlay was $689 billion, an increase of $105 billion (18 percent) from October 2024. Still, maybe DOGE wasn't a total disaster for its architects. It was able to gain access to sensitive and valuable government data, after all. Kris Holt, Contributing reporter AI video Sora 2 app launch screen displayed on smartphone Cheng Xin via Getty Images In our post-truth world, video was one of the few remaining ways to prove something had actually happened. It had its problems of course, but the fact it was harder to fake than words and images, and anyone could record a clip with their phone, made it vital to our sense of shared reality. Think about the murder of George Floyd: The grave injustice of his death would have probably never come to light if Darnella Frazier had not filmed what happened. With the advent of AI video, I'm not sure where we go. Both Google and OpenAI pushed the technology into the realm of uncomfortable realism this year, but it's Sora's cameo feature that has me worried. Within the first week of the app's public availability, people were using the feature, which allows users to add the likeness of other people to their videos, to generate clips of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stealing GPUs from Target . Cameo has limitations, and users can restrict and delete videos that include their likeness, but it's just another assault on the truth. It's hard to see how making it trivial to create deepfake videos benefits anyone other than the companies offering building the tech. I.B. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/techs-biggest-losers-of-2025-140000419.html?src=rss
Goa Nightclub Fire: Blue Corner Notice Against Luthra Brothers; Cops Seek Passport Cancellation
The notice, processed within just 48 hours of the tragedy, is unusually swift, officials said, noting that such requests typically take a week or longer.
Goa nightclub fire: PILplea in Bombay High Courtseeks SIT probe,State-wide safety audit
Petition blames systemic failure forArporablaze that killed 25, demands closure of illegal clubs across Goa
After Goa Fire, Gurugram Police Ramps Up Safety Checks On Nightclubs, Bars
Following the recent tragic fire incident at a Goa nightclub, Gurugram Police have ramped up safety enforcement across all nightlife establishments in the city.
Goa nightclub fire: 'Illegal' beach shack owned by Luthra brothers demolished
PANAJI: The Goa Tourism Department on Tuesday demolished 'Romeo Lane', an illegally constructed beach shack at Vagator owned by brothers Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. The brothers, who are on the run following the fire tragedy at Birch by Romeo Lane club that claimed 25 lives late on Saturday night, had constructed the shack on tourism department land, a senior official said. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had on Tuesday ordered authorities to initiate the process to demolish the shack. The structure, made of wood, was razed down using machines, and the 198 sqmt of land was reclaimed by the tourism department, the official said. The demolition was carried out within two hours in the presence of the police. After the fire tragedy, the authorities had sealed the beach shack at Vagator and another property of the Luthras at Assagao. The Luthras had built up the Romeo Lane chain across multiple cities -- including Delhi, Goa and Haryana's Yamuna Nagar, NDTV reported. VIDEO | Goa fire tragedy: A shack 'Romeo Lane', owned by Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra is being demolished by the authorities. This shack is the third property owned by Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. They flew to Thailand just hours after a major fire killed 25 people at pic.twitter.com/JncAzx4WWp Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 9, 2025 According to Goa Police, the Luthras departed for Phuket at 5.30 am on December 7 via IndiGo flight 6E 1073, just hours after the tragedy, which left mostly staff and tourists dead. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, according to the Goa Chief Minister's Office. The police discovered their escape during a manhunt launched immediately after an FIR was registered. Immigration records confirmed that the duo had left India shortly after the incident around midnight. The chief minister on Monday said four people have been arrested in connection with themassive fire. He said a detailed inquiry has begun and will be completed within a week. The probe will be led by the North Goa Collector, with support from a committee comprising the SP of South Goa, Deputy Collector for Fire and Emergency Services, and the Director of Forensics. The panel has been instructed to submit its report within seven days, the CM said. (With inputs from PTI)
Dreams turned to ash: Five Uttarakhand men killed in Goa nightclub fire
DEHRADUN: Among the 25 people killed in the devastating fire at a popular Goa nightclub were five young men hailing from Uttarakhand, whose desperate search for better opportunities ended in a fiery catastrophe. The deceased have been identified as Satish, Sumit, Jitendra, Manish, and Surendra, all employees at the establishment. They carried the hopes of their families, dreaming of stability and even international prospects, only to have those aspirations extinguished in the blaze. Sumit Negi, 29, from Pauri district, had recently joined the Goa nightclub as a chef two months ago. Heartbreakingly, he was scheduled to return home on January 18 to celebrate his second wedding anniversary. Surendra Singh, from the border district of Pithoragarh, had arrived in Goa just two days before the tragedy while planning his return to Germany, where he had previously worked for four years in the hotel sector. Manish, 22, from Lohaghat in Champawat district, had dropped out of his studies to support his family. After working in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, his move to Goa ended abruptly, leaving his dream of marriage unfulfilled. Satish Rana, 24, from Chah Gadolia village in Tehri Garhwal, was the sole breadwinner, responsible for supporting his parents and younger brothers education. His death leaves his family facing an uncertain future. Jitendra Singh, 24, from Sankuld village in Tehris Devprayag block, had initially sought work in Delhi before moving to Goa. He leaves behind two married sisters and a younger brother. The loss of these young men has plunged their families into deep sorrow and financial distress. He was everything to us. He was working so hard to ensure his younger brother could study, lamented a relative of Satish Rana, speaking from Tehri. We never imagined his hard work would lead him to such an end. Sumit Negis imminent return for his anniversary has magnified the pain for his family. He called just last week, excited about coming home, said a tearful neighbour in Pauri. Now, we are preparing for a funeral instead of a celebration. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, while officials in Uttarakhand have pledged support for the bereaved families, emphasising that this tragedy is a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by thousands of hill state youth in search of a dignified life.
Look Out Circular issued against two more owners of Goa nightclub: Police
North Goa DIG said the Goa Police is seeking the help of Interpol to bring back Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who fled to Phuket
All about the Luthra brothers, owners of the Goa nightclub where 25 people lost their lives
Brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of Goa's Birch by Romeo Lane, reportedly fled to Thailand after a fire claimed 25 lives. Their rapidly expanding hospitality empire, built over a decade, now faces scrutiny. Authorities have issued Look Out Circulars against the duo, with their Vagator establishment found to be illegally constructed.
Demolition Begins At 2nd Club Owned By Luthras, Missing Since Goa Fire
Demolition Begins At 2nd Club Owned By Luthra Brothers, Missing Since Goa Fire
Goa club fire: Portion of beach shack owned by Luthra brothers razed - watch
Days after a devastating fire at Birch by Romeo Lane claimed 25 lives, authorities demolished a section of the Romeo Lane restaurant in Goa's Vagator area. The structure, owned by Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, was found to have encroached on the beach. Officials confirmed a 198-square-meter area was cleared.
After Goa Blaze Tragedy, Bulldozer Rolls In At Another Club Owned By Luthras | Watch
Romeo Lane, owned by Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, is being demolished by Goa CM Pramod Sawant after the Luthra brothers fled to Thailand following a deadly fire killing 25.
LOC Issued Against Two More Owners of Goa Nightclub: Police
Police have so far arrested five persons, including the nightclub's chief general manager, Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, gate manager Riyanshu Thakur and Bharat Kohli
Goa nightclub fire: DIG says taking CBI, Interpol's help to bring back Luthra brothers; LoCs issued
Goa Police have issued Look Out Circulars against the owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, the nightclub where 25 people died in a fire, as they are currently abroad. Authorities are seeking their return with Interpol and CBI assistance. Meanwhile, a co-owner has been accused, and four staff members have been arrested.
Judoka Ritik Sharmas KIUG Triumph Fuels His 2026 CWG Dream
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indoor Hall: Since relocating to the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bhopal six years ago, Ritik Sharmas career has experienced a rapid ascent. The young Punjab-born judoka once again highlighted his progress with a commanding performance at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) Rajasthan 2025. Competing in his fourth KIUG at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indoor Hall in Udaipur, Ritik, representing Lovely Professional University (LPU), secured his third gold medal, adding to his existing bronze. What made the victory more meaningful was the way he bounced back from a recent setback. Flying straight to Udaipur after a first-round exit at the Asian Open Championships in Hong Kong, Ritik wasted no time dwelling on the disappointment. Instead, he channelled the lessons from his overseas trip into a composed, confident performance, overcoming familiar rival Yash Ghangas in the mens +100kg final. The rivalry between Ritik and Yash dates back to their teenage years. The two first competed in the final of the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati, and even now, as products of the same NCOE, their matchups remain intensely competitive. There are a handful of judokas in our category, so we have known each other for years now. I beat him for the first time in the Guwahati KIYG, and Im glad that I could get the better of him in KIUG 2025 too, said Ritik, emphasising the need for more international exposure trips. Despite being out in the first round, I have come back with a lot of learnings and positives from Hong Kong. What also matters is the mental aspect of the sport, as such exposure trips help you in understanding how the world and Olympic champions approach the game, their techniques, and sparring with some of the best in the world, he added. Ritiks journey started far from Indias main sporting centres, in Gurdaspur, a remote border district in Punjab bordering Pakistan. Growing up, opportunities were scarce, with few organised sports programmes or training centres available. Yet in 2015, at the age of 14, Ritik found his passion for judo and dedicated himself to the sport with steadfast focus. Born to an ASI in the Punjab Police and the youngest of three siblings, Ritik began his initial training at the renowned Shaheed Bhagat Singh JFI coaching centre, which has produced over 50 international and 100 national-level judokas. The foundation he built there kept him steady even as he faced challenges on the global stage. Ritiks journey started far from Indias main sporting centres, in Gurdaspur, a remote border district in Punjab bordering Pakistan. Growing up, opportunities were scarce, with few organised sports programmes or training centres available. Yet in 2015, at the age of 14, Ritik found his passion for judo and dedicated himself to the sport with steadfast focus. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For Ritik, the lack of quality sparring partners in his weight class remains a major obstacle. However, he continues to push his boundaries and is now aiming for the next significant goal of breaking into the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad. Article Source: IANS
Goa Officials Seal Luthra Brothers' Second Club Ahead of Demolition Drive
It is owned by Gaurav Luthra and Saurabh Luthra, who also own Birch by Romeo Lane, where a fire tragedy claimed 25 lives on Sunday
Goats may be released in forests to prevent leopard attacks on humans: Minister
The minister was replying to a calling attention motion raised by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Jitendra Awhad in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly over the worrying rise in leopard attacks across the state
Goa government orders demolition of Vagator beach shack of Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra
Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, according to the Goa Chief Minister's Office
Video of Passengers Sitting on Tarmac Viral as Recent Amid IndiGo Disruptions
The viral image is from a January 2024 incident involving a flight from Mumbai to Goa
Gaurav Luthra, Absconding Owner Of Goa Nightclub Hit By Deadly Blaze, Spotted At Phuket Airport
Gaurav Luthra, owner of Brich by Romeo Lane where 25 died in a Goa fire, was seen at Phuket airport after fleeing India on an IndiGo flight.
The best budgeting apps for 2025
Over a year ago, I was prompted to look for another budgeting app. Intuit, parent company of Mint, the budgeting app I had been using for a long time, shut down the service in March 2024. The company encouraged Mint users to migrate to its other financial app, Credit Karma, but I found it to be a poor Mint replacement after trying it out. That sent me searching elsewhere to find an app to track all of my financial accounts, monitor my credit score, track spending and set goals like building a rainy-day fund and paying down my mortgage faster. If youre looking for a new budgeting app to get your finances straight, allow Engadget to help. I tried out Mint's top competitors in the hopes that I'd be able to find a new budgeting app that could handle all of my financial needs, and to see which are actually worth the money. Best budget apps of 2025 Other budgeting apps we tested PocketGuard PocketGuard used to be a solid free budget tracker, but the company has since limited its free version to just a free seven-day trial. Now, youll have to choose between two plans once the trial is over: a $13 monthly plan or a $75 annual plan. When I first tested it, I found it to be more restricted than NerdWallet, but still a decent option. The main overview screen shows you your net worth, total assets and debts; net income and total spending for the month; upcoming bills; a handy reminder of when your next paycheck lands; any debt payoff plan you have; and any goals. Like some other apps, including Quicken Simplifi, PocketGuard promotes an after bills approach, where you enter all of your recurring bills, and then PocketGuard shows you whats left, and thats what youre supposed to be budgeting: your disposable income. Although PocketGuards UI is easy enough to understand, it lacks polish. The accounts tab is a little busy, and doesnt show totals for categories like cash or investments. Seemingly small details like weirdly phrased or punctuated copy occasionally make the app feel janky. More than once, it prompted me to update the app when no updates were available. The web version, meanwhile, feels like the mobile app blown up to a larger format and doesnt take advantage of the extra screen real estate. Ultimately, now that the free tier is gone, it just doesnt present the same value proposition as it once did. How we test budgeting apps Before I dove in and started testing out budgeting apps, I had to do some research. To find a list of apps to try out, I consulted trusty ol Google (and even trustier Reddit); read reviews of popular apps on the App Store; and also asked friends and colleagues what budget tracking apps (or other budgeting methods) they might be using for money management. Some of the apps I found were free and these, of course, show loads of ads (excuse me, offers) to stay in business. But most of the available apps require paid subscriptions, with prices typically topping out around $100 a year, or $15 a month. (Spoiler: My top pick is cheaper than that.) All of the services I chose to test needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web. Once I had my shortlist of six apps, I got to work setting them up. For the sake of thoroughly testing these apps, I made a point of adding every account to every budgeting app, no matter how small or immaterial the balance. What ensued was a veritable Groundhog Day of two-factor authentication. Just hours of entering passwords and one-time passcodes, for the same banks half a dozen times over. Hopefully, you only have to do this once. Budgeting app FAQs What is Plaid and how does it work? Each of the apps I tested uses the same underlying network, called Plaid, to pull in financial data, so its worth explaining what it is and how it works. Plaid was founded as a fintech startup in 2013 and is today the industry standard in connecting banks with third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions across the US, Canada and Europe. Additionally, more than 8,000 third-party apps and services rely on Plaid, the company claims . To be clear, you dont need a dedicated Plaid app to use it; the technology is baked into a wide array of apps, including all of the budgeting apps listed in this guide. Once you find the add an account option in whichever one youre using, youll see a menu of commonly used banks. Theres also a search field you can use to look yours up directly. Once you find yours, youll be prompted to enter your login credentials. If you have two-factor authentication set up, youll need to enter a one-time passcode as well. As the middleman, Plaid is a passthrough for information that may include your account balances, transaction history, account type and routing or account number. Plaid uses encryption, and says it has a policy of not selling or renting customer data to other companies. However, I would not be doing my job if I didnt note that in 2022 Plaid was forced to pay $58 million to consumers in a class action suit for collecting more financial data than was needed. As part of the settlement, Plaid was compelled to change some of its business practices. In a statement provided to Engadget, a Plaid spokesperson said the company continues to deny the allegations underpinning the lawsuit and that the crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaids role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track. Why did Mint shut down? When parent company Intuit announced in December 2023 that it would shut down Mint, it did not provide a reason why it made the decision to do so. It did say that Mint's millions of users would be funneled over to its other finance app, Credit Karma. Credit Karma is thrilled to invite all Minters to continue their financial journey on Credit Karma, where they will have access to Credit Karmas suite of features, products, tools and services, including some of Mints most popular features, Mint wrote on its product blog . In our testing, we found that Credit Karma isn't an exact replacement for Mint so if you're still looking for a Mint alternative , you have some decent options. What about Rocket Money? Rocket Money is another free financial app that tracks spending and supports things like balance alerts and account linking. If you pay for the premium tier, the service can also help you cancel unwanted subscriptions. We did not test it for this guide, but we'll consider it in future updates. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/best-budgeting-apps-120036303.html?src=rss
Goa nightclub fire: CM Sawant orders demolition of Luthras' Vagator beach shack
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday ordered authorities to demolish the illegal ' Romeo Lane ' beach shack at Vagator, owned by brothers Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, after completing all formalities. The order comes after the brothers fled to Thailand , just hours after a major fire killed 25 people at the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Arpora around midnight on Saturday. This shack is the third property owned by Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra. A senior CMO official stated that CM Sawant has directed the North Goa district administration to complete all the formalities and demolish the beach shack at Vagator. This shack is illegally built on government land. It would be demolished on Tuesday. District administration has kept all the machinery ready, the official said. Goa nightclub fire: FIR says fireshow at restaurant caused blaze; owner, event organisers booked, sarpanch detained According to Goa Police, the Luthras departed for Phuket at 5.30 am on December 7 via IndiGo flight 6E 1073, just hours after the tragedy, which left mostly staff and tourists dead. Interpol has issued a Blue Corner notice against Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, according to the Goa Chief Minister's Office. The police discovered their escape during a manhunt launched immediately after an FIR was registered. Immigration records confirmed that the duo had left India shortly after the incident around midnight. After the Saturday night fire tragedy, the district administration sealed this beach shack and another facility at Assagao in North Goa on Monday. The chief minister on Monday said four people have been arrested in connection with themassive fire. He said a detailed inquiry has begun and will be completed within a week. The probe will be led by the North Goa Collector, with support from a committee comprising the SP of South Goa, Deputy Collector for Fire and Emergency Services, and the Director of Forensics. The panel has been instructed to submit its report within seven days, the CM said.
Luthra Brothers Missing Since Goa Fire, Their Second Club To Be Demolished
A beach shack owned by the Luthra brothers the owners of 'Birch by Romeo Lane', the nightclub in Goa's Arpora, at which a fire killed 25 people last week will be demolished by bulldozers, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's office said.
Goa Nightclub Fire: First Pic Of Owner Gaurav Luthra In Thailand
Gaurav and his brother, Saurabh, flew out to Thailand's Phuket on an IndiGo flight at 5:30 am on Sunday - just a couple of hours after the tragedy.
Goa nightclub fire case: The International Criminal Police Organization on Tuesday issued a blue corner notice against 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, Goa chief minister's office said. Following a tragic fire in the club, the district administration has sealed Birch, the restaurant and nightclub by Romeo Lane.
After Goa Fire, Pramod Sawant Orders Demolition Of Absconding Luthra Brothers Flagship Club
The owners of Birch by Romeo Lane, the Goa nightclub where 25 people died in a devastating fire on Saturday night, are now facing Interpol Blue Corner notice.
Equilibrium Climbing Station Whitefield Sets a New Benchmark for Climbing in India
Equilibrium Climbing Station, India’s pioneering homegrown climbing ecosystem, announces the launch of its newest and most expansive facility in Whitefield on 6th of December 2025. The opening will be accompanied by Equinox, the brand’s annual community-first climbing gathering and celebration of movement. The launch also marks the debut of SLAB, Equilibrium’s in-house cafe. Equilibrium Climbing Station unveils its 8,200 sq. ft. Whitefield space. A bold, community-first space shaping the future of climbing and movement in Bangalore Spread across 8200 sq. ft., Equilibrium Whitefield brings together state-of-the-art climbing, strength training, recovery, and community-building zones in one unified, high-performance space designed for both first-time climbers and national-level athletes. A New Chapter for Indian Climbing Equilibrium began in 2013 with a simple goal: to create a space that matched the needs of India’s strongest climbers. Intended as a dedicated space for elite athletes, it quickly attracted a diverse community of students, travellers, and first-time climbers who discovered the sport and kept coming back. Equilibrium further evolved into India’s first homegrown climbing gear ecosystem, including shoes, crash pads, holds, and volumes. Equilibrium Whitefield represents the brand’s largest leap yet, a facility built to support real training, real movement, and the growing community that has shaped climbing culture in India. The SLAB Café Launch The launch also marks the opening of SLAB - Equilibrium’s new in-house café concept inspired by the textures and geometry of climbing. Serving personal-sized pizzas, smoothies, sandos, salads, and coffee. Designed as a warm, communal gathering point, SLAB reflects the same spirit of movement, creativity, and connection that defines Equilibrium. Facility Highlights Full-scale bouldering arena 16 roped climbing lanes across 10–12m walls for lead, top-rope, and speed Dedicated strength & conditioning zone Recovery and cool-down area to support safe progression Fully equipped kids’ climbing section designed for safety and exploration SLAB — Equilibrium’s in-house cafe Equilibrium is steered by long-time climbers, coaches, and community builders Archana B S and Mahanya Sreedhar, both of whom remain deeply connected to the floor, climbing, testing gear, and shaping the community they lead. “ Equilibrium started as a small space with big dreams. Today, we’re proud to launch a facility that meets global standards while staying honest to our roots, inclusive, grounded, and community-first. Whitefield is our commitment to building Indian climbing, one climber at a time, ” Mahanya Sreedhar, Managing Director, Equilibrium Climbing Station . Climb Bold. Move Free . It’s not just a motto; it’s the mindset behind everything Equilibrium creates. For more information, visit Instagram @equilibriumclimbing_hoodi Address: 415, 10th Cross Rd, Thigalarapalya, Hoodi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560048, India. Contact: +91 90714 15444 About Equilibrium Founded in 2013, Equilibrium Climbing Station is India’s first fully homegrown climbing ecosystem. From handcrafted walls on Residency Road to world-class gyms in Bengaluru and Goa, Equilibrium has grown into a movement shaped by community, innovation, and a commitment to building climbing culture in India. Beyond gyms, the brand designs and manufactures climbing shoes, crash pads, holds, and volumes, all made in India and tested by the country’s strongest climbers.
