Supreme Court committee recommends phased creation of Goa Tiger Reserve
Panel proposes that 468.6 sq. km. area, which contains 102 households, be notified as core and buffer areas of the reserve in the first phase; another 208 sq. km. with 612 households, may be considered later
Verizon Layoffs: Employee shares emotional impact of job loss before holidays
A Verizon lead trainer shared his emotional struggle after being laid off just before the holidays, questioning himself and crying for days. He viewed Verizon as his ultimate career goal but now sees it as a transition, ready to embrace new opportunities after leaving negative feelings behind.
DC Edit | Invest in Diversity, Accept History To Reach 2047 Goals
PMs Ayodhya speech draws criticism for invoking past hurts instead of nation-building
Pawan Confident NDA Will Retain Power For 15 Years In AP
Speaking at the launch of Palle Panduga 2.0 at Sivakodu village in the Razole Assembly segment of Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, he said the programme aimed to transform villages by strengthening infrastructure under the goal of Prathi Palleku Sadupayam Prathi Kutumbaniki Soubhagyam.
Uzbeks Javokhir Sindarov becomes the youngest FIDE World Cup Champion
Javokhir Sindarov beat Chinese Number 1 Wei Yi to take the crown at the event held in Goa
Has Vijay Sethupathi joined Rajinikanth`s Jailer 2 team in Goa?
Rumours suggest Vijay Sethupathi has joined Rajinikanths Jailer 2, though no official confirmation has been given. The sequel, directed by Nelson Dilipkumar, is creating massive buzz as shooting progresses across Goa and Chennai
LG Sinha Calls For Revolutionary Innovations From Younger Generations
Jammu, Nov 26: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday called for revolutionary innovations from the younger generation, saying fresh perspectives of youth and their innovativeness are a powerful force for building a bright future. He asked the youth to work with dedication and commitment to change not just their own destiny but also shape a new destiny of the world. The focussed and fearless spirit that achieves the goal can only be found in youth. This fearlessness [] The post LG Sinha Calls For Revolutionary Innovations From Younger Generations appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
401(k) average balance 2025: The average 401(k) balance reached $144,400 in 2025. This figure shows a 9% rise from the previous year. Market gains contributed to this growth. However, retirement readiness depends on age. Younger savers with consistent contributions can build substantial wealth. Older workers may need to boost savings to meet their retirement goals.
SyedMushtaqAli Trophy | Milindand Rahul star in Hyderabadsfive-wkt. win overM.P.
Juyalsunbeaten 93 helps Uttar Pradesh record a facile victory over Goa;Nabiexcels with the ball as J&K gets the better of Maharashtra
DMRC begins work on long-term corporate plan; consultancy to draft 2027-2037 roadmap
The plan will also focus on enhancing passenger experience, improving financial sustainability, and defining DMRC's long-term vision aligned with national mobility goals.
The Congress High Command faces the difficult task of managing the ongoing power tussle between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday that the dispute over the Chief Ministers post would be settled soon, adding that the final decision would be taken by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and himself after consultations. Reports suggest that the central leadership plans to make a decision on any change in leadership in Karnataka before the Parliament session begins on December 1. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has reportedly responded to Shivakumar with a brief WhatsApp message: Please wait, I will call you. Speaking to ANI , Kharge said, Only the people there can say what the government is doing. But I can assure you, we will resolve these issues. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and I will sit together and discuss. We will provide whatever mediation is required. As the Congress government in Karnataka reached the halfway point of its five-year term on November 20, Shivakumar stirred speculation by stating on Tuesday that there had been a secret deal between five or six of us regarding power sharing. According to party insiders, this alleged agreement was reached in May 2023 at Kharges residence, giving Siddaramaiah the first 2.5 years as CM and Shivakumar the remaining term. Siddaramaiah is said to have assured that he would step down a week before completing 2.5 years. #WATCH | Delhi: On Karnataka political turmoil and speculations around CM post, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge says, Only the people there can say what the Government is doing there. But I would like to say that we will resolve such issues. People in the High Command - Rahul pic.twitter.com/tw0keLQ43y ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2025 Although Siddaramaiah has consistently asserted that he would remain Chief Minister for the full term, his tone reportedly softened after a meeting with Kharge on November 22. He later said the high command will decide. Shivakumar, speaking in Kanakapura, avoided escalating the issue. The Chief Minister has spoken. He is a senior leader and an asset to the party. He has completed 7.5 years as CM, including his previous term, he said. On Siddaramaiahs comment that he would present the next budget as well, Shivakumar responded, Im very happy. He has served as opposition leader and strengthened the party. All of us should work together with the goal of the 2028 assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha election. I don't know. I have not asked to make me the CM. It is a secret deal between five and six of us. I don't want to speak publicly on this. I believe in my conscience. We should work with our conscience. I don't want to cause embarrassment to the party in any way and weaken it. If the party is there, we are there. If karyakartas are there, we are there, Shivakumar said.
Haryana cracks down against drunk driving with over 63,000 challans this year, Gurgaon tops cases
CHANDIGARH: Haryana has recorded a total of 63,073 challans for drunk driving this year in a major crackdown, with Gurgaon topping the list, followed by Faridabad and Karnal. Haryana has recorded a total of 63,073 challans for drunk-driving this year, with Gurgaon topping the list, followed by Faridabad and Karnal District-wise data from the Haryana Police shows that between January 1 and November 24, Gurgaon recorded the highest number of challans at 24,972, followed by Faridabad (7,402), Karnal (4,851), Panchkula (4,180), and Jind (3,109). Acting on instructions from the Haryana Police headquarters, regular special drives have been conducted across all districts. The purpose of these drives is not only to curb drunken driving but also to strictly monitor lane discipline, noise pollution and misuse of red-blue lights. After reviewing weekly reports, the police headquarters has directed districts to make these campaigns even more effective and result-oriented, a police spokesperson said. He added that the numbers reflect intensified monitoring across high-risk corridors, supported by dedicated night-time patrolling. Special police teams have also been deployed at all toll plazas from 6 p.m. to 10 pm, equipped with alco-sensor and e-challan machines so that drunk drivers can be checked on the spot and action taken without delay. On-the-spot checks allow officers to act immediately against offenders, significantly boosting highway safety and deterring risky late-evening driving behaviour. While enforcement remains strict, police officials emphasise that the campaigns primary goal is to change behaviour, not merely issue challans. The message is clear: drunk driving endangers the driver as well as every other commuter on the road, he said. Haryana Police has appealed to citizens to stay alert and advise family, friends and colleagues not to drive under the influence of alcohol. About 15 days ago, Haryana DGP O P Singh had suggested out-of-the-box ideas to curb drunken driving without humiliating anyone. For example, talk to the restaurant owner. If there are four people in a group, they could serve only three so the fourth wont drink. Or the owner could tell them that if all four have had drinks, take an Uber. The police can even coordinate with restaurants to ensure drunk patrons get home safely instead of being harassed at checkpoints, he had said. He further noted that Gurugram is like Amsterdam, Singapore or Hong Kong, cities known for their energy, youth and single working populations. Many single men and women working here have no family; their friends are their family. When they finish work on Friday, they go out this happens globally. So please, do not harass them when they are returning, he had said. He urged officers to avoid excessive barricading and traffic jams and instead explore smarter solutions such as real-time surveillance, technology integration and partnerships with nightlife establishments. Singh emphasised that while drunken driving is unforgivable, the enforcement approach must remain humane and non-confrontational.
Vidhu Vinod Chopra abuses content creators; slams casting process at IFFI Goa 2025
Vidhu Vinod Chopra abuses content creators; slams casting process at IFFI Goa 2025
India's power regulator mulls auctioning unused grid slots as renewable projects stall
India's power regulator is exploring auctioning unused transmission links, currently blocked by renewable energy projects lacking power purchase agreements. This move aims to free up capacity for developers committed to faster commissioning, addressing a significant bottleneck in the nation's clean energy expansion goals. The proposals seek to ensure connectivity goes to active players.
Revanth Reddy invites Narendra Modi to Telangana Rising 2047 Global Summit, says State is developing Bharat Future City on 30,000 acres as Net Zero city that will be Indias answer to New York, Tokyo, Dubai, Singapore and South Korea
IVCA GreenReturns Summit , highlighting how disciplined private credit, responsible governance, and sustainability-aligned investment frameworks can reshape India’s built environment and long-term economic resilience. The report captures a comprehensive view of the firm’s real estate private credit portfolio, its ESG integration practices, measurable environmental and social outcomes, and the expanding role of private capital in accelerating India’s sustainability transition. At a time when climate risks, rapid urbanisation, and widening socio-economic gaps are reshaping investment priorities, Sundaram Alternates’ report demonstrates how responsibly deployed private credit can deliver both risk-adjusted returns and meaningful community-level impact. “Private credit can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable change. At Sundaram Alternates, we are focused on financing businesses and projects that combine performance with purpose. The launch of our Impact Report at the IVCA GreenReturns Summit highlights how disciplined lending and responsible investing can accelerate India’s transition towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient economy.” said, Karthik Athreya, Managing Director, Sundaram Alternates . Sundaram Alternates Launches its ESG & Impact Report at IVCA GreenReturns Summit 2025 A Data-Backed View of Impact: Environment, Social and Governance Outcomes The report provides verified performance and impact metrics across Sundaram Alternates’ portfolio, showcasing how the firm integrates ESG at every stage—from investment screening to monitoring, stewardship, and exits. Key Highlights from the Report Environmental Impact ~20 million sq. ft. of green-built projects ~837,000 tCOe in embodied carbon savings ~268,000 tCO in lifetime operational carbon savings ~579,000 MWh in lifetime energy savings ~28.9 million m³ in lifetime water savings Green homes designed to meet globally recognised certification standards Focus on heat-resilient construction, water security, and waste circularity Social Impact 50,000+ jobs created (direct + indirect) 1.32 million people positively impacted 1,000+ women positively impacted Over 50% of residential units designed with universal accessibility features Emphasis on worker safety, fair wages, skilling, and community-level inclusion Governance Excellence 100% of projects undergo ESG due diligence ~ 25,000 site workers trained in safety & environmental awareness Zero tolerance towards labour rights violations Annual ESG reporting and strong oversight through a dedicated ESG governance framework A Structured Framework for Responsible Private Credit The report outlines Sundaram Alternates’ integrated ESG policy anchored in five core principles: sustainable construction practices, workforce health & safety, climate and environmental resilience, corporate governance, and transition to low-carbon pathways. The firm’s governance architecture — comprising its ESG Steering Committee, independent advisors, fund managers, analysts, and board oversight — ensures that ESG obligations are embedded across term sheets, monitoring processes, green-building certifications, and sustainability reporting. This structured approach helps investors evaluate not just financial performance but measurable outcomes aligned with SDGs, global ESG standards (GRI, SASB, EDGE), and India’s national climate goals. Positioning India for a Climate-Resilient Future The report emphasises that India stands at a generational inflection point: the built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global emissions and over a third of natural resource consumption. Sundaram Alternates’ work demonstrates how sustainable real estate , backed by private credit, can drive measurable climate outcomes and equitable urban development. Across projects, the portfolio has delivered stronger tenant demand, enhanced operational efficiencies, reduced long-term risk exposure, and strengthened local supply chains—while channeling capital to underserved markets where the need is greatest. About Sundaram Alternates Sundaram Alternate Assets Ltd., part of the Sundaram Finance Group, manages approximately Rs. 7,000 crores across private credit, corporate credit, and thematic equity funds. A rapidly growing alternate asset management platform, Sundaram Alternates specializes in differentiated investment solutions spanning private credit, fixed income, PMS equity strategies, and bespoke equity portfolios. Built on the core values of transparency, governance, and long-term value creation, Sundaram Alternates is actively expanding its footprint in India’s dynamic investment ecosystem. For more details, visit: www.sundaramalternates.com
The best ergonomic keyboards for 2025
Ive dealt with neck pain since my early 20s. Becoming a full-time writer in my late 30s did not help matters. I discovered the concept of a split ergonomic keyboard and wondered whether one could stop my shoulders from bunching up around my ears. It did. Of course, my case is not your case. Finding the best ergonomic keyboard for your needs depends on one thing: your body. But if I cant say which of these boards will help you the most, I can say that I tried each one (and many others that didnt make the cut) to gauge how each boards features and design relate to comfort. This guide also spells what different ergo features do all to help you find the best ergonomic keyboard for you. Table of contents Best ergonomic keyboards for 2025 What to look for in an ergonomic keyboard How we tested ergonomic keyboards Other ergonomic keyboards we tested Ergonomic keyboard FAQ Best ergonomic keyboards for 2025 What to look for in an ergonomic keyboard You might be looking into ergonomic accessories to help with a specific problem, such as carpal tunnel or tendonitis. Or maybe youre simply looking for a way to make long hours at your desk more comfortable. It can help to know some of the terminology and reasons behind various features, which we explain below. Just keep in mind that new equipment alone wont solve the problem. Changing positions , doing regular stretches and taking walk breaks will all go a long way towards making you feel better while you work. Alice vs split Most ergonomic keyboard layouts fall into two categories: unibody (or Alice) and split. The former is a single board with the two halves of the keys rotated about 30 degrees apart at the bottom. The separation forms an A-shaped space between the keys which has nothing to do with why its called an Alice layout, its just a happy coincidence. This subtle tweak pushes your elbows away from your ribs while keeping a straight line from your forearm to your middle knuckle. Using one, I pretty instantly felt more open along the front side of my body. This layout more closely resembles a traditional keyboard, so it should be easier for most folks to get used to than a fully split option. Speaking of, split boards break the keys into two separate parts you can position individually. You can put them shoulder distance apart, bring them closer together or angle them as much as feels comfortable. You can also put your mouse between the halves, which may feel like an easier trip for your cursor hand and could potentially help with conditions like repetitive strain injuries (RSI). Personally, I like being able to put my current snack between the two parts. I've also found that pairing a split keyboard with a good ergonomic mouse has helped me even more, particularly a vertical mouse. Tenkeyless You can find ergonomic keyboards with and without number pads. Not having those number keys on the right hand side lets you keep your mouse closer in, minimizing overall reach. But if you work with numbers a lot, youll likely want that pad included. Some programmable boards allow for the use of layers, which temporarily repurpose keys and can provide you with a ten-key option through clever remapping of letter keys. Tenting and negative tilt Tenting raises the middle of the keyboard up, so your hands move closer to a handshake position. Alice keyboards usually angle up towards the middle and always to a fixed degree, since the two sides are connected. Split boards often let you adjust the degree of tenting, going from flat to subtle to extreme lift. You may have encountered keyboards with an optional lift at the back of the board, raising the top keys higher than the space bar. Every set of hands is different, but for most people, pulling the backs of the hands towards the forearms increases strain. Negative tilt has the opposite effect by sloping in the other direction, lowering the top number keys while raising the edge with the spacebar. Many Alice and some split keyboards offer an optional negative tilt. I found it was more comfortable to enable that feature when Im standing, and I preferred to have the keys flat when sat at my desk. Staggered vs columnar This decision seems to be one of the more hotly-contested among ergo enthusiasts. A conventional keyboard has staggered keys, with each row slightly offset to the rows above and below it so the A key is about halfway between the Q and W above it. This is a holdover from vintage mechanical typewriters, in which each press activated a hammer that smashed ink onto paper in the shape of a letter. To fit the hammers as close together as possible, while still allowing for finger pads, the keys were staggered. Columnar or ortholinear keyboards stack the keys in orderly columns, often with rows that are not linear. Proponents claim this makes the keys easier to reach. Whether thats true will be up to your fingers to decide, but I can say for certain that if you learned to type on a staggered keyboard, switching to a columnar layout is tough. It will take days, possibly weeks before you instinctively hit the C key. The N, M and B keys dont fare much better. Programmable keys With a few exceptions, most ergonomic keyboards will work with PCs or Macs as a standard typing input, but the use of function and hot keys may require some remapping. It can be as easy as an onboard switch to toggle between Mac and PC layouts, or as involved as downloading software to change up the keys. Some boards even include (or let you buy) extra keycaps to change, say, the Macs Command and Option keys to PCs Start and Alt buttons. Those are what's called hot-swappable keys, meaning you just pull the old key off (usually with a provided key puller) and stick the new one on, no soldering required. For some boards, remapping or programming keys using software is a crucial feature. Gaming peripherals have extra keys that you can set to execute a series of keystrokes with the push of a single button, and we cover the best gaming keyboards in a separate guide. Keyboards that work with layers, in which a single button can perform several functions, typically allow you to change what those are. Some ergo keyboards have non-standard layouts, like thumb clusters with multiple keys near the space bar that you operate with your thumb. Youll also be able to program those. Other considerations Ergonomic keyboards come in mechanical, membrane, and scissor switch versions. Which works best for you is, again, up to your preference. I wont get too deep into the particulars here, as we have an entire guide devoted to the best mechanical boards , but the short of it is that membrane and scissor switches are less customizable than mechanical and typically cheaper. Typing on them tends to be quieter and softer. Mechanical switches are more customizable, offer a more responsive typing experience and are usually pricier. Youll also have the option of wired or wireless ergonomic boards. All other things being equal, wired models are less expensive. Competitive gamers who rely on split-second responses may prefer the zero-lag of wired keyboards. Wired models also never run out of battery life and have fewer connectivity issues. But wireless keyboards keep your desk less cluttered. Some ergonomic keyboards come with permanent or removable wrist or palm rests, which can be cushioned or hard. This is another area where opinions diverge: proponents claim they help you maintain a neutral hand position, while detractors say they put pressure on the tendons and can cause wrist pain or even exacerbate conditions like carpal tunnel. Ideally, your palms should be resting, not your wrists, and you might find you like having that support or you may find the pressure uncomfortable. Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget How we tested ergonomic keyboards All our guides begin with extensive research to figure out whats out there and whats worth testing. We consider brands with good reputations that weve heard good things about from colleagues and look at keyboard reviews in forums and other trusted publications. For this guide, I looked for keyboards with ergonomic features like tenting, split keys, palm support and so on. I also zeroed in on boards that didnt require a deep amount of familiarity with the vast and exhaustive world of custom keyboards. Once I settled on ten boards, I acquired them and used each one for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. I tried out the remapping and macros software and considered the comfort, design, price and durability of each model before arriving at picks I think will work best for the most people out there. For subsequent updates to this guide, I have continued to acquire and test out new keyboards as they come on the market, adding and replacing the top picks as warranted. If and when Microsoft ergonomic keyboards, like the Sculpt, come back on the market, as a collaboration with Incase has promised , I'll try those models, too. Other ergonomic keyboards we tested Naya Create I first tried out the Naya Create during CES 2025 and was immediately smitten with the design. Its a deliriously well-made fully-split keyboard with built-in modules at each thumb. You can swap in a trackball, dial, trackpad and the Float module a dial/joystick combo for manipulating 3D imagery. Each half of the board hinges in two places for minutely customizable center tenting. It has low profile keys with responsive yet quiet mechanical switches. It works wirelessly or corded, has thumb cluster keys and, of course, its all fully programmable. It's lovely to type on and the thumb clusters and modules make it easy to keep your fingers in the home position to minimize repetitive travel. Im still in the process of testing the board, and working with Nayas co-founder to get the modules customized to my liking. At $500 to $700, its not cheap. Its also a still very new device from a small company, so Im waiting to give it a proper assessment until the board is fully set up properly. In the meantime, batches of the Naya Create keep selling out, so its apparent Im not the only one who sees this boards potential. Kinesis Advantage 360 If you want something fully split with thumb clusters and a columnar layout but thats a little less minimal than the Zsa Voyager and wireless to boot the Advantage 360 from Kinesis, makers of the popular Advantage 2 is a good one to check out. It looks like it comes from an 80s-era IBM office, but is somehow also from the future. The tenting goes from low to intense and the key well curves concavely to meet your fingers where they naturally land. The 360 is per-key programmable , works with layers and has four macros keys. Periboard 835 For a mechanical Alice keyboard with both wireless and wired capabilities, the Periboard 835 is a good pick. The Mac and Windows-compatible board has a solid build, low profile switches, RGB lighting, comfortable tenting and a few extra programmable keys. Goldtouch Elite Adjustable I remember wondering if something like the Goldtouch Elite Adjustable existed when I first started testing ergonomic keyboards. It didnt at the time, as far as I could tell, but now a connected yet adjustable split board is indeed a product you can buy. Its a solidly-built board and the ball joint connecting the two halves feels like it will put up with a lot of use. A squeeze of the lever at the top of the keys lets you set the board just how you like, adjusting both the vertical tenting and the angle between the two halves. Theres no programming to speak of, just the ability to swap a few function keys like print screen and home. Unfortunately, the tenting doesnt work for me. Because of the extra keys at the outer edges, raising the middle edges upwards lifts the center keys considerably, which brings my wrists and forearms off the desk instead of letting them rest. Holding them like that created extra neck and shoulder strain on my part, which is sort of the opposite of the goal. But if youre not into tenting anyway and want a flat, Alice-split board with an adjustable splay, this works quite well. Kinesis Form Split Touchpad Keyboard The idea behind the Kinesis Form Split Touchpad Keyboard is pretty ergonomic: put the trackpad between the two halves and minimize travel for your mouse hand. The distance between the two puts your elbows at a comfortable distance and keeps your wrist nearly in-line with your forearms. The build is excellent, with low profile mechanical switches that feel smooth and just the right amount of clacky. The trackpad is responsive, but gestures only work with Windows computers. Even dragging and dropping doesnt work on a Mac here, so I dont see Apple users getting much use out of the board. I also found myself wishing for the slightest rotation of the keys though theyre a good distance apart, a slight angle would keep my wrists fully unbent. Theres no tenting or negative tilt either, both of which could help a bit more, ergonomically speaking. Logitech Wave Keys While it's a perfectly fine and affordable Bluetooth keyboard, the Logitech Wave has minimal ergonomics. The keys rise up slightly in the middle and there's a comfortable wrist rest attached, but the layout is the same as any other keyboard, with no splitting of the keys to open up your arms or keep your wrists straight. Ergonomic keyboard FAQs What kinds of ergonomic keyboard styles are there? Most ergonomic keyboards fall into two categories: fully split which separates the board into two pieces, and unibody split, also known as an Alice design, which angles the keys outward at the bottom. When the keys are rotated outward or split into two halves, it allows for a wider spread between your elbows for a more relaxed typing position. Other ergonomic features, such as thumb clusters, center tenting and negative tilting are sometimes added to either type of board. Which keyboard layout is the most ergonomic? Since every person is different, theres no one best ergonomic keyboard layout. The standard QWERTY layout is what most people are used to. The Dvorak, Colemak and Workman layouts rearrange the board to put the more commonly used letters closer to the home-key position. All three are intended to minimize your finger movements. That may indeed feel more comfortable and less fatiguing, but people used to the QWERTY layout will likely need to relearn how to type. When do I need a split keyboard? You might feel some relief with a fully split keyboard if you find yourself tensing up at the shoulders as you type on a standard board. Putting some distance between your hands may allow your chest to stay more open, which for some is an easier position to maintain. You may also appreciate being able to place your mouse or trackpad between the two halves of the board to minimize the distance your cursor hand needs to travel. How long does it take to adjust to an ergonomic keyboard? That depends on the type of keyboard. Since the Alice-split design simply rotates the keys apart, typing on it feels fairly similar to the regular keyboards youre already used to. A fully split board will take a little more adjustment, particularly if it uses thumb clusters. The enter, shift and control buttons may now be operated by your thumbs instead of your other fingers and that can be tough to get used to. It took me a full month to get completely comfortable with a fully split keyboard with thumb clusters. But now, I prefer it to typing on regular boards. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-ergonomic-keyboard-130047982.html?src=rss
UEFA Champions League: Maresca Warns Against Messi Hype After Estevao Wonder Goal
The 18-year-old Brazilian emphatically won the battle of the teenage prodigies against Lamine Yamal as the London club won their third match out of five in the league phase of the competition
Soul of Constitution has proved Bharat is one, will be one forever: V-P Radhakrishnan
NEW DELHI: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Wednesday urged everyone to work together towards achieving the goal of 'Viksit Bharat', and asserted that the soul of our Constitution has proved that Bharat is one and shall remain so forever. Addressing a Constitution Day event at the Central Hall of the Old Parliament building, now called 'Samvidhan Sadan', Radhakrishnan urged public representatives to adopt dialogue, debate and discussion to serve the people's rightful aspirations. No country can be made great just like that, without the contribution of the people. We have to perform our respective roles with duty consciousness, he said. The greatest tribute to our magnificent Constitution on this day is to pledge ourselves to live up to its values, the vice-president said. Urging public representatives, he said, It is our prime duty, be it in Parliament or the state legislatures or in the local bodies, to adopt dialogue, debate, and discussion to serve the people's rightful aspirations. In the same spirit of our Constitution makers, we should now work towards the goal of Viksit Bharat during this Amrit Kaal, the vice-president said. In a globally changing economic and geo-political scenario, we all require reforms in many spheres of life, he said, noting that electoral reforms, judicial reforms and financial reforms are very important. Radhakrishnan also said the GST -- the 'one nation-one tax' mechanism -- has added to the prosperity of the people besides facilitating ease of doing business. It paved the way for removing the complicated multiple tax systems and all the check posts in the country overnight. It proved that the government had a lot of faith in the common man, he said. The vice-president also said that the Constitution reflects our strong commitment towards social justice, and economic empowerment of the weaker sections. Constitution guiding document to shun colonial mindset, adopt nationalistic thinking: President Murmu
Amway India Launches 'Nutrilite Vitamin D Plus Boron'
With nutritional gaps arising from today’s lifestyles, consumers are turning toward holistic wellbeing to support healthier lives. One such concern is Vitamin D inadequacy, a silent epidemic that continues to affect people across age groups, underscoring the need to proactively address nutritional gaps. Driven by consumers needs and advancing its nutrition expertise, Amway India, a leading company supporting health and wellbeing, launched Nutrilite Vitamin D plus Boron - a scientifically designed formulation with ingredients that helps maintain optimal Vitamin D levels and supports bone and immune health. Amway India launches ‘Nutrilite Vitamin D plus Boron’ 80–90% Indians have inadequate Vitamin D levels, which can adversely affect bone and overall health over time. Understanding this pressing need, we at Amway are strengthening our science-backed nutrition portfolio to help people achieve their wellness goals. As part of our strategic focus on accelerating product innovation, we are proud to introduce our latest offering, Nutrilite Vitamin D Plus Boron, made with ingredients to support strong bones and holistic health. This marks a key step in our consumers’ transformation journey towards lasting wellbeing. Our commitment goes beyond supplementation; we aim to empower individuals to take charge of their wellbeing, enhancing their vitality and enabling them to live not just longer, but healthier, more fulfilling lives .” Talking about the power-packed formulation, Amrita Asrani, Chief Marketing Officer, Amway India , said, “ This formulation truly embodies our philosophy of holistic wellbeing. At Amway, we are committed to providing advanced, science-backed supplementation that supports the evolving needs of today’s health-conscious consumers. Vitamin D3 plays a crucial role in calcium absorption to strengthen bone structure and density, while Boron enhances Vitamin D utilization and Vitamin K2 ensures calcium is effectively delivered to the bones where it matters most. Complementing Vitamin D3, our patented blend of Licorice and Quercetin supports bone health and provides natural antioxidant support—together creating a unique three-tier protection system that nurtures bone health from within. Rooted in Nutrilite’s philosophy of harnessing the best of nature and science, this formulation brings traditional wisdom that reflects our mission to empower Indians with strength, resilience, and vitality — not just for today, but for the years ahead .” With a unique blend of Vitamin D3, Boron, Vitamin K2, Quercetin, and Licorice, Nutrilite Vitamin D plus Boron offers comprehensive support that goes beyond conventional Vitamin D supplements, helping bridge dietary gaps before they translate into health concerns. Aligned with recommended dietary allowances (RDA) and regulatory standards, it reflects Nutrilite’s commitment to empowering individuals to take charge of their health through preventive nutrition. Nutrilite Vitamin D plus Boron is backed by Nutrilite’s 90+ years of expertise in nutrition and is scientifically formulated with ingredients to provide bone health support. Each tablet delivers Vitamin D3 (15 μg / 600 IU), provides 100% of the RDA which helps in efficient calcium absorption in the body and supports bone density. Boron (3 mg) at a clinically effective dosage to enhance Vitamin D utilization. Vitamin K2 (20 μg) along with Vitamin D is necessary in calcium management. Patented blend of Licorice and Quercetin, sourced from NutriCert™ farms, which may help to supports overall bone health. www.amway.in . To put its nutritional value into perspective each tablet offers Vitamin D = 5 cups of whole cow’s milk (1.23 L), Boron = 4.5 medium-sized apples Vitamin K2 = three boiled eggs (154 g). ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Boron-HealthProfessional/ About Amway India Amway India, one of the leading FMCG Direct Selling companies supporting health and wellbeing, is an ultimate wholly owned subsidiary of Amway Corporation (Alticor Global Holdings Inc), USA, the world's #1 direct-selling company. Globally, Amway is a 65+ year old, US$ 7.4 billion, manufacturer and direct seller of quality consumer goods. Amway’s innovation and industry-leading R&D have seen more than 750 global patents granted and a few more patents pending. Amway has more than 800 scientists, engineers, and technical professionals who extend its innovation and science capabilities to deliver global, regional, and local product research and development. Amway India sells close to 140 daily-use products across categories like Nutrition, Beauty, Personal Care, Home Care and Consumer durables through Amway Direct Selling Partners who make personal recommendations regarding the use of distinctive quality products. Amway products are widely recognized and appreciated for their quality and value. These products are backed by a money-back guarantee for 100% satisfaction of use. Amway’s first manufacturing facility in India, located at Nilakotai in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, has won the prestigious LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council as one of the most environment-friendly and sustainable facilities in the country. Amway products are popular not just in India but across the world. Nutrilite, the world's No. 1 selling vitamins and dietary supplement brand, has established itself as a leading brand in the vitamins and dietary supplements category in India as well. The company also offers a range of beauty & skincare products under Artistry Skin NutritionTM, which is a blend of Artistry skin science and Nutrilite expertise, infused with Nutrilite ingredients that are clean and traceable. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6366270/ Vitamin D deficiency in India - PMC www.directsellingnews.com/global-100-lists/ gdretail.net/amway-claims/
Diageo India's United Spirits cuts 93% green house gas emissions, exceeds renewable energy targets
Diageo India has achieved a remarkable 93 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions since 2020. The company now uses 99 percent renewable energy, surpassing its 2030 goals. Water conservation efforts have also seen significant improvements. Diageo India is leading in sustainable business practices, demonstrating strong environmental and social commitment.
When the Feet Tell a Bigger Story: Understanding Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetes
Diabetes often announces itself quietly, but the damage it causes to our blood vessels can be far from silent. Among the many complications it brings, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is one of the most overlooked—and yet one of the most revealing. While high blood sugar gradually injures blood vessels, one of the earliest and most revealing signs of this damage often appears in the legs. This is why clinicians commonly say, “the foot is the index of the heart.” The blood vessels in the feet can quietly reflect the same blockages and narrowing that may be developing in the coronary arteries. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is not a rare complication restricted to a few. In India, studies have shown that nearly 30% of people living with diabetes have either symptomatic or silent PAD. What makes it particularly concerning is the persistence of a myth that diabetes affects only the smaller blood vessels of the foot. In reality, macrovascular disease—blockages in the larger arteries—is equally, if not more, prevalent, and is a major contributor to non-healing ulcers and amputations. A foot ulcer that refuses to heal for more than four weeks should never be ignored. It is often a red flag indicating compromised blood flow. A simple clinical examination can reveal the absence of foot pulses, prompting further vascular evaluation. Early detection is critical because once PAD is diagnosed, effective treatments—including angioplasty or bypass surgery—can restore blood supply and prevent catastrophic outcomes. The troubling truth is that almost 80% of diabetes-related amputations begin with a small ulcer that could have been avoided. Simple preventive steps—daily foot inspection, avoiding barefoot walking, and wearing well-fitted footwear—can significantly reduce the risk. In many cases, these habits make the difference between healing and long-term disability. Dr Manish Yadav, Senior Consultant, Interventional Radiology, KIMSHEALTH Hospital, Trivandrum “ The feet often speak before the heart does. When a patient develops a non-healing ulcer or complains of leg pain while walking, these are not minor issues—they can be the first signs of significant blockages in major arteries. Detecting PAD early allows us not only to save the limb but also to uncover hidden heart disease. In many ways, every diabetic foot is a message urging us to look deeper, act faster, and protect the patient’s overall cardiovascular health, ” says Dr Manish Yadav Senior Consultant—Interventional Radiology at KIMS HEALTH Hospital , Trivandrum, highlighting the urgency of awareness. India’s growing burden of diabetes, even in rural areas, reflects a broader lifestyle shift: declining physical activity and rising sedentary behaviour. Reintroducing movement into daily routines is not merely advisable; it is essential. A goal of 10,000 steps a day, as recommended by the WHO, is a powerful yet achievable step toward protecting vascular health. For every person living with diabetes, the message is clear: maintain strict blood sugar control, embrace an active lifestyle, and make foot care a non-negotiable daily routine. Regular annual evaluations of the heart, kidneys, eyes, and feet can identify complications early. And when the feet show changes—loss of sensation, discoloration, infection, or ulceration—seeking prompt medical care can protect not just the limb, but life itself.
Building a home for art in the city
Community, for Ananthapadmanabhan V, was a concept he became familiar with very early in life by watching his mother. When they were in Dubai, she was involved in different community activities, helping women in difficult situations return home, supporting small charities for animals, and organising simple fundraising events like school bake sales. He often assisted her in these efforts, and over time, this exposure influenced how he viewed people, support systems, and collective responsibility. After returning to his hometown and taking up photography, he realised that the values he learned in childhood were still driving the way he looked at the world. When I was working as a photographer, any event that was connected to a community, I would do it for free because I liked the concept, he says. But he also began noticing that in Thiruvananthapuram, dedicated communities for artists were few. The city had musicians, dancers, poets, visual artists, photographers, and many talented individuals, but they were scattered and lacked a shared space to meet, collaborate, and grow. I wanted to create a community where everybody could come, connect, collaborate, perform, and grow, the 29-year-old said. This thinking led to the creation of The Ark Art, Rhythm and Collective. He explains that many emerging artists hesitate to step forward because they do not know the right people. Someone constantly posting music videos online may never meet instrumentalists who could collaborate with them. My goal is to give upcoming artists visibility, opportunities, and a supportive group of people who share the same creative energy. Basically, I want to create an ecosystem for artists to create good memories, Ananthapadmanabhan adds. Although the idea has been in his mind for a long time, he has been actively working on it for about a month. To get started, he personally contacted around 100 artists across the city. About 3035 responded, forming the initial foundation of the group. A band has already formed from within this early pool. Another challenge artists in Thiruvananthapuram face, he says, is the lack of accessible venues. Even well-established groups often spend significant amounts just to organise a meet-up. To address this, The Ark has taken up Ambalathil Hall at Ambalamukku and is converting it into a creative community space - something closer to an art caf than a traditional club. The venue can host around 300 people, and the initial goal is to organise at least four different events or host four different creative communities every month. The idea is to create a common umbrella for the many artistic communities in the city. The Arks first open mic will be held on December 7 at that space, with more than 25 upcoming artists set to perform, including over 10 instrumentalists, a Bharatanatyam showcase, and several singers. So, people know that a new community is opening and they are all welcome, he says. Another programme is being planned for December 14, featuring a dance and rap battle. These kinds of events usually push artists to travel to Kochi or other cities. I want them to happen here, so people dont have to leave the city to find opportunities, he said. For updates, follow @the_ark_tvm on Instagram.
Diageo Indias United Spirits cuts 93 pc green house gas emissions, exceeds renewable energy targets
NEW DELHI, Nov 26: Diageo India (United Spirits Ltd) has reported a 93 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2020 in its fourth annual ESG index, achieving 99 per cent renewable energy use well ahead of its 2030 targets. The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) index, aligned with Global Reporting Initiative standards, UN Sustainable Development Goals and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board disclosures, covers fiscal year 2024-2025 and highlights water conservation, low-carbon initiatives and community impacts in water-stressed [] The post Diageo Indias United Spirits cuts 93 pc green house gas emissions, exceeds renewable energy targets appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
The National Finance Olympiad (NFO) , India’s largest and most impactful financial literacy programme for students in Grades 6 to 12, has now extended its mission to younger learners with the launch of a new range of Personal Finance Handbooks for Grades 1 to 5. This initiative aims to nurture financial confidence, curiosity and awareness from an early age, helping children develop essential life skills in managing money. Mitul Mehta & Shiv Bidani- Co-founders of National FInance Olympiad According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s financial literacy rate stands at just 27%, compared to 71% in Nordic countries such as Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Experts attribute the Nordic region’s success to introducing money management concepts early, helping students build essential financial skills from a young age. Recognising this gap and the need for early financial education, the Personal Finance Handbooks for Grades 1 to 5 are created. Each book is thoughtfully designed with colourful illustrations, engaging characters, relatable examples and hands-on activities that make complex financial ideas simple and enjoyable to learn. In addition, a Parent–Child Activity Booklet has been introduced for Grades 1–2 that encourages fun, interactive learning and quality family time – all at once. The age-appropriate content throughout the books introduces children to fundamental money concepts such as the value of money, needs versus wants, saving and spending wisely and setting small financial goals. " Financial education is often seen as something meant for adults, but its foundation should be laid much earlier. That is why introducing children to money concepts from a young age helps them understand the value of earning, saving, and spending wisely ," said Mitul Mehta, Co-founder of the National Finance Olympiad (NFO) . Shiv Bidani, fellow Co-founder of the National Finance Olympiad , said, " Early exposure builds confidence, encourages goal-setting and fosters responsible habits that last a lifetime – ultimately shaping financially informed and independent adults ." Building on this vision and commitment to early financial education, the Personal Finance Handbooks for Grades 1-5 are now available on the website of the National Finance Olympiad. With this launch, NFO creates a new benchmark in the academic landscape and continues its mission to make financial literacy an integral part of every child’s learning journey. About NFO The National Finance Olympiad (NFO) is India’s largest and most impactful financial literacy program dedicated to students from Grades 5 to 12. Founded with the vision of making financial education accessible, relevant, and practical, NFO equips young learners with essential money management skills to navigate the increasingly complex financial world. With a footprint spanning over 500+ educational institutions across 100+ cities, NFO has rapidly become the preferred platform for introducing school students to a structured financial education curriculum. It aligns closely with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, supporting India’s broader goals of enhancing life skills among students. The NFO program is backed by an advisory panel of eminent finance professionals and academicians, including IIM professors and industry leaders, ensuring academic rigour and relevance.
Black Friday deals include half off one of our favorite budgeting apps
Those looking for a better way to keep track of their finances should consider a budgeting app . There are dozens of them on the market now, and one of our favorites is running a discount for new subscribers. Monarch Money is offering 50 percent off annual plans right now when you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout. With the typical yearly price being $100, this will save you $50. As mentioned before, the discount is only for new users and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web as well. You can't redeem it through the Monarch mobile app. We feel that Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers and that certain aspects of the app are slightly more complex than they probably need to be. But it offers a great deal of customization and granularity , which outweighs our misgivings. On the main dashboard, you'll see your net worth along with your latest transactions, spending versus the previous month, your income so far for the month and details about upcoming bills, your investments and goals you've set. There's also a link to a month-in-review page, which offers an in-depth overview of what's been happening with your money that month. You'll also be able to take a peek at how your net worth has changed over time. Monarch can connect to your bank and track Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings accounts. It can pull in your transactions and balance history automatically and detect your recurring expenses and income. The app can even keep your car valuation up to date. While it might take a little work to set up Monarch (and you might have to tweak things here and there), it's a detailed budgeting app that can help you keep better track of your income, expenditure and net worth. If you're a former Mint user (RIP), Monarch Money is a great alternative if you haven't yet found a Mint replacement . But it's worth mentioning that our favorite Mint replacement service, Quicken Simplifi , also has a sale going on right now. It's offering 50 percent off when you sign up for an annual subscription, billed at $3 per month with the discount. That comes out to $36 for the first year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deals-include-half-off-one-of-our-favorite-budgeting-apps-174011283.html?src=rss
S Goa gears up for PMs visit ahead of Partagali Math event
NT Reporter | Margao Elaborate arrangements have been made by the South Goa administration for smooth flow of traffic during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 550th anniversary celebrations of Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math at Partagali, Canacona on November 28. Thousands of devotees, spiritual leaders and dignitaries are expected to [] The post S Goa gears up for PMs visit ahead of Partagali Math event appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Asias tallest Lord Ram statue a moment of pride for Goans
NT Reporter | Margao PWD Minister Digambar Kamat announced on Tuesday that the tallest statue of Lord Ram in Asia has been installed at Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math in Canacona, calling it a moment of great pride for Goans. Kamat said, The 77-foot bronze statue will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi [] The post Asias tallest Lord Ram statue a moment of pride for Goans appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Expert panel screens 26 startup applications for seed funding
NT Reporter | Panaji As many as 26 startup applications came up for evaluation before the expert committee of the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C), which held its 10th meeting recently for the sanctioning of incentives under the Seed Fund Grant Scheme of the Goa Startup Policy. The meeting, held at the [] The post Expert panel screens 26 startup applications for seed funding appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Officials conduct HC-ordered inspection of Assolna waterbody
NT Reporter | Margao Acting on directions of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, a high-level team on Tuesday conducted an inspection of Moddoranchem torem, the traditional waterbody in Assolna that has become the centre of a dispute over paddy cultivation and water management. The matter is scheduled to come up before the court [] The post Officials conduct HC-ordered inspection of Assolna waterbody appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Constitutional duties are foundation of democracy, says PM Modi in letter to nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called on citizens to place their Constitutional duties at the forefront, describing them as the bedrock of a strong and vibrant democracy. In a letter marking Constitution Day, Modi stressed the importance of strengthening democracy by responsibly exercising the right to vote. He suggested that schools and colleges celebrate the day by honouring first-time voters turning 18, thereby fostering a sense of participation in nation-building. Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the prime minister said rights naturally emerge from the fulfilment of duties and that this principle forms the basis of social and economic progress. He also remembered the pivotal contributions of Rajendra Prasad, B. R. Ambedkar and other members of the Constituent Assembly, along with the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Birsa Munda and Gandhi during the freedom struggle. Referring to Article 51A, Modi said the Constitutions chapter on Fundamental Duties offers a roadmap for collective advancement. Every action of ours should strengthen the Constitution and further national goals and interests, he wrote. Modi highlighted how Sardar Patels leadership paved the way for Indias political unification, adding that his inspiration guided the government in its decision to revoke Articles 370 and 35(A), bringing all constitutional rights to Jammu & Kashmir, especially for women and marginalised communities. Speaking of Birsa Mundas legacy, he said the tribal icon continues to inspire Indias commitment to justice and empowerment for tribal communities. The prime minister reminded citizens of their duty to vote in every election in which they are registered. He also proposed special ceremonies on November 26 each year in educational institutions to celebrate students who reach voting age. On a personal note, Modi said the Constitution had enabled a person from a humble background like him to serve as the head of the government continuously for over 24 years. He recalled bowing at the steps of Parliament in 2014 and touching the Constitution to his forehead after the 2019 election victory as gestures of his deep respect. This Constitution has given many others like me the power to dream, and the strength to realise those dreams, he said. Our Constitution gives utmost importance to human dignity, equality and liberty. While it empowers us with rights, it also reminds us of our duties as citizens, which we should always try to fulfil. These duties are the foundation of a strong democracy, Modi said in a post on X. On Constitution Day, we pay tribute to the framers of our Constitution. Their vision and foresight continue to motivate us in our pursuit of building a Viksit Bharat. Our Constitution gives utmost importance to human dignity, equality and liberty. While it empowers us with Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2025 (With inputs from PTI)
Portfolio management and asset allocation lessons from the Mahabharata
Each such portfolio has its own risk and return strategy and grows at a specific rate to deliver the required corpus to meet the goal. Most of us are comfortable with such a strategy. But, is this the right approach?
Singapore tells Apple, Google to clamp down on government spoofing
We share Singapore's goal of keeping Singaporeans safe online, Google told AFP in a statement
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani make grand entry, couple arrive hand-in-hand at event goes viral; Watch
Often, billionaire couple Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani has garnered attention for their relationship dynamics on camera. Not just for their business ventures, the Ambani couple had made headlines with their public appearances, serving major couple goals. Also, they sparked speculations with videos wherein Nita Ambani was seen avoiding holding hands with her husband, Mukesh, at an event. Some people trolled Nita for being unforgiving, and others praised her for setting boundaries. In the latest development, the Ambani couple made a grand entry, arriving hand-in-hand, silencing critics with their elegant and loving presence.
ASI firms up framework to end excavation delays
NEW DELHI: Learning from years of stalled excavations and delayed reports, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is preparing a structured framework to ensure that major archaeological projects no longer hinge on individual officers or collapse when they are transferred or retire. The proposed guidelines, officials said, will clearly define objectives for every excavation, establish continuity regardless of personnel changes, and impose stricter accountability across branches. At present, excavations often run on the initiative of individual officials. When one leaves, there is no coordination and the next person starts work in a completely different way, an official familiar with the plan said. These are long-term projects and must have defined goals. Once the mechanism is in place, archaeological work, excavations or museum projects will continue seamlessly, and the scope can be expanded or reduced as needed. A key focus of the overhaul is fixing the weak link that has plagued ASI for decades, the preparation and publication of excavation reports. In several cases, findings have not been submitted to ASI headquarters for years after fieldwork ended. To address this, ASI plans to enforce firm deadlines. Excavators have been told to submit a primary report within three months of completing fieldwork, supported by fortnightly updates. Analytical components that require laboratory testing can follow later. Annual reports, officials said, must also be filed on schedule and full project reports completed within three years. The Survey currently has over 20 active excavation sites, supported by six dedicated excavation branches in Nagpur, Delhi, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Vadodara and Mysore. Recent work includes the fortified ancient city at Vadnagar in Gujarat, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, and Hastinapur in Uttar Pradesh. To avoid the chronic post-fieldwork gaps that slow down documentation, excavation teams will now be required to remain on site for additional days after digging concludes. Surveyors, archaeologists, photographers, they come from different units. Once they disperse, coordination becomes difficult. The team must stay together to finish preliminary records and compile the basic report, an official said. Between 2014 and 2024, the Modi government allocated Rs 9,652 crore to ASI, including Rs 63.27 crore specifically for excavations. Major digs during this period, Rakhigarhi in Haryana, Sinauli in Uttar Pradesh, Keezhadi in Tamil Nadu, remain without published official reports. Excavators have presented findings at conferences and in interviews, but the formal documentation is still absent. In 2023, ASI told a Rajya Sabha standing committee it had received 11 reports from Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, but all of them were still under vetting. The committee urged ASI to expedite the process and make the reports public. New mandate ASI has over 20 active excavation sites, supported by six dedicated branches. Excavators to submit a primary report within three months of completing fieldwork, supported by fortnightly updates. Excavation teams required to remain on site after digging concludes, to finish preliminary records and compile basic report. Annual reports to be filed on schedule and full project reports completed within 3 yrs. From 2014 to 2024, the Modi govt allocated Rs 9,652 cr to ASI, including Rs 63.27 cr for excavations.
A walk post meal can step up your health goals
Walking after meals, often called postprandial walking, is one of the simplest yet most powerful habits for improving metabolic health. A short 10-15-minute walk can significantly influence how your body processes food, manages blood sugar, and stores fat. This small daily practice supports digestion, stabilises energy levels, and contributes meaningfully to long-term weight management. After eating, blood glucose levels naturally rise as food is digested and absorbed. Normally, insulin helps move this glucose into cells for use or storage. However, prolonged sitting after meals or consuming high-carbohydrate foods can lead to larger glucose spikes, placing greater demand on insulin. Over time, repeated spikes can contribute to insulin resistance, fatigue, and difficulty with weight control. Walking immediately after a meal activates your largest muscle groups, your legs. These muscles act like a sponge, pulling glucose out of the bloodstream and using it for energy. This process allows the body to lower blood sugar more efficiently without relying solely on insulin. Even light-intensity walking can significantly reduce the rise in glucose that typically occurs after meals. The timing is especially important because walking during the post-meal period aligns movement with the bodys natural metabolic response. Instead of storing excess glucose as fat, your muscles utilise it right away. Post-meal walking contributes to weight management in several interconnected ways: High insulin levels encourage the body to store fat, especially around the abdomen. By reducing glucose spikes, walking prevents the sharp increase in insulin that promotes fat storage. Over time, this supports healthier body composition and easier weight control. Consistently lowering the demand for insulin helps the body become more sensitive to it. Improved insulin sensitivity is strongly linked to weight management, reduced inflammation, better hormonal balance, and easier fat loss. Large fluctuations in blood sugar often lead to hunger soon after a meal, increasing cravings for sweets or snacks. Walking helps flatten these fluctuations, stabilising appetite and reducing unnecessary caloric intake. This natural appetite regulation supports sustainable weight loss without extreme dieting. Walking after meals adds small bursts of physical activity throughout the day. These short bouts cumulatively increase daily calorie burn without stressing the body. Unlike high-intensity workouts, which may elevate cortisol and increase hunger in some individuals, light walking supports fat loss while keeping stress hormones stable. Walking stimulates digestion by promoting movement in the gastrointestinal tract. Many people find that post-meal walking helps reduce bloating, acidity, and heaviness after eating. This improved digestive motility also helps regulate bowel movements, making it especially helpful for individuals with sluggish digestion, PCOS, or metabolic challenges. Instead of feeling sleepy after meals, a short walk boosts blood circulation, oxygen delivery, and alertness. This makes post-meal walking highly useful for professionals, students, and anyone who experiences mid-day energy dips. Better glucose control directly translates into more stable energy and improved cognitive performance. You dont need long or intense sessions. The most effective pattern is: Walk for 10-15 minutes after each major meal Keep the pace light to moderate, comfortable enough to hold a conversation Aim for consistency rather than intensity Even a single post-meal walk, such as after lunch or dinner, can have measurable benefits. For individuals managing diabetes, insulin resistance, PCOS, or stubborn weight, walking after every meal is particularly impactful. Walking after meals is a powerful, accessible, and sustainable lifestyle habit that significantly improves glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, appetite regulation, and overall metabolic health. By activating large muscle groups during the critical post-meal window, the body uses glucose efficiently, reduces fat storage, and maintains stable energy levels. This simple habit, just 10 to 15 minutes of walking, can have profound long-term effects on weight management and overall well-being.
Dont file FIRs, please' says comedian Abish Mathew
Long before he became one of the most recognisable comedy voices, Abish Mathew was a radio jockey in Delhi a young man with an instinct for humour. From there came the YouTube hits, comedy clubs, the specials, the tours, Comicstaan, Son of Abish, improv sets, sketch videos, and an evolving stage persona that refuses to sit still. Abish has never been just a stand-up; he is a host, writer, performer and creator who is constantly evolving. He recently brought his latest set, Abish Mathew and His Many Talents: Part Two, to Kochi. We sat down to chat the next morning after the performance. When I walked into the venue, he was already hunched over his iPad, stylus in hand replaying the previous nights recording and marking every response. Where the audience laughed, where they chuckled or applauded, and where a joke didnt quite land. It was an almost surgical review of the art of laughter and perhaps the most fitting snapshot of a performer who is constantly fine-tuning himself. In this chat, Abish opened up about discovering clowning, the science of humour, the chilling effect on comedy today, and the emotional weight of drawing from personal history. Excerpts: What do you prefer calling yourself artist, comedian, something else? I honestly dont know. My music teacher once told me that you dont define your own genre; the audience tells you what you are. Your job is to create in the moment. So, we are nothing but references of things we love. And if we merge them, we become unique. If someone calls me an artist, Ill happily take it. But I personally prefer freelancer as that identity keeps me accountable. It reminds me of discipline, deadlines and employment. In any creative field, you need one for the kitchen, one for the soul. Art should feed your spirit, but something must also pay the bills. Ive been fortunate that my passion became my profession, but timing mattered. If YouTube hadnt happened when it did, or if that whole wave with AIB, Vir (Das), hadnt come at the time, I might have ended up in an advertising agency. What brought you to clowning? I had first discovered clowning years ago through Cirque du Soleil on YouTube. David Shiner, Mila Uesoft clowns who could make an audience the centre of the show without saying a word. As I grew up, I found stand-up, later improv, and forgot about clowning. A workshop in Mumbai by Pyotr Sikovar (Furioso) re-ignited something. His idea of the flop blew my mind going with an idea, letting it fail, and staying in the failure. The audience roots for you precisely because you never succeed. The power dynamic is beautiful. Abish during a performance You recently went to Norway to explore clowning. How was that experience? The Norway Clown Camp was a month-long residency on a farm with 1520 people from around the world. Philip Burgers (Dr Brown) taught us. He is someone Id admired for years. Seeing him in person and learning the importance of making eye contact with the audience, being vulnerable and uncomfortable all of it changed something in me. I feel more fearless on stage now. Is this why clowning has become important to you? Absolutely. Clowning forces me to keep quiet. Thats my new challenge can I make an audience laugh in silence? But even clowning will flirt with political incorrectness. The goal is not to test limits but to understand: both the comedian and the audience are flawed. You also study comedy. Do you like calling yourself a nerd? Im a comedy nerd, 100%. Before I touched the stage, I was obsessively researching comedy. I get very excited when someone writes a bit, and I become curious to know how did they think of it. From all the interactions I have had with other comedians, I have realised that, many of the jokes werent written on paper they happened serendipitously maybe because of something an audience member said or it just came to them as a thought on stage. Is that true for you too? Yes. Earlier, I believed a joke had to be perfect before I went on stage. Now I write diligently, but I also allow discovery. I talk to myself in the mirror, rehearse jokes and review every set. If something works accidentally, I make a note of it so its not lost. Recently, a joke about men and women dancing or moving their pelvis differently at sangeet ceremonies worked three times in a row. I dont know if its a good joke yet but Ill explore it until it proves itself or fails. Do concepts like theories of humour influence you? Very much. Superiority theory, surprise theory... Recently, I learnt about benign violations. It was introduced to me by Viggo Venn (who won Britains Got Talent), a world-renowned clown. Benign violation is humour that violates softly, just enough to be funny but not offensive. Like the pelvis joke. My hope is that even my parents would laugh that is the sweet spot. Push beyond that, and it stops being benign; it just becomes crass. In recent years, comedians have been targeted frequently. Do you feel its becoming more difficult to be a comedian today? Yes. Theres the chilling effect.Someone explained it to me like this: once, being homosexual was illegal, but the police wont come to your house to check. Still, the fear shaped who you are outside your house. That same chilling effect has seeped into comedy. Some comedians boldly say, I will talk anyway, and you admire that courage. You aspire to get there. But if you dont have financial, legal or network support, especially in India, what happens to you? Its absolutely okay to disagree with something I said or did. Just dont file FIRs, please. Vent it out. Come threaten me on Instagram DM, and I will understand. Or maybe block you (laughs). Its not just comedians the audience has changed too. Theres this cultural shift of, If I cant say it, then you cant say it. Most people catch themselves doing it and stop themselves from acting on it. Ideally, scrutiny should go towards hate speech not jokes but thats not how it plays out. So you end up doing family-friendly humour even when you want to talk about bigger things. Do you feel freer in Kerala? 100%. The audience here shares a similar social and political mindset. Not identical views just an openness. We grew up not understanding politics, but this is the age where we finally speak about the country a little bit, right? There are comics who do it more confidently than I do, and I hope to get there. Kerala gives me that space. Also, Kerala laughs at political humour in a way few other places do. Its cultural. I grew up in Delhi, but I used to watch Munshi. Political commentary has been part of humour here for decades. So there were bold artists before us. When I know the audience is my audience, whether its Kerala or Gujarat, I can be open. If its a corporate gig or a festival, where I dont know whos coming, I have to be more careful, not just for me, but for the organisers too. Youve performed a song in one of your sets, which revealed the story behind your name. A combination of your older brothers names (Anish+Binish). There was so much grief in it (since Binish passed away before you were born), how did that song come about? During the lockdown, I was alone and had creative space. In that silence I discovered things about myself. I realised that writing lyrics or rhymes makes you more intentional than when youre just clicking keys on a keyboard. So I wrote a draft and almost forgot about it. Then Spoken Fest asked me to perform. A poet-artist friend, Shantanu, heard it and told me to develop it. So I did a spoken-word version. Later, when I did Abish Mathew and His Many Talents, I included a 10-minute piece of that, because quite a few people encouraged me to do so. It didnt fit a stand-up show; its quite a downer. So I added it somewhere in the middle. That piece makes me emotional. There are times I almost choke up. I had to practice to control it because if I cried on stage repeatedly, it would look like self-obsession. The special Im releasing ends with that song and the guitar part I added mirrors how I felt. Whats next? I am working on a new bit, a special in development. I do want to talk about what this love is. what it is like to be married, why does one need to be married. But I haven't gotten there yet. I have just been able to get to a point where I am talking about my experiences of love. Now that might become a separate special, before that I need to spend a little bit more time with myself on these things. Now, being married twice, theres insight there. Life is very different now. I see myself as two different people with two different people. And I think: Oh my God, Abish. You are the problem! I want to talk about my married life through my lens. It will be challenging but worth it. It will be about me, my insecurity, which I know many men will relate to. Thats what I want to tackle in this bit.
FC Goa travel to Iraq for crucial clash against Al Zawraa SC
Baghdad, Nov 25: FC Goa return to continental duty with a high-stakes trip to Baghdad, where they face Al Zawraa SC in a crucial AFC Champions League Two Group D fixture. The match, kicking off at 9:30 PM IST at the Al-Zawraa Stadium, carries significant weight for both sides. With four matches played, Goa enter []
DIPR promotes J&K Film Policy at IFFI Goa
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Government, through Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), participated in 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held at Goa. The J&K Government was represented by Commissioner Secretary Information, M Raju; Director Information, Nitish Rajora; Joint Director Information (Hqrs), Dr. Zahoor Ahmad; Joint Director Information Jammu Deepak Dubey; Nodal Officer, J&K Film Policy Maheer Thakur and Cultural Officer Kashmir, Burhan Hussain at the grand film festival. During the festival, a [] The post DIPR promotes J&K Film Policy at IFFI Goa appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Police crack Baina dacoity, arrest 5 accused outside state
Substantial recovery made, says DGP Panaji: Goa police have cracked the Baina dacoity case, with cops nabbing five accused at a location outside the state. Director General of Police Alok Kumar confirmed the arrests on Tuesday. He said that a substantial recovery has been made in the case and the accused are being brought to [] The post Police crack Baina dacoity, arrest 5 accused outside state appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Goa, Norway explore new avenues for collaboration
Panaji: Goa strengthened its international engagement as a high-level Norwegian delegation visited the state for a roundtable hosted by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C) in collaboration with the Department of Tourism to discuss cooperation in technology, tourism, skilling and the creative economy. The meeting was attended by IT and Tourism Minister [] The post Goa, Norway explore new avenues for collaboration appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Study on Western Ghats warns of decline in ecological productivity
Abdul Wahab Khan Panaji : A study spanning over two decades has uncovered a paradox in the Western Ghats forest productivity is declining even as the forest cover expands, with Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra showing concerning trends in the northern region of this critical biodiversity hotspot. The research, conducted by Sanjay Kumar, Jyothika Karkala, [] The post Study on Western Ghats warns of decline in ecological productivity appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Patients gain as physiotherapy service reaches their doorsteps
Panaji: More than 40 to 50 home-based patients, many of them senior citizens, have sought assistance from Goas expanding network of free doorstep medical and physiotherapy services, with health professionals now travelling across the state to provide treatment directly at peoples homes. Commissioner for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Guruprasad Pawaskar, said the initiative [] The post Patients gain as physiotherapy service reaches their doorsteps appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Karnataka trawler seized off Vasco for fishing in Goan waters
Panaji: The Fisheries Department on Tuesday seized a trawler from Malpe, Karnataka which was fishing in Goan territorial waters. This is the seventh trawler seized by the department during the current season. A Fisheries Department official informed that the six-member team of the Department had gone for patrolling in the Goan territorial waters from Panaji [] The post Karnataka trawler seized off Vasco for fishing in Goan waters appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Unemployed on OPT? Heres how international students in US can navigate the job hunt
International students on OPT face a tough job market, with many applying to thousands of positions without success due to visa sponsorship issues. The number of students on OPT has surged, intensifying competition. Navigating strict rules, tracking unemployment days, and exploring alternative employment options are crucial for maintaining F-1 status while pursuing career goals.
Panchayats key to achieve TB-free India goals
Obesity emerging as major epidemic driving Indias preventable disease burden: Report
NEW DELHI: Nearly one in four adults in India is now obese, and worrying trends are also emerging among children, according to a new report released on the eve of Anti-Obesity Day on Tuesday. The report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) warned that the situation is set to worsen in the coming decades, with almost one-third of the countrys population projected to be obese by 2050, driven primarily by sedentary lifestyles, high-calorie diets and genetic susceptibility. Obesity is no longer a future concern but an epidemic that is driving Indias growing burden of preventable disease, affecting not only the health of the country but its economic prosperity, the report said. According to the findings in Building on Success to Secure Indias Future Health , obesity is estimated to cost the countrys health system about USD 2.4 billion annually and weigh down economic productivity by an estimated USD 28.9 billion a year, or about 1 per cent of GDP. The report, launched as part of a high-level roundtable discussion on the future of Indias health resilience, stated that India still has the opportunity to slow this trajectory before the projected scenarios materialise. Vivek Agarwal, Country Director, TBI, said, Indias leadership in digital health gives it a unique opportunity to redefine preventive care for the world. By combining technology, data, and community-driven action, India can not only reduce the growing burden of obesity but also build a stronger, more resilient health system for future generations. Maulik Chokshi, Global Director of Health Systems Research and Policy at ACCESS Health International, said, Preventive health must become a central pillar of Indias growth story. The governments focus on digital platforms and community health is already transforming outcomes, but tackling obesity will require a whole-of-society effort linking policy, innovation, and behavioural change at the individual level. Reports like this can help chart the course for that collective action. Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman at Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences, said obesity in Indians behaves differently, it is more inflammatory and metabolically disruptive. Even at lower BMI, Indians develop high blood sugar much earlier. The pattern of fat deposition is also distinct, with excess abdominal and visceral fat emerging as the most dangerous form. This abdominal adiposity drives early diabetes, heart disease, and other metabolic illnesses. Addressing this unique, high-risk obesity phenotype is essential for Indias future health, he added. Neeraj Jain, Director, Growth Operations Asia, Middle East and Europe, PATH, said, India has no shortage of innovation or intent in preventive health. The next step is to bring these initiatives together under a programmatic framework that delivers results at scale. We must raise this conversation from individual projects to a national priority, with the government, industry, and citizens rallying around a shared goal of a healthier India. Experts at the discussion noted that India has the foundations to lead globally on prevention. With strong digital infrastructure, a growing network of primary-care centres, and world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, the country, they said, can move faster than others to build a prevention-first health system. The way forward, according to experts, lies in action across four key areas, strengthening food-environment regulation to reduce consumption of high-fat, sugar and salt products; scaling digital risk identification through platforms such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and e-Sanjeevani; incentivising healthy living using digital rewards linked to the Ayushman Bharat Digital framework; and planning for affordable anti-obesity medicines as Indias pharmaceutical industry prepares for the rollout of generics.
Black Friday has become the time to buy the hottest tech of the year. Whether you're shopping for yourself or stocking up on gifts for the holidays, Black Friday deals are sure to bring the best prices of the year to things like headphones, game consoles, robot vacuums, phone accessories and everything in between. You don't even have to wait until Black Friday proper to save a ton of money. Over the past few years, we've seen Black Friday tech deals start earlier and earlier to the point where the entire month of November is packed with discounts. If you're on the hunt for solid tech deals, Engadget has you covered. We've collected the best Black Friday deals on tech you can get right now, and we'll continue to update this post as we get closer to the big day at the end of November. Note that you probably have the best chance of snagging record-low prices when we get to about one week before Thanksgiving, but these deals available now are worth considering. Black Friday deals: Engadget's top picks Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $220 ($29 off): Apple's latest flagship wireless earbuds are the ones to get if you have an iPhone and any other Apple gear. They have improved sound quality, impressive ANC improvements, extra features like Live Translation and even better battery life. Apple iPad A16 for $274 (21 percent off): Apple's cheapest iPad makes a great first tablet for kids, or anyone who just wants a basic slab for watching videos, online shopping, sending emails and more. It's plenty fast thanks to the A16 chipset that powers it, plus it has a nice screen, 128GB of storage in the base model and good battery life. PlayStation 5 Black Friday deals: The PlayStation 5 is getting a major Black Friday discount, with $100 off consoles. That brings the PS5 Digital Edition down to $399, the standard PS5 to $449 and the new PS5 Pro to $649. If youve been holding out for the right time to upgrade or buy your first console, these are the deals to beat. You'll find them direct at Sony and from other retailers including Amazon and Walmart . Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle for $499: Black Friday Nintendo sales were announced recently and, unsurprisingly, there won't be many true deals out there this year. There are no straight discounts on the Switch 2 console, so your best bet is to pick up a bundle that saves you some cash on a Switch 2 game. One of the best is the Mario Kart Wold bundle, but Pokmon fans should consider the Pokmon Legends: Z-A bundle , too. Meta Quest 3S VR headset for $250 ($50 off): We consider this to be the best VR headset for newbies or those on a budget. It's comfortable to wear for long sessions, has solid performance, comes with excellent controllers and you'll have access to a large app library with it. Philips fabric shaver for $13 (32 percent off): Consider this the Black Friday tech deal you didn't know you needed. If you have shirts, sweaters, pants, even blankets that have pilled over time, this handy little fabric shaver can get them looking more like new again. I bought this on a whim after wishing I could refresh some of my most-loved wardrobe staples without spending hours pulling pills off myself. Philips' fabric shaver has delivered and then some, and my clothes look much fresher than before. Amazon Smart Plug for $13 (48 percent off): Those who use Alexa often will get the most out of this smart plug . We like that it's super simple to set up and can turn almost anything with an on-off switch smart, allowing you to control it via your phone or with Alexa voice commands. LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon A New Hope 25th Anniversary Collectable 75375 for $68 (20 percent off): This is a set that any Star Wars fan will love to build and then love to display once it's complete. The 921-piece set features a fully-detailed Millennium Falcone, buildable stand and nameplate. It's one of many Lego Black Friday deals you can get right now. DJI Neo drone for $159 (20 percent off, Prime exclusive): Yes, the Neo 2 just came out, but it's still unclear if that model will make its way to the US. For now, if you want an affordable drone to capture your next adventure, the original Neo remains an excellent option. It was our top pick for the best drone for those on a budget, and it's an even better buy at this sale price. Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (16GB) for $170 ($80 off): The latest color ereader in Amazon's lineup includes a seven-inch, high-contrast display, USB-C charging and a battery life that can last up to eight weeks on a single charge. Its design is waterproof too, so you don't need to baby it if you take it by the pool or to the beach. If you prefer a black-and-white screen, the base Kindle is also on sale for $80. Black Friday Apple deals Apple AirPods 4 for $69 (47 percent off): These are the most affordable AirPods you can get, and the latest model has been substantially improved over the previous. They have a better fit and noticeably better sound quality than their predecessor, plus some advanced features previously only found on pricer models. Apple AirTags (four pack) for $65 (34 percent off): iPhone users who frequently misplace things should invest in a few AirTags. Slip them into your wallet, bag, jacket and other belongings to keep track of their locations in the Find My app. Just make sure that, if you're going to attach one to your keys, you also pick up an AirTag holder to go along with it. Apple Watch SE 3 for $199 ($50 off): The SE has been our top pick for the best Apple Watch for those on a budget, and the latest model only solidifies that further. It has the same chipset found in the latest flagship Apple Watches, fast-charging capabilities, an always-on display and most of the same activity-tracking features you'll find in more expensive model. Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, M4) for $749 ($250 off): Our top pick for the best laptop you can get, the M4 MacBook Air will be plenty of power for most people in a convenient, premium package. It's thin and light as ever, with an excellent keyboard and trackpad, plus enough battery life to get you through a whole day of work, video calls and more. Apple Mac Mini M4 for $479 ($120 off): Desktop users looking for an upgrade should consider the latest Mac Mini, which runs on the M4 chip and 16GB of RAM as standard in the base configuration. This version has a smaller design that takes up less space, front-facing USB-C ports and a headphone jack, plus Thunderbolt 5 support. Apple iPad Air M3 (11 inch) for $449 (25 percent off): We consider this to be the best iPad for most people thanks to its strong performance, big , sharp display, good battery life, improved multitasking capabilities and its compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro. Black Friday streaming deals and subscription deals Disney+ Hulu bundle $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price. Apple TV+ (6 months) for $36 ($42 off): Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday , which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo , The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service. HBO Max one year for $36: HBO Max's Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you're getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max's website or, if you're a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on . MasterClass Black Friday deal get up to 50 percent off subscriptions: MasterClass is running a limited-time offer that cuts up to 50 percent off all annual subscriptions for Black Friday . The deal gives you access to hundreds of lessons taught by experts and well-known names across nearly every field, from cooking and business to film and design. Normally, annual plans cost anywhere from $120 to $240 per year, so up to a 50-percent discount represents significant savings for new or returning subscribers. Sling TV Orange day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange's more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others. Audible subscription (three months) for $3 ($42 off) : From now through mid-December, you can get Amazons audiobook subscription for just a dollar a month for three months. Note that it will auto-renew at $15 per month after that, but you can cancel at any point. Monarch Money budgeting app (one year) for $50 (50 percent off with code MONARCHVIP): One of our favorite budgeting apps , Monarch Money gives you a lot of control over the organization of your funds. There's a helpful goals feature for when you're planning out big purchases or financial milestones you want to hit, and we found the month-in-review recap it provides to be more thorough than other budgeting apps we tried. There's even Zillow integration for folks looking to buy a home. Black Friday deals under $50 Govee Smart LED Light Bars for $30 ($20 off, Prime exclusive): Another of our stocking stuffer picks are these smart LED light bars from Govee. They can stand up or lie flat so they can go just about anywhere and are infinitely adjustable via the app. You can even set them to light up in sync with your music. Alexa and the Google Assistant will let you control them with just your voice (and a smart speaker). Jisulife Life 7 handheld fan for $25 (14 percent off): This handy little fan is a must-have if you life in a warm climate or have a tropical vacation planned anytime soon. It can be used as a table or handheld fan and even be worn around the neck so you don't have to hold it at all. Its 5,000 mAh battery allows it to last hours on a single charge, and the small display in the middle of the fan's blades show its remaining battery level. Samsung Evo Select (512GB) for $33 ($14 off) : We recommend the Evo Select in our microSD card buying guide for those on a tight budget. It has mediocre write speeds, so its not ideal for a camera, but it should be serviceable for most people just looking to add space to an Android tablet or original Nintendo Switch on the cheap. (Note that this is a standard UHS-I card, not a newer microSD Express model.) This deal matches the lowest price to date for the 512GB variant. Also at Samsung and B&H . UGreen Uno Nexode Charger Block (65W, 3-Port) for $33 (35 percent off) : There are other ways to charge your devices, but few are this cute. Thats why we named it one of the best stocking stuffers you can buy. You get three ports in its head and outlet prongs hidden in its removable magnetic feet. Its 65 watts are enough to charge multiple devices at once. Also available directly from UGreen . Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 (42 percent off): One of our favorite streaming devices , the 4K Max dongle supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, 4K and HDR10+ and it has Wi-Fi 6E for a speedier, more stable internet connection. It also supports the Fire TV Ambient Experience, which can display art on your TV when you're not actively using it. Anker Nano magnetic power bank (5K, Qi2 15W) for $39 (30 percent off): This ultra-slim battery pack snaps magnetically to the backs of compatible phones to power them up, allowing you to use your device while it's charging. It comes in multiple colors and supports the latest Qi2 charging standard. Leebin 2025 electric spin scrubber for $40 (43 percent off, Prime exclusive): This weird little scrubber makes cleaning my bathroom and shower much less of a pain. Just choose the brush head you need for your job and the rotating head takes care of most of the hard work. I love the adjustable handle, which extends from 12 to 50 inches so you can get into hard-to-reach places without breaking a sweat. Black Friday Lego deals LEGO Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding the Tantive IV Fantasy Toy 75387 for $44 (20 percent off) LEGO Star Wars Brick-Built Star Wars Logo 75407 for $48 (20 percent off) LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Building Toy Set 75379 for $80 (20 percent off) LEGO Harry Potter Mandrake Figure & Pot Plant Toy 76433 for $41 (41 percent off) LEGO Harry Potter Thestral Family Building Toy 76458 for $49 (30 percent off) Black Friday smart home and kitchen deals Cosori 9-in-1 air fryer for $89 (26 percent off): I personally have this air fryer, one of our top picks , in my house and I've used it for over a year with no issues. I love that it makes good use of vertical space so it doesn't take up too much space on my counter, and its rounded-square shape allows me to cook more food than you'd think in one go in the basket. It crisps all kinds of foods up well and generally takes a lot of the guess work (and time) out of making a good meal. Aura 10.1-inch digital frame for $139 (22 percent off): Aura makes some of our favorite digital frames , and this one has a 10-inch HD display, Wi-Fi connectivity and an elegant mat design. Arguably the best thing about Aura frames in general is that you don't have to pay a subscription fee to add photos to it over time all photos are stored in the cloud, and multiple people can add photos to one frame. Ninja Creami ice cream maker for $180 (22 percent off): The Creami has been one of the most sought-after kitchen appliances of the past couple of years, and for good reason. It's one of our favorite pieces of kitchen gear because it makes it a breeze to prepare custom ice cream and many other frozen treats. It's definitely worthwhile investment if you're an ice cream lover and want to experiment with making your own flavors. Ninja Dual-Zone air fryer (10-quart) for $130 (43 percent off): If you cook for large crowds on Thanksgiving and other occasions, this is the air fryer to get. Not only is it a large, 10-quart capacity model, but it also has two separate cooking areas. You can crisp up potatoes on one side and brussel sprouts on the other with no issues. Use the Smart Finish feature to cook two separate foods in different ways and have them both be done at the same time, or Match Cook to copy the cooking method in both chambers. Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro for $300 ($100 off): One of the most versatile air fryers out there, this Breville machine not only air fries, but also bakes, roasts, toasts, dehydrates, reheats and more. It also has a large capacity that can cook a 14-pound turkey or a tray of muffins with ease. Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum for $400 ($600 off): This is one of the best robot vacuums you can get, period. It doesn't have a self-emptying base, but its superior suction power almost makes up for that. It's one of the strongest robot vacuums I've ever tested, and it has excellent obstacle avoidance. The latter means you will rarely, if ever, have to attend to it getting caught on the edge of a carpet or getting stuck under a piece of furniture. More Black Friday tech deals Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool heater and fan for $300 ($200 off): I've had this heater and fan for over five years at this point and it remains one of my favorite pieces of tech. It's lightweight enough to carry from room to room and it's both a heater and a fan: it cuts the chill in my home office during the winter, and circulates the air to keep me cooler in the summer. You can control the whole thing using the included remote (and it includes a sleep timer), and it handily attaches magnetically to the top of the device so you don't misplace it. SanDisk microSD Express card (256GB) for $60 (12 percent off): If you have a Switch 2, no regular microSD card will do if you want to expand the console's storage. You need a newer microSD Express card, and currently there are only a handful on the market. We did some testing to find the best microSD Express card for the Switch 2 and found that performance was, in general, very similar amongst all the readily available cards. We recommend getting whichever fits within your budget at the capacity you want. Theragun Mini (3rd gen) for $168 (24 percent off): The most compact percussion massager that Therabody makes, the latest Mini is small enough to toss in your gym bag or carry-on to take with you when you're traveling. It comes with three head attachments and it charges via USB-C. Also available at Therabody . Bose QuietComfort headphones for $200 (43 percent off): These noise-cancelling headphones have a comfortable (albeit a bit boring) design, an Aware mode that lets you hear more of your surroundings when you need to and up to 24 hours of battery life. Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones for $248 ($158 off): While the new XM6 headphones have replaced these as Sony's flagship cans, that doesn't mean the XM5 aren't worth buying. They were our top pick for the best wireless headphones for years before the XM6 came around, and they still have excellent ANC, great sound quality, long battery life, a comfortable fit and handy extra features like multipoint connectivity. GoPro Hero 13 Black Extended Power Bundle for $349 ($150 off): This bundle gives you our favorite action cam plus three Enduro batteries, a dual battery charger, one adhesive mount, a 64GB SanDisk microSD card, two USB-C cables and more. It makes a great all-in-one gift for the budding videographer or aspiring influencer in your life, or a solid addition to your own camera kit. Also available at GoPro . TCL QM6K (55-inch) 4K TV for $398 ($202 off) : The QM6K is widely regarded as one of this years better TV bargains . As a budget model, it wont get you top-notch contrast, color volume, brightness or HDR performance, but its quantum-dot color, mini-LED backlighting and full-array local dimming help it more than hold its own for the money. Its a nice buy for gaming on a budget as well, since it has a fast 144Hz refresh rate that can reach as high at 288Hz if you play in 1080p. This deal marks a new low. The 65-inch and 75-inch models are also at their all-time lows at $498 and $698, respectively. Also at Best Buy and Walmart . Samsung 65-inch Frame Pro smart TV for $1,598 (24 percent off): The latest version of Samsung's art TV, the Frame Pro lets you show artwork on the screen when you're not watching a sports game or binge-watching your favorite show. It supports 4K content, VRR gaming at up to 4K 144Hz and runs on Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen3 processor. Also available at Best Buy . Black Friday FAQs When is Black Friday 2025? Black Friday 2025 lands on November 28. Which stores have Black Friday deals? Many physical retail stores have Black Friday deals including Walmart, Target, Best Buy and others. Even more retailers have online Black Friday deals, including Amazon, GameStop, Costco and others. When do Black Friday sales start? Gone are the times when Black Friday sales were one-day-only affairs. Now, Black Friday deals are often available starting on Thanksgiving, or even earlier. Last year, we saw Black Friday deals online begin the week before Black Friday proper. When do Black Friday sales end? Black Friday and Cyber Monday have blended a lot over the past few years. Now, you can expect to see a good portion of Black Friday deals extend through the weekend and into Cyber Monday. It's not uncommon for Black Friday deals to expire at the end of Cyber Monday. Which retailers have the best Black Friday tech deals? The best Black Friday tech deals are typically available online at retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target. It's also a good idea to check the store websites of the companies that make the products you want for example, if you're looking for a Sonos speaker, check the Sonos website on Black Friday. Most of the time, you'll find the best Black Friday tech deals are matched at multiple retailers. Does Apple have Black Friday sales? No, you will usually not find Black Friday sales at Apple stores or on Apple's website. However, you can find Black Friday deals on Apple devices elsewhere; we recommend checking Amazon, Best Buy and other big retailers for discounts on iPads, Apple Watches and more on Black Friday. Does Amazon have Black Friday sales? Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales. The online retailer's site will look similar to Prime Day on Black Friday, with discounts on all sorts of items from household essentials to fashion to tech. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-2025-deals-the-biggest-sales-from-amazon-apple-lego-ninja-dyson-and-others-to-start-shopping-now-100052409.html?src=rss
JK Lakshmi Cement to invest Rs 1,816 cr to expand production capacity in Chhattisgarh
JK Lakshmi Cement announced a significant Rs 1,816 crore investment to expand its manufacturing operations in Chhattisgarh. The company plans to increase clinker production by 2.31 MTPA and cement grinding capacity by 1.2 MTPA. This expansion aims to bolster its presence in the growing markets of Eastern and Central India, aligning with its goal of reaching 30 MTPA capacity.
Inordinate delay in insolvency resolution continues to plague IBC efficiency
Procedural complexities, judicial bottlenecks and regulatory hurdles continue to slow resolutions, challenging the goal of timely completion, say experts.
SIR Phase II: Over 50.54 crore enumeration forms distributed with 99.16 per cent coverage
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued a detailed data list on the number of enumeration forms distributed among electors and their digitisation in the past 21 days since the exercise was launched on November 4. Out of the total 50,97,44,423 existing voters, 50,54,82,771 of them have been handed over the pre-filled forms, clocking 99.16 per cent, and over 28 crore (56.34 per cent) of them have been digitised. According to the ECI data, among the States, the maximum of over 15,38,71,940 crore forms have been handed over in Uttar Pradesh, which has a total voters base of 15,44,30,092. SC seeks response of EC on fresh plea of MDMK leader Vaiko against SIR in Tamil Nadu In West Bengal, where the ruling TMC has been opposing the exercise, 7,64,59,129 voters have been handed over the enumeration forms against the total voters base of 7,66,37529. In the second phase after Bihar, the ECI has launched the SIR in nine states and three Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and the UT of Puducherry, which are going to assembly polls next year. The ongoing Enumeration Phase will continue till December 4, 2025. BJP trying to implement CAA through SIR in border areas, alleges West Bengal CM at Bongaon rally States such as Goa and Lakshadweep have achieved 100 per cent distribution of enumeration forms, reflecting efficient ground-level coordination, the ECI data revealed. Besides these two, all the states and Union Territories have crossed the 99 per cent mark in the distribution of enumeration forms. Meanwhile, Election Commission officials have managed to digitise over 56 per cent of the signed enumeration forms received, with Lakshadweep striking a rate of 99.33 per cent with 57,428 in absolute number against the total of 57,813 voters. Uttar Pradesh has reported the slowest rate of digitisation with 34.03 per cent, with an absolute number of 5,25,53,479. More than 5.33 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 7.64 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have been deployed to ensure every eligible elector is reached, the ECI said, adding that all recognised political parties have been asked to appoint additional BLAs to strengthen field-level verification and enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls.
MAHE marks chancellor Ramdas Pais 90th birthday with commemorative postal cover
The tribute also highlighted the foundation laid by TMA Pai, whose goals of eradicating ill health, illiteracy, and poverty formed the bedrock of Manipals growth
Party, the 1984 Govind Nihalani film, to be screened at IFFI-Goa this year
Though made four decades ago, Party is still relevant today, and is likely to appeal to audiences, especially those who enjoy Nihalanis work
Bihar cabinet approves proposal to generate one crore jobs in next five years
PATNA: The newly formed Bihar cabinet at its first meeting on Tuesday discussed on State governments plans to generate one crore job opportunities for the youngsters over the next five years. Briefing media persons after the meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit said that the discussion at the cabinet meeting focused on extensive employment creation and industrial expansion. He said that a defence corridor, semiconductor manufacturing park, global capacity centres, mega tech city, and fitness city would be established to make Bihar a tech hub of Eastern India. Congress expels seven leaders for six years over alleged claims of ticket selling in Bihar polls He also said that the State would be developed as a back-end hub and global workplace under the new-age economy over the next five years. He stated that dedicated committees have been set up to achieve these goals. The committee, headed by the Chief Secretary (CS), will work on an action plan to implement and monitor the new tech hub, Amrit said, adding that the advisors and experts in the field will be the members of the committee. The committee will submit its report within six months, after which the work will commence on the project, said the Chief Secretary, who was accompanied by Cabinet Secretariat Departments Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Industries Departments Additional Chief Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh and Urban Development and Housing Departments Secretary Abhay Kumar Singh during the briefing. Amrit said, a committee will be set up for the purpose. People having national and international exposure will be made members of the committee, whose job will be to prepare an action plan, besides having continuous monitoring of the project. He said that work on the project will start after getting the committees report at the earliest. With a view to expanding and promoting talented entrepreneurs and youngsters for setting up start-ups and a new age economy, the Cabinet also decided to constitute a committee that will include youngsters and entrepreneurs as its members to accommodate the benefit of their experience. Nitin Nabin, whose previous term saw 15 bridge collapses, is Bihar's new urban development minister Chief Secretary said that the idea is to expedite the process of industrialisation in order to create employment opportunities in the State. The cabinet also decided to set up 25 new sugar mills in the State, Chief Secretary said, while adding that a high-level committee will also be constituted under his chairmanship. Stating that nine sugar mills are currently closed in the State, he said that the high-level committee will help open new sugar mills besides reviving the old and closed units. The committees recommendations will be implemented at the earliest. The move will help farmers get higher returns and local people get employment opportunities. It is also decided to set up Bihar Artificial Intelligence Mission to make Bihar a leading state in the field of AI, Amrit said, adding that the best brains, companies and private players will be co-opted in the Mission. AI and its usage will help formulate the policy and institutionalise, AI ecosystem will be developed in leading industries/institutions, and an AI-related Centre of Excellence to be set up. AI will promote research, patents and enterprise at an international standard.
Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Raju Chekuri Makes a Bold Play on Volleyball and Goa's Sporting Future
’ s a memory of long rallies under the scorching Ahmedabad sun, of poorly marked courts and a burning ambition that sometimes propels small-town youth to dream big. Nearly four decades after leaving India to chase his technology dreams, Chekuri, a former amateur volleyball player, has returned to invest in a sporting vision through the newly put-together Goa Guardians, the 10th franchise in the Prime Volleyball League (PVL). Raju Chekuri, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor, founded Netenrich, a security and digital operations company, where he serves as Chairman and CEO ’ s true for business and for sport .” Goa Guardians owner Raju Chekuri sharing a moment with energized fans at PVL 2025 in Hyderabad ’ ll do well .” “ We made a couple of mistakes early in the game, but the players showed up and played through. Some of our early matches went to five sets, and that showed our resilience .” ’ s the perfect base for something new-age like volleyball, " he said. ’ s time to come back and invest in India.” “ The only dream was to play for the country. No money, just pure love for the sport.” ’ ll not only produce athletes but stronger human beings. ” ’ s favourite team. We want to give our fans every reason to cheer for us .”
Special Postal Cover Launched at MAHE's 33rd Convocation to Honour Chancellor Dr. Ramdas R. Pai
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University, marked a memorable beginning to its 33rd Convocation with the launch of a unique commemorative postal cover celebrating the 90th birthday of its Chancellor, Dr. Ramdas R. Pai , a visionary leader whose contributions have profoundly shaped Manipal’s educational and healthcare ecosystem. Special Postal Cover Launched at MAHE’s 33rd Convocation to Honour Chancellor Dr. Ramdas R. Pai The event was held on Day 1 of the Convocation in KMC Greens in Manipal , in the presence of senior leadership, distinguished guests, faculty, graduates, and their families. The convocation venue witnessed a heartfelt tribute as the MAHE community celebrated not only academic achievements but also the remarkable legacy of its Chancellor. The special postal cover was formally unveiled by Sri. Ramesh Prabhu, Superintendent, Indian Postal Service, Udupi Division , who graced the ceremony along with MAHE’s First Lady Mrs. Vasanti R. Pai , Pro-Chancellor Dr. H. S. Ballal , and other esteemed dignitaries. The initiative was organized in close collaboration with India Post, symbolizing the significance of Dr. Pai’s service to society and his transformative leadership. The idea behind the commemorative cover was to honour Dr. Pai’s lifelong dedication to advancing education, healthcare, and community development. The tribute also highlighted the visionary foundation laid by Dr. T. M. A. Pai , whose goals of eradicating ill health, illiteracy, and poverty formed the bedrock of Manipal’s growth. Dr. Ramdas Pai’s leadership further propelled MAHE into a globally recognised institution, earning accolades including the Institute of Eminence status in 2020. Speaking at the ceremony, Sri. Ramesh Prabhu expressed deep admiration, stating, “It is the privilege of India Post to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of a great personality and reformer of Manipal. Dr. Ramdas Pai’s contributions have elevated the city and MAHE to national and global prominence. We feel truly blessed to be a part of this historic moment.” The launch of the postal cover underscores MAHE’s commitment to celebrating its heritage, strengthening institutional identity, and enhancing its visibility on national and international platforms. As MAHE continues its journey as one of India’s leading multidisciplinary universities, the event stood as a symbolic reminder of the values, legacy, and leadership that continue to inspire its growth. About Manipal Academy of Higher Education The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is an Institution of Eminence Deemed-to-be University. MAHE offers over 400 specializations across the Health Sciences (HS), Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences (MLHS), and Technology & Science (T&S) streams through its constituent units at campuses in Manipal, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Jamshedpur, and Dubai. With a remarkable track record in academics, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and significant contributions to research, MAHE has earned recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. In October 2020, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, awarded MAHE the prestigious Institution of Eminence status. Currently ranked 3rd in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), MAHE is the preferred choice for students seeking a transformative learning experience and enriching campus life.
Fiscal strain: Moodys says tax cuts slow govt revenue; will it limit support for the economy?
India faces tighter finances as tax cuts reduce revenue. Moody's Ratings notes this limits government economic support. Lower tax collections are impacting fiscal goals. Easing inflation and monetary policy are expected to boost household spending. Domestic demand and infrastructure spending remain key growth drivers for India's economy.
Russias SIBUR among other BRICS enterprises remain committed to Climate Agenda
BRICS nations are actively pursuing climate strategies, with major companies setting carbon footprint reduction targets. India and China have achieved or set new emission reduction goals, while Russia pilots a mandatory carbon market. The integration of cross-border carbon markets is proposed to accelerate global climate action.
Goat - Official Trailer Teaser
Goat - Official Trailer Teaser
LRQA Roundtable in Pune Drives Key Conversations on ESG, Cybersecurity and Net Zero Goals
The best soundbars to boost your TV audio in 2025
The best soundbars can completely transform your TV setup, turning flat, lifeless audio into something that actually sounds cinematic. Whether you're watching blockbuster movies, listening to music or gaming, a good soundbar delivers clearer vocals, deep bass and better overall playback than most built-in TV speakers ever could. In 2025, theres a soundbar for every kind of home entertainment setup from compact all-in-one units to full surround systems with subwoofers and rear speakers. Some prioritize simplicity and sleek design, while others are packed with immersive features like Dolby Atmos and smart voice controls. No matter your budget or your space, weve picked the best soundbars you can buy right now to help elevate your audio experience. Table of contents The post-CES soundbar outlook for 2025 Best soundbars for 2025 What to look for in a soundbar Other soundbars we tested Best soundbar FAQs The post-CES soundbar outlook for 2025 I typically come out of CES with a pretty clear understanding of the new soundbars that are coming for the year, but that wasnt exactly the case in 2025. LG decided to carry over its most premium soundbars from 2024 , but it will add the compact S20A this year. The company only previewed the model at CES, so full specs are still forthcoming. Samsung will once again keep the same overall design and features for its top-end Q990 soundbar. However, the company is adding a few new tools and it drastically reduced the size of the wireless subwoofer that comes in the box. Samsung does have one new model for 2025, the QS700F , thats designed to sit on a table or automatically adjust to being mounted flat on a wall. Details are scarce on that soundbar for now and I anticipate a full spec sheet when the company is really to sell it. Of the big three TV companies, Sony is the only one that didnt announce any home theater gear at CES. The company has decided to focus mainly on its automotive efforts at the show recently, leaving TV and audio announcements for later in the year. The company debuted multiple soundbar options in 2024 and a four-speaker setup for the living room in the Bravia Quad . That said, it wouldnt surprise me if Sony released new soundbars later in the year since its most recent models were only announced last April. One company I would keep an eye on is Sennheiser. The original Ambeo model is nearly six years old and could use a refresh. The company has added medium and mini options to the Ambeo lineup since then, but it would be nice to see a refined version of the largest model too. The original Ambeo soundbar is huge, so no matter how good it sounds, it will always be a tough sell for some people. Although I think its less likely, its also possible that Sonos has new soundbars this year. While the companys next device will likely be the rumored set-top streaming box, the Sound Motion tech inside the Arc Ultra would offer a big improvement to bass performance in compact models like the Beam and Ray . The company may bring Sound Motion to standalone speakers first, but its destined for those smaller soundbars eventually . The best soundbars for 2025 What to look for in a soundbar Features When it comes to features, the more you pay the more you're going to get in your new audio system. Most affordable options ($150 or less) will improve your television's audio quality, but that's about it. Step into the $300 to $400 range and you'll find all-in-one soundbars with things like built-in voice control, wireless connectivity, Google Chromecast, AirPlay 2 and even Android TV. They're all helpful when you want to avoid looking for the remote control, but the best playback quality is usually only in the top tier and the formats those premium soundbar systems support. Im talking about things like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and other high-resolution audio standards essentials if youre building a truly cinematic home entertainment setup. And not all Atmos soundbars are equal, so you'll need to look at the finer details carefully before you break into the savings account. If you're looking for one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, size, channels and subwoofer options will be important factors to consider. Some models even include a dedicated subwoofer to enhance bass performance, bringing an extra punch to action scenes and soundtracks. Ports This is a big one. A lot of the more affordable soundbars are limited when it comes to connectivity options. They either offer an optical port or one HDMI jack and, if you're lucky, both. Things get slightly better in the mid-range section, but that's not always the case. The Sonos Beam, for example, is $449, but only has a single HDMI port. Even at the higher-end, the $899 Sonos Arc still only has one HDMI port. If you plan to connect multiple devices like a set-top box, gaming laptop or console directly to your soundbar for the best audio experience, youll want an option with at least two HDMI (eARC) inputs. HDMI connections are critical for supporting Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital audio formats, as well as high-res passthrough for HDR and 8K/4K content. Channels Another big thing youll want to pay attention to when looking for the best soundbar is channels. Thats the 2.1, 7.1.2 or other decimal number that companies include in product descriptions. The first figure corresponds to the number of channels. A two would just be left and right while a more robust Atmos system, especially one with rear surround speakers, could be five or seven (left, right, center and upward). The second number refers to the dedicated subwoofer, so if your new soundbar comes with one or has them built in, youll see one here. The third numeral is up-firing speakers, important for the immersive effect of Dolby Atmos. Not all Atmos-enabled units have them, but if they do, the third number will tell you how many are in play and how they contribute to the overall soundstage. Wireless Most soundbars these days offer either Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or both. When it comes to Wi-Fi, that connectivity affords you luxuries like voice control (either built-in or with a separate device), Chromecast, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2. Depending on your preferences, you might be able to live without some of these. For me, AirPlay 2 and Chromecast are essentials, but the rest I can live without. Those two give me the ability to beam music and podcasts from my go-to apps without having to settle for or struggle with a Bluetooth connection. For instance, Sonos speakers often offer seamless integration with iOS devices, making it easy to connect and stream music wirelessly. If youre looking for a wireless speaker that can enhance your TV setup while also offering flexibility for audio throughout the house, it's worth considering a multi-room system. Size This one might seem obvious but humor me for a minute. Nothing is more soul-crushing than getting a pricey soundbar in your living room only to discover you have to rearrange everything to find a spot for it. This was my plight when the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar arrived at my door. Yes, that speaker is absurdly large (and heavy), and most soundbars aren't nearly as big. I learned a valuable lesson: Make sure the space where you want to put a soundbar will accommodate the thing you're about to spend hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on. Basically, it all comes down to the TV you have (or are planning to get) and what the primary goal is for your living-room audio. Is it ease of use? Do you want the best possible sound from a single speaker or speaker/sub combo? Do you just want to be able to actually hear your TV better? Or do you want a full home entertainment experience with crisp vocals, thunderous deep bass, and immersive surround system audio? By paying attention to each of those areas, you should have a good idea of what to look for in a soundbar, soundbar/subwoofer combo, Dolby Digital system or a more robust setup. With that said, we've put numerous products through their paces at Engadget and have a few favorites for best soundbar at various price points to get you started. Other soundbars we tested Sony Bravia Theater Bar 6 Theres a lot to like about the Bravia Theater Bar 6 , Sonys new midrange option in its soundbar lineup. Sound quality is the speakers best attribute, even though its limited by its 3.1.2-channel configuration. The biggest two issues with this model are the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity which means no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect and the need to use your computer and a thumb drive to install firmware updates. Neither of those should be things you have to consider on a $650 soundbar in 2025. Sonos Arc Theres no doubt that the Arc is Sonos best-sounding soundbar, but its also the companys most expensive. With a new model based on the Arc rumored to be on the way , its difficult to recommend this product over the likes of Samsung and Sony. The Arc works well as both a soundbar and a speaker, and the device will fit in nicely with other Sonos gear you might already have for a multiroom setup. It only has one HDMI port though, where much of the competition allows you to connect streaming and gaming devices directly to their soundbars. Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus I dont think Sennheisers medium-sized model offers enough to stand out from the more powerful Ambeo Soundbar Max or the Ambeo Soundbar Mini . The Mini is more affordable and does a solid job with immersive audio in its own right. Like the rest of the Ambeo lineup, theres no option for satellite speakers as you can only add a subwoofer to the soundbars. However, the Ambeo Soundbar Plus does have RCA input, so you can use it with a turntable if youre into vinyl. Best soundbar FAQs Is a soundbar better than speakers? It really depends on what youre after. A soundbar is definitely a simpler, more compact solution compared to a full speaker setup. If you want better sound than your TVs built-in setup but dont want to deal with multiple speakers and wires everywhere, a soundbar is probably the way to go. Some soundbars can even deliver impressive surround sound effects, thanks to features like Dolby Atmos and virtual audio technology. However, if youre an audiophile or want true surround sound for an at-home theater experience, a multi-speaker setup with a receiver, surround speakers and subwoofer will give you a richer soundstage and more control over your experience. What connection do I need for a soundbar? Most modern soundbars connect to your TV via HDMI ARC or eARC, which is the easiest and best option for achieving high-quality audio. If your TV supports this, all you need is an HDMI cable, and youll get not only great sound but also some extra features like controlling the soundbar with your TV remote. If HDMI ARC isnt an option on your TV, you can use an optical cable, which also delivers solid audio quality. Some soundbars even offer Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections for streaming music, and a few still have a 3.5mm aux jack for connecting to older devices. Do all soundbars come with subwoofers? Not all soundbars come with subwoofers, but many do or at least offer one as an optional add-on that you can purchase separately. A subwoofer is what gives you that deep, booming bass, so if you like action movies or want a fuller sound for music, having one can make a big difference. Some soundbars have a built-in subwoofer, but these generally dont provide the same punch as a separate one. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/best-soundbars-143041791.html?src=rss
Blacktop Reverie: The machines that ruled motoverse 2025
Royal Enfields annual celebration in Goa proved once again that motorcycling is more than transportit is s culture, craft, and community.
GMC, GDC PG seats: Cong protests delay in quota notification
NT Reporter | Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Goa has always prioritised the welfare, dignity and empowerment of persons with disabilities (PwDs) while speaking at the Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances camp held recently at Ravindra Bhavan, Sankhali. Sawant said the initiative ensures that assistive devices and support systems [] The post GMC, GDC PG seats: Cong protests delay in quota notification appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Do Aliens Exist? India, Japan Team Up To Answer Question With Giant Telescope
The goal of the Thirty Metre Telescope project is to peer deeper into the cosmos than ever before, studying black holes, distant galaxies, and, most intriguingly, searching for signs of life beyond Earth.
SC-appointed panel suggeststiger reserve for Goa in 2 phases
NT Reporter | Panaji Recommending that a tiger reserve be notified in Goa within the next three months, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has suggested that the proposed tiger reserve be introduced in the state in two phases. In a report submitted to the apex court on November 21, 2025, the CEC has [] The post SC-appointed panel suggeststiger reserve for Goa in 2 phases appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Thunderstorm with lightning surprises parts of Goa
NT Reporter | Panaji A brief but intense spell of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and light rain swept across several parts of Goa on Monday night, surprising residents. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the sudden development to moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea and an upper-air trough extending across the KonkanGoa region, which increased [] The post Thunderstorm with lightning surprises parts of Goa appeared first on The Navhind Times .
`4cr online fraud: 2nd accused traced to Kolhapur, arrested
NT Reporter | Panaji Goa cyber crime police, probing the biggest online fraud in Goa involving an amount of Rs 4.74 crore, have arrested second accused Suraj Eknath Savat in connection with the case. Savat is a native of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Police said a retired employee from Tiswadi, aged 72, lost the money to a [] The post `4cr online fraud: 2nd accused traced to Kolhapur, arrested appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Tender for road to Mapusa sub-yard market floated
NT Reporter | Mapusa The Goa Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Board has floated a tender for the construction of a new road to improve connectivity to the Mapusa sub-yard market. The proposed road, estimated to cost Rs 32.92 lakh, will connect the market from the Krishi Bazaar office directly to the main road. The [] The post Tender for road to Mapusa sub-yard market floated appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Ahmedabad all set for 2030 CWG as India awaits final green light
India's bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games is set for formal approval at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow. Ahmedabad has emerged as the preferred host city, marking a significant step in India's ambition to become a global sporting hub. This hosting opportunity paves the way for India's larger goal of bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games.
Trump's Genesis Mission aims to build a centralized AI platform to power scientific breakthroughs
President Donald Trump has issued a new Executive Order that launches the Genesis Mission , an AI-focused initiative that will be led by the Department of Energy. It will harness the current AI and advanced computing revolution to double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering within a decade, the DOE explained . One of the missions main goals is to build a centralized platform that will house a huge collection of datasets collected over decades of federal investments, as well as datasets from academic institutions and partners from the private sector. Those datasets will then be used to train scientific foundation models and to create AI agents, automate research workflows and accelerate scientific breakthroughs, the administration said in its announcement. The platform will connect the worlds best supercomputers, AI systems, and next-generation quantum systems with the most advanced scientific instruments in the nation, the Energy department said. Based on that statement, the platform will be linked to the two sovereign AI supercomputers the agency is building at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, its famous research and development center. The machines, to be built by Hewlett Packard Enterprises, are meant to be the Trump AI Action Plans flagship supercomputers. The DOE previously revealed that the machines will be powered by AMD chips and will help tackle the biggest challenges in energy, medicine, health and national security. The Genesis Mission marks a defining moment for the next era of American science. We are linking the nations most advanced facilities, data, and computing into one closed-loop system to create a scientific instrument for the ages, an engine for discovery that doubles R&D productivity and solves challenges once thought impossible, said Dr. Daro Gil, the Under Secretary for Science and Genesis Mission Director. In the next four months, the Energy department must identify its initial set of data and model assets for the Genesis platform. The department must be able to demonstrate an initial operating capability of the platform for at least one of the national science and technology challenges the government has identified within nine months. While the list of challenges is pretty long, the Genesis Mission will focus on addressing three key challenges overall. First, it aims to accelerate nuclear and fusion energy, as well as to modernize the energy grid using AI. It also aims to power scientific discoveries for decades to come. Finally, it aims to create advanced AI technologies for the purpose of national security, such as systems that can ensure the reliability of Americas nuclear weapons and can accelerate the development of materials for defense. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/trumps-genesis-mission-aims-to-build-a-centralized-ai-platform-to-power-scientific-breakthroughs-043506089.html?src=rss
Dec 14 rally against vote theft a pure Congress show
NEW DELHI: INDIA bloc constituents will not take part in the December 14 rally being organised by the Congress to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI)s alleged vote theft. Party leaders insist that it will be a purely Congress affair and the decision to go solo was firmed up at the AICC review meeting early last week. A senior Congress leader told this newspaper that the rally at Ramlila Maidan would be completely a Congress show aimed at conveying that the party has consistently been at the forefront of exposing irregularities in the electoral process. We have been campaigning on this issue for months and has collected five crore signatures from across the country against vote chori. The party has invested its organisational strength on the matter. This protest is specifically our initiative, the leader said, adding that the party is expecting a huge turnout driven by state units that have been asked to mobilise workers from constituencies where alleged irregularities have surfaced. According to sources, the decision was finalised during the AICC review meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with key office-bearers from 12 states and Union Territories (UT), where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls is underway. The meeting was attended by former party president Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries, state unit chiefs, Congress Legislature Party leaders and secretaries of 12 states and UTs where the SIR is underway. The states and UTs are Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal will go to polls in 2026. Phase 2 of the SIR exercise began on November 4 and will continue till December 4. The party has alleged that the EC is now a blatantly partisan player that is completely destroying the very concept of a level-playing field for all political parties. After the EC rolled out the second phase of the SIR on October 27, opposition-ruled states Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala have escalated their objections to the ECs move by seeking legal options. Despite being a key constituent of the INDIA bloc and a primary opposition party, the Congress had not convened a joint meeting or crafted a coordinated strategy with its alliance partners on the SIR issue until now. On Sunday, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the EC, linking the ongoing SIR directly to the deaths of 16 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) over nearly three weeks. Gandhi alleged that the ECs rushed, paperwork-heavy process is a deliberate ploy to harass citizens and enable voter fraud. Decision finalised during AICC review meeting According to sources, the decision was finalised during the AICC review meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with key office-bearers from 12 states and Union Territories (UT). The meeting was attended by former party president Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries, state unit chiefs, Congress Legislature Party leaders and secretaries of 12 states and UTs where the SIR is underway.
Chaos at Old Trafford! Everton wins 1-0 despite Idrissa Gueyes red card drama
Everton stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory, despite Idrissa Gueye's early red card for striking teammate Michael Keane. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's goal proved decisive as the 10-man Toffees displayed remarkable resilience. This historic win ended United's unbeaten streak and marked David Moyes' first triumph at the Theatre of Dreams.
Guwahati Diary | Promoting human-elephant coexistence
As part of efforts to strengthen conservation awareness and encourage peaceful co-existence between vulnerable communities and wild elephants, biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, with support from the SBI Foundation, conducted two school outreach programmes in Udalguri and Tamulpur districts. These activities were also designed to highlight the importance of adopting simple, practical measures to reduce risks for both communities and wildlife. At one school, the team delivered Gajah Katha - Part I, the organisations signature educational module that introduces students to elephant behaviour. Police buildings turn blue on World Childrens Day On the World Childrens Day, all major infrastructure and buildings of the Assam Police across the state were illuminated in blue. DGP Harmeet Singh ceremonially illuminated the Assam Police Headquarters as a part of the worldwide Go Blue campaign, symbolising a commitment to upholding childrens rights. We observe Child Rights Week every year through a series of activities aimed at reinforcing our dedication to protecting and promoting childrens rights, Singh said. The Go Blue campaign encourages communities around the world to light up public spaces in blue on the World Childrens Day. Inland water transport network to get a boost Assams inland water transport network and industrial logistics are set to get a boost. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has signed two MoU to strengthen the states inland water transport network and industrial logistics. The agreementsone with Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd and with the Government of Assamto promote movement of cargo and passengers through states extensive river systems, advancing goals of sustainable connectivity and regional growth. In view of multiple development projects in Northeast, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a comprehensive review meet. Prasanta Mazumdar Our correspondent in Guwahati prasantamazumdar@newindianexpress.com
AI creates flutter among voters in Kerala poll campaign
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: AI-generated videos of football legend Lionel Messi have been circulating among Keralites for almost a year, making the format familiar to many. Yet in November, when K P Saleem from the Otukkungal panchayat in Malappuram used a fresh Messi video as part of his campaign strategy, it created a flutter among voters. By tapping into the regions massive football fan base, Saleem managed to score a political goal or two against his opponents. This election marks the first major political contest in Kerala after the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and parties are embracing the technology like never before. From digital avatars to content tailored for specific age groups and locations, tech-driven methods have become central to campaign strategies. However, the mainstay of local body elections remains the familiarity of the candidate and the personal one-to-one connection with voters. In the second phase of campaigning, parties continue door-to-door visits to reinforce this factor. Yet, digital marketing becomes a powerful complement. It is about setting the mood among voters. Social media now influences trends across different age groups, said Robin Alex Panicker, a tech entrepreneur closely tracking these developments. This election is unlike the one five years ago. Our digital behaviour has changed a lot. Young voters consume more content from reels on social media, so this trend naturally enters the election. Those who ignore the medium cannot reach these voters, he added. Most candidates now have some form of digital strategy, though the scale differs. There is demand to manage the entire digital campaign of a party or assist in placing advertisements targeted to specific geographic areas, explained Sham Mohammed, director of Storycat Creative Pvt Ltd. He noted that individual candidates often want their pictures transformed into videos with constituency locations as the backdrop. Pointing out new possibilities, Midhun Mohan, managing director of Green Ads Global, said, We can make a candidate read out a script to capture lip movements, expressions, and emotions, and then create a digital twin or AI avatar. With different prompts, we can generate multiple videos. The scalability is quite high. Similarly, Tinu Easo Cherian and Kiranraj V R, co-founders of Originative Nest, observed that AI advancements have overcome earlier shortcomings. We can now create longer videos in a cost-effective manner. Soon, we will be able to upgrade the resolution to match big-screen quality, they said. At the same time, the rapid spread of these tools has also raised concerns. In a bid to address this, the State Election Commission has formed expert panels to monitor and regulate AI-generated content during the local body elections, aiming to prevent misuse and ensure a fair process. Despite these concerns, experts believe AIs role in campaigns will only grow in the upcoming assembly elections. Messi magic International football players making announcement in Malayalam, driving KSRTC bus K P Saleem from the Otukkungal panchayat uses Lionel Messis digital twin to take a dig at Sports Minister V Abdurahiman Startups/digital marketing companies working with political parties to make personalised campaign materials Benefits of using AI Personalised voter outreach based on demographics and interests Efficient resource allocation for campaign events and ads Real-time feedback from public sentiment tracking Scalable communication across platforms and languages Data-driven decision making for strategy refinement AI tools used in elections Automated content generation for campaign messaging Facial and voice recognition in voter verification systems Chatbots for voter interaction and FAQs Predictive analytics to forecast voter behaviour Risks and ethical concerns Privacy violations from data harvesting Algorithmic bias affecting fairness Manipulative targeting of vulnerable groups Lack of transparency in AI-driven decisions Spread of misinformation via deep fakes or bots
Chessboxer who blends brains and brawn on her way to glory
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At just 20 years old, Arundhathy Raju Nair is already a force to reckon with in the rare and demanding sport that is chessboxing. A final-year BTech student at LBS Engineering College in Thiruvananthapuram, Arundhathy has managed to balance the pressures of academics with the intensity of training, and in the process, etched her name in Asia Book of Records for being the only female athlete to win the Asian Chessboxing Championship for three consecutive years: 2023, 2024 and 2025. Her journey began in Class V when she discovered chess. Representing her school at state-level competitions, Arundhathy quickly developed a reputation for her sharp mind and calm composure. However, her life took an unexpected turn when her coach, Sandhanu Vijayan, introduced her to chessboxing, a hybrid sport that demands both mental agility and physical aggression. I started with a loss after just two months of practice, she recalls. Later, I picked up momentum, winning gold or silver regularly in Asian and national championships. Unlike any other sport, the main challenge in chessboxing lies not only in mastering chess and boxing, two games at opposite ends of the spectrum, but also in switching seamlessly between them. First, a chess match is played in the boxing ring. If no decision is reached within three minutes, the players spar. The game keeps alternating until there is a winner. Unlike other combat sports such as kick boxing, chessboxing combines pure chess and pure boxing, with rules of both the disciplines enforced strictly. Usually, chess players do not take up boxing. They prefer concentrating on the board. Boxers, on the other hand, show aggression but may not think of ways to win a board game. Chessboxing shows you are both mentally and physically fit, Arundhathy explains. Arundhathy in action against Russias Oksana Komissarova during the Asian Chessboxing Championship in 2023 The toughest part, she admits, is regaining focus after a bout. You may not be in a position to think through the strategies you planned earlier. Her breakthrough moment came in 2023, during her first year of engineering, when she scored back-to-back victories against Maharashtras Madhavi Gonbare, a prominent Indian chessboxer. Those wins, first at the Asian Championship (her maiden Asian title) and then at the Indian Open World Championship, catapulted her to fame. I was just one of the players till then, she says. She has gone on to win gold at the Asian Championship in Kolkata, competing in the under-55 kg category, and has built a professional boxing record of two wins and one loss. Behind her success lies a strong support system. Arundhathy grew up in Oruvathikotta, Thiruvananthapuram, studied at GGHS Cottonhill, and comes from a family deeply rooted in academics and professional excellence. Her father, Raju N R, is a senior IT professional at Allianz Technology, while her mother, Suma M S, serves as the principal of Sholayur HSS in Palakkad. Her younger sister, Aparna N Nair, also tried her hand at boxing before Arundhathy. Her familys encouragement and example provided Arundhathy with a strong foundation of discipline, resilience and ambition, shaping her journey both inside the ring and on the chessboard. Training for her is a disciplined affair. She practises boxing at the Brothers Boxing Academy and hones her chess skills at Masters Academy. Before competitions, she follows a strict 45-day regimen that combines diet and training. I am underweight, so there isnt much weight restriction, she says with a smile, acknowledging the unique advantage she carries into her bouts. Chessboxing may still be a niche sport in India, but it is gaining recognition abroad. It was even showcased at the Paris Olympics cultural event. Arundhathy hopes to be part of the wave that brings the sport into the mainstream in India. Her next big goal is the World Championship in France, where she plans to represent the country on the global stage. Arundhathys story is not just about medals and records. It is about breaking stereotypes, proving that a chess player can throw punches, and a boxer can think several moves ahead. Her journey embodies resilience, discipline, and the courage to step into uncharted territory.
Women ride their way to wheeling dreams
Even before we are born, many stereotypes are attached to us. They linger in the colours were wrapped in, the toys placed in our hands and the expectations adults whisper. Even the machines we ride have assigned gender. Somewhere along the way, a gearless two-wheeler, aka scooty, became the sensible and safe choice for women, while the heavier, more powerful motorcycle was framed as a natural extension of masculinity. The road never made these rules; society did. A woman riding a bike becomes a cultural decay, and a man choosing a scooty is teased for being less manly. But slowly, and quietly, this has begun to shift. Recently, social media has been flooded with videos and advertisements about motorcycle training communities, and most of them are dedicated specially for women, opening new lanes of confidence, independence, and long-awaited freedom for many. One such reel that has been trending with nearly 290 thousand views is of a retired 60-year-old woman from Coimbatore, who took up a two-day bike-training to fulfill her desire to ride a gear-bike, thereby ticking it off her bucket list. Hitting the road The sexagenarian was trained by Caf Cruisers, founded by Abisek Shravn, who saw a gap in training. Almost no one was focusing on creating riders, he says. Riders groups welcomed those who already knew how to ride, but rarely those who didnt. His goal became clear: build riders, not just gather them. As structured riding modules took shape from slow-speed mastery to road simulations the unexpected happened. During our early sessions, we noticed many women approaching us discreetly, he says. Today, the fastest-growing group in Caf Cruisers is women aged between 28 and 45 years, with a significant rise in women aged above 40 and 50 years. Meanwhile, Nomad Bikers Club grew out of the lack of a safe, judgment-free space for women to learn and make mistakes. The founder, Mayas journey to building a for women, by women community began with her own experiences of not having that space. Male riders have had the privilege of learning to ride a bike because one of their friends or cousins would confidently give it to them, she says. But that space is not there for women. After a difficult experience in college and later an incident with a slipping clutch downhill, Maya realised women werent just denied motorcycles; they were denied the room to make mistakes. That became her fuel. What began with Sunday free-of-cost sessions on a friends Splendor slowly expanded across 20-plus cities. My motto was that people should not go through what I went through, she says. Even if they drop the bike, its fine. That is when the fear is broken. Caf Cruisers For Fais N, founder of CRF Women On Wheels, the journey began in a moment of personal darkness. He was navigating depression when teaching a woman to ride brought him a spark of joy he hadnt felt in long. The first time I saw happiness in the eyes of a woman who learnt riding from me, something changed, he recalls. From there, the community grew into an international platform. His one-day intensive training, built on trust and full refunds if a student doesnt learn, has taken women from fearing a two-wheeler to riding across India. Age is never the problem mindset is. And we help them break that mental block, he says. These origin stories may differ, but they converge at a shared purpose: dismantling a fear that was built over decades. The first gear For many women entering these riding communities, learning to handle a motorcycle isnt just about balancing a machine; its about unlearning years of conditioning and stepping into a kind of freedom they were never encouraged to claim. Aruna, a 53-year-old from Bengaluru, trained with Nomad Bikers Club after years of travelling pillion. I realised I never got the chance to learn because nobody even showed me that was an option for women, she says. Determined to change that, she signed up for training. I was afraid of fallingbut the trainers were extremely patient. I started riding within the first 30 minutes. Today, she rents bikes and goes on mountain trips, rides her kids around, and worries far less. I am not scared of anything these days, she adds, proud that her elder daughter, too, has now joined the programme. Nomad Bikers Club For Soumya, a 32-year-old from Kochi, deciding to learn to ride with the Nomad Bikers Club was tied to healing. Widowed young, she wanted to take her son on the Bullet he loved. I was scared. The bike is heavy. How will I do it? But within two days, she was riding through the streets confidently. Now she drops her son off at school on the bike. He loves to talk about the ride to everyone, she smiles. Her brother, once doubtful, is now proud. Arpita Tibrewal, a 37-year-old yoga instructor from Coimbatore who trained with Caf Cruisers, had long dreamt of riding. The biggest fear was safety. If I hurt myself, who will handle the kids? she says. The training shifted that fear. They taught me safety procedures, gear, and things about the vehicle that were important. Riding has begun to reshape her confidence. Riding makes you feel powerfreedom is a byproduct of learning it. Her husband knows shes training, but the rest of her family doesnt. Ill tell them when I go for my first bike trip, she says. Different stories, one shared outcome: the road, once off-limits, now belongs to them. For the future As these stories multiply, the communities behind them are imagining a road that looks very different from the one they first stepped onto. For Maya, the future is not about expanding aggressively but protecting the emotional core that built Nomad Bikers Club in the first place. She doesnt want the training to become mechanical or commercialised. We can have trainers in every city, but the comfort space wont feel the same, she says. Maya imagines a future where bike training becomes as normal as tuition classes, where women dont have to pay or travel miles for the chance to learn because someone at home will simply hand them the keys. These days arent far, she says. The hype will fade, and it will just become a part of life. Caf Cruisers Abisek views the road ahead through a structural lens. To him, the impact goes deeper than women learning to balance a machine; it reshapes how families understand mobility and responsibility. His vision for Chennai is a city where riding is treated as a life skill, not a risk. What inspires him most is the cultural shift already unfolding: husbands encouraging wives, daughters pushing mothers to learn, families cheering when a woman completes her first road session. This, he believes, is how confidence spreads, quietly, through shared moments. Fais brings yet another perspective one rooted in emotional transformation. His platform grew from a place of personal healing, but the mission remains unchanged. He has seen women who once trembled at the clutch ride across Himalayan passes. If that can happen, he believes, anything can. And perhaps that is the beauty of this movement. These women are not just learning to ride; they are reclaiming space, speed, and agency, one gear at a time.
Here's how a Sunday can transform perspectives of Chennai
A red building stretching along the road opposite Marina Beach is unlikely to be missed. The Public Works Department office stands there with its long corridor of arches and an occasional splash of green from the bushes that border the pavement. If you paused for a moment to take it all in, what would you notice? The rhythm of those arches? A dragonfly prancing between the shrubs? A bus rumbling past and cutting the frame of your view? On a Sunday morning, a group decides to freeze that moment. They sit on portable stools or simply settle on the opposite pavement. Sketchbooks open. Pencils and brushes move quickly. The city slowly turns into lines, curves and blocks of colour on paper. This is the routine of Urban Sketchers Chennai (USK Chennai). With no entry fees or prerequisites, the group focuses on one mission: to come together and enjoy different pockets of the city. It is a simple effort that has made art accessible to many who once thought that galleries and studios were not for them. USK Chennai began in 2020, when filmmaker Mohan Krishnan discovered the global Urban Sketchers network, started in Seattle in 2011. Growth was quiet in the early days, especially with the pandemic pausing gatherings. Among those seeking community was Namita Prasanna, a visual communication graduate with around two decades in design. She had heard of groups like Pencil Jam in Bengaluru and yearned for something similar here. When she found the Chennai chapter, she joined, and the meets slowly became regular. By August 2023, after months of meeting around the city, we finally received recognition as an official chapter, she says. Now, every alternate Sunday, around 45 to 50 people gather at a new location. One building often has 50 different perspectives. Drawn with curiosity Choosing a spot isnt just about architectural heritage. It is also about small things like the vendor at the corner, or the sight of schoolchildren rushing by. Their sketch meets read like a visual diary. At Broadway Junction, buses and bicycles weave through the frame; outside Sir Mutha Concert Hall, music floats through windows; at the Sunshine House in Adyar, members sketched local singers and a small pop-up of art for sale. Even a busy fish market or a roadside temple becomes a subject worth pausing for. We choose locations that are a mix of heritage and everyday life. A tea shop can be as interesting as a grand building. You start seeing beauty in small things, Namita says. Some of the places they sketched no longer look the same. Adyar Gate Hotel has vanished. Besant Nagar Beach has changed. The SBI building on Mount Road is under restoration. As urban sketchers, our job is to create a reportage of how the landscape is changing. What is here today may not be there tomorrow, she says. The only rule is to sketch on location. You bring your own perspective. Some draw the whole building, some only a corner, some add the autos, the vendors or a patch of leafy shade. It is a judgement-free space where each person sees differently, and that is the beauty, Namita adds. Their meets end with a throwdown. Sketchbooks are placed on the ground, side by side, forming a colourful mosaic of styles. They take pictures. People walk around admiring each others work, not measuring talent but celebrating effort. Art shouldnt feel exclusive. Anybody can pick up a pencil and paper and join us. We have engineers, filmmakers, government employees, fourth-graders and even people in their eighties. It has made art feel approachable and joyful, Namita says. Fear fades in company Sketching in full public view can feel intimidating. That first moment when someone looks over your shoulder or asks what you are doing can make your hands shake. But it doesnt last long. In a group, there is comfort. People laugh, share techniques. Slowly, you stop worrying about who is watching. Those two-and-a-half hours become meditation, Namita says. They have sketched in places loaded with stereotypes. Busy market streets. Narrow lanes where people rarely see artists sitting with sketchbooks. We dont go by stereotypes. We have sketched in every nook of the city and never felt unsafe. People are always curious, sometimes even offering us chairs. They want to see their city through our eyes, she says. The citys art scene is spilling out onto the streets, pavements, and bus stops. And USK Chennai has emerged as one of the most inviting doors into that world. Just a few weeks ago, USK chapters from across India met in Goa for a national sketch carnival. The Chennai team returned with new friendships, techniques and people eager to join them. Next Sunday, the group will gather again at a different corner of Chennai. The intent remains the same. To look closer and tell a story through your eyes. If you wish to give the city a place in your sketchbook, join USK for their next meetup. Follow @uskchennai on Instagram for more updates.
SC-appointed panel suggests tiger reserve for Goa in 2 phases
Netravali, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuaries proposed as core areas Panaji: Recommending that a tiger reserve be notified in Goa within the next three months, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has suggested that the proposed tiger reserve be introduced in the state in two phases. In a report submitted to the apex court on November [] The post SC-appointed panel suggests tiger reserve for Goa in 2 phases appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Meraki by the Sea, which is part of the Goan Films section at IFFI, traces Marius Fernandes efforts to showcase Goan culture through festivals CHRISTINE MACHADO Marius Fernandes needs no introduction. Fondly known as Goencho Festakar, Fernandes has promoted Goas culture and traditions through grassroots festivals such as Matiechem Fest, Ambeachem Fest and Baattachem Fest. [] The post The Festakar goes to IFFI appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Seasons first cruise liner docks at Mormugao port
Vasco: Goas cruise tourism season began on Monday with the arrival of the international cruise liner MV Celebrity Millennium at Mormugao Port, bringing 2,078 passengers from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and India. The vessel, which sailed from Singapore and called at Cochin en route, will continue to Mumbai before returning to [] The post Seasons first cruise liner docks at Mormugao port appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Prioritise strays over pedigreed dogs, urges Mission Rabies director
Panaji: Adopting local indie dogs can significantly improve animal welfare and strengthen community well-being, said Mission Rabies director Murugan Appupillai, who urged Goans to choose Indian stray dogs over foreign breeds. He said widespread adoption could drastically reduce the number of dogs on the streets. While Mission Rabies and several private organisations conduct adoption camps, [] The post Prioritise strays over pedigreed dogs, urges Mission Rabies director appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Goa to meet 100% agri water needs by 2026: Min
Panaji: Availability of water will never be a hurdle for the growth of agriculture in the state, as the government is ready to provide as much water as demanded by the farmers, said WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Monday. He said that Goan farmers face several challenges in continuing with agriculture; however, water is not [] The post Goa to meet 100% agri water needs by 2026: Min appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Prime Minister to unveil Ram statue in Partagali, Goa, on November 28
PSU oil companies hit 54% of FY26 capex goal
State-run oil and gas companies have spent 71,000 crore, 54% of their annual capex target, with ONGC leading spending. This investment covers drilling, exploration, and recovery projects. Indian Oil Corp and BPCL also reported significant expenditures, though at different paces, while Oil India showed the fastest spending utilization.
Bizman From Hyderabad Goes Missing in Goa, Police Clueless
MBT president Mohammed Amjadullah Khan urged officials concerned from the state government to speak to Goa DGP in order to intensify Parvezs search operation.
Delhi Explosion and Indias Counterterrorism Response
Without a new, holistic approach, India will continue to lag in achieving its goal of ending terrorism.
Goa government does a U-turn on tiger presence in State
The State, which claimed in 2018 that there is no permanent presence of tigers, has stated the opposite in the Mahadayi sharing dispute issue before Supreme Court
Get 50 percent off one of our favorite budgeting apps for Black Friday
Monarch Money is one of our favorite budgeting apps and, fittingly enough, there's a way for newcomers to save money on a subscription right now. If you use the code MONARCHVIP at checkout, you can get an annual plan for 50 percent off. It typically costs $100, but you can get 12 months of access for $50 with this code. There are some key caveats here. The discount is only for new users, and it can't be combined with other offers. The code only works when you sign up through the web. You can't redeem it through the Monarch mobile app. We feel that Monarch has a steeper learning curve than some other budget trackers and that certain aspects of the app are slightly more complex than they probably need to be. But it offers a great deal of customization and granularity , which outweighs our misgivings. On the main dashboard, you'll see your net worth along with your latest transactions, spending versus the previous month, your income so far for the month and details about upcoming bills, your investments and goals you've set. There's also a link to a month-in-review page, which offers an in-depth overview of what's been happening with your money that month. You'll also be able to take a peek at how your net worth has changed over time. Monarch can connect to your bank and track Apple Card, Apple Cash and Savings accounts. It can pull in your transactions and balance history automatically and detect your recurring expenses and income. The app can even keep your car valuation up to date. While it might take a little work to set up Monarch (and you might have to tweak things here and there), it's a detailed budgeting app that can help you keep better track of your income, expenditure and net worth. If you're a former Mint user (RIP), Monarch Money is a great alternative if you haven't yet found a Mint replacement . But it's worth mentioning that our favorite Mint replacement service, Quicken Simplifi , also has a sale going on right now. It's offering 50 percent off when you sign up for an annual subscription, billed at $3 per month with the discount. That comes out to $36 for the first year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-50-percent-off-one-of-our-favorite-budgeting-apps-for-black-friday-174011903.html?src=rss
These days, Black Friday is the longest day of the year. We're a week out from the big day, but amazing deals are already popping up for some of our favorite subscription services. This is a great time to lock in a long-term deal on a streaming platform like Apple TV or HBO Max, but there's even more to explore beyond that, from a big discount on MasterClass (to pick up a new hobby with all the money you're saving) and one of the best offers I've ever seen for DeleteMe (which cleans your personal data off the internet while you kick back with your new Amazon Prime Video subscription. We'll update this list for the rest of the month as new deals go live. Best Black Friday subscription deals Quicken Simplifi (one year) for $36 (50 percent off) : We named Quicken Simplifi the best budgeting app this year largely because it lives up to its name. This is the cleanest budgeting app on the market, with an interface designed to welcome newcomers and no key information more than a scroll away. 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Sultan Azlan Shah Cup : Why India-Belgium rescheduled to Tuesday
India's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey clash with Belgium was postponed due to heavy rain, initially halted after three minutes and then rescheduled for Tuesday, November 25th. The Indian team, returning after a six-year break, had previously secured a 1-0 win against Korea, with Mohammed Raheel scoring the decisive goal.
