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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 04:04 AM

Delhi Enveloped in Dense Smog, Air Quality Remains Hazardous

NEW DELHI: Dense smog continued to blanket the national capital on Wednesday, sharply reducing visibility and keeping air quality in the very poor to severe range, even as authorities stepped up curbs to rein in pollution.Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood near 350, a marginal improvement from day earlier, but conditions remained hazardous. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that 11 of the city’s 40 monitoring stations — including Jahangirpuri, Mundka and Wazirpur — recorded ‘severe’ AQI levels.'Delhi NOT Most Polluted': Doctor's Shocking Reveal On Toxic Monster; And How To Fight BackAccording to news agency ANI, 10 flights from Delhi airport have been cancelled today due to low visibility.IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomThe Delhi government announced that vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not be allowed to purchase petrol or diesel in the city. It also said only BS-VI–compliant vehicles will be permitted to operate in Delhi, with older vehicles facing restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).Fog disrupts flights, airlines issue advisoriesPoor air quality combined with dense fog continued to disrupt air traffic.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teams - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaIndiGo issued a late-night travel advisory, warning of reduced visibility and slower flight movements across parts of North and East India on Wednesday morning.“In the interest of safety, some flights may experience delays or adjustments,” the airline said, advising passengers to plan ahead, allow extra time to reach airports and check flight status before leaving home. IndiGo also cautioned that foggy conditions could slow road traffic, affecting access to airports.Earlier, Indira Gandhi International Airport issued a fog advisory, saying operations were steadily recovering but warning that disruptions could persist for certain arrivals and departures due to low visibility.Non-BS VI vehicle ban sparks commuter anxietyThe Delhi government’s decision to bar non-BS VI vehicles from entering the city from Thursday has triggered concern across the NCR, where lakhs depend on daily cross-border travel.Official data indicates that over 2 lakh vehicles in Gurgaon, more than 4 lakh in Noida and around 5.5 lakh in Ghaziabad fall below BS-VI standards and could be affected.Traffic police teams have been deployed at Delhi-NCR borders, with violators facing fines and vehicle seizure.Residents described the move as abrupt and impractical, arguing that Delhi and its neighbouring cities function as a single economic unit. They warned the restrictions could disrupt daily work, strain public transport and add pressure on already crowded metro services.Officials defended the decision, saying it was necessary to tackle toxic air.“The restrictions are in line with GRAP norms. Our aim is to reduce emissions during severe pollution episodes,” an NCR transport official said.Slight relief, but pollution to persistMeteorological factors brought limited relief on Tuesday, with higher wind speeds helping disperse pollutants and push AQI down from the severe zone. The India Meteorological Department reported shallow fog across most parts of the city, though visibility remained poor in the early morning.Experts said stronger winds over the next few days could further improve air quality, but warned that AQI is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category till the end of the week, according to the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System.With fog, pollution and travel disruptions expected to continue, authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activity, use public transport where possible, and stay alert to official advisories.Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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NorthEast Now

Dec 17, 2025, 04:00 AM

Mizoram Chief Minister Prioritizes Transparency in Public Works, Lays Foundation Stones for Educational Facilities

Aizawl:Mizoram Chief MinisterLalduhomasaid on Tuesday that his government prioritises transparency and quality inpublic worksand aims to eliminate substandard and incomplete projects.He made the statement while laying the foundation stones for a Mara Girls’ Hostel, eight new schools, and the upgradation of six existing schools at the Mara Boys’ Hostel in the Zotlang neighbourhood of Aizawl.Speaking on the occasion, Lalduhoma said the government has constituted a public-inclusive project monitoring committee to oversee development works. He added that the committee has so far reviewed 87 projects, with several others currently under scrutiny.The Chief Minister urged all executing agencies to work with dedication and responsibility.Commenting on the foundation stone-laying ceremony, Lalduhoma further described the day as a historic moment for the Mara community and a significant milestone in Mizoram’s educational development. He said the facilities, once completed, will benefit around 3,200 Mara students.He also said the Mizoram government has already initiated the construction of a Mara Girls’ Hostel in Delhi, adding that these initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to the development of the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) area and the empowerment of women.The Mara are one of the major tribes of the Mizo community and have their own autonomous district council in Siaha district in southern Mizoram under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution since 1972.The event was attended by BJP legislator from Siaha, Dr K. Beichhua, and MADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) M. Laikaw.In his technical report, A. Viahra, a Superintending Engineer under the MADC, also said the Rs 8 crore Mara Girls’ Hostel will be a six-storey building with an accommodation capacity of 120 students. He added that it will include dormitory facilities and a conference hall.Officials said the government will construct eight new school buildings at a cost of Rs 5.76 crore, comprising 12 classrooms.The upgradation of six existing schools, costing Rs 8.59 crore, will include the introduction of smart classrooms, he said.Related

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 03:54 AM

Lionel Messi Shares Heartwarming Moments from India Visit with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sons

Football icon Lionel Messi has shared a one-minute video montage from his recent visit to India on his official Instagram account, capturing highlights from the three-day trip.While most of the clips focused on his interactions with children and fans, one celebrity who made the cut, was Kareena Kapoor Khan with her two sons, Taimur and little Jeh.Messi adds Kareena, Tim and Jeh to his videoTaking to his handle, Messi posted the video with the caption, "Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India!"The video does not feature any of the high-profile meetings that the footballer had; instead, he chose some rather candid clips.Among the celebs who appeared in the clip was Bollywood actress Kareena and her boys Tim and Jeh, who won hearts during their brief interaction with the Argentine superstar.Jeh has his fan-moment with MessiKareena made headlines after attending the stadium event with her two sons for a special meet-and-greet with Messi. During the interaction, Jeh stole the spotlight as he appeared to be over the moon to be in the footballer’s presence. The cutie, who has won hearts for his antics, was seen unable to look away from Messi.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teams - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoDressed in the footballer's number 10 jersey, Jeh was seen mischievously stepping away from his mother to stand beside Messi, who warmly patted him on the head before Kareena took him by the arm and guided him off the stage to make way for others waiting their turn.Messi's message to Indian fansIn a heartfelt message to his fans, Messi said in the clip, "First of all, I'd like to thank India for all the love they've shown over the last few days. It was a great experience for us to be able to share. It was intense and short, but it was beautiful to receive all the love. I already knew it was coming, but to receive it in the first place was amazing. It's crazy what they've done for us over the last few days. We'll take all the love and we'll be back.Hopefully, one day, we'll be able to play a game. But we'll be back to visit India. Thank you very much."Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 03:42 AM

Viral Video Shows How Routine Security Check Turns Into Shared Habit

Not every viral video is loud or dramatic. Some clips travel far simply because they reflect everyday human behaviour in a way that feels familiar. A recent video from a temple is doing just that.It shows an ordinary scene that slowly turns interesting, as viewers notice how a routine security check appears to have taken on the form of a shared habit. The clip has sparked conversation online, not for what went wrong, but for how calmly and uniformly people behaved.At first glance, the scene looks normal. But as more people pass through, a clear pattern emerges, and that is what has made the video stand out across social media.What is seen in the videoThe video shows devotees entering a temple through a metal detector. Before stepping through, each person raises their hand and touches the top of the metal detector. A hand symbol on the device is seen blinking red at the time. Every devotee in the line repeats the same action, one after the other.Security checks continue smoothly, without any pause. What draws attention is the fact that no one questions the gesture.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIndia-US ties: Donald Trump hails PM Modi as 'great friend'; calls New Delhi a key strategic partner - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoEveryone follows it, making the process look less like a security step and more like an unwritten routine being followed out of habit.The caption that shaped the discussionThe clip was shared on X by user Deepesh Patel, whose caption quickly became part of the conversation. He wrote, “Someone must have once touched the top to shoo away a fly, and since then, people have made it a tradition to touch it.” The quote added a simple and relatable thought, which many users connected with while watching the video.How social media users respondedAfter the video began circulating, users shared a range of reactions. Some pointed out how easily people tend to follow what others are doing. Others found the moment innocent and mildly amusing. A few users described the clip as an example of herd mentality, where actions are repeated without much thought, simply because everyone else is doing the same.Overall, the reactions remained observational, with users focusing more on behaviour than judgement.Why the video stayed with viewersNothing unusual or disruptive happens in the clip. The temple remains calm, and devotees continue their visit as usual. Yet, the video stayed with viewers because it showed how a random action can slowly turn into a shared practice, without clear instructions or intent.As the video continues to be shared, it stands as a quiet reminder of how routine, belief, and group behaviour often blend in daily life, creating moments that only become noticeable when seen from the outside.Disclaimer: This story is based on a viral video. The Times of India has not independently verified its authenticity and does not necessarily endorse or promote the behaviour shown. The views expressed in the video are solely those of the participants and do not reflect the publication’s stance.(Photos: @Deepeshpatel87/X)

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Deccan Herald

Dec 17, 2025, 03:41 AM

US Expands Travel Ban to Seven More Countries, Including Syria

United States PresidentDonald Trumpmultiplied the list of countries that are subject to to a full travel ban, on Tuesday, banning citizens from an additional seven countries, including Syria, from entering theUS. In a statement released by the White House, Trump signed a proclamation "expanding and strengthening entry restrictions on nationals from countries with demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing to protect the Nation from national security and public safety threats." This action banned citizens from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria and those holding Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. It also imposes a full ban on Laos and Sierra Leone, which had been subject to partial restrictions previously. The White House said the expanded ban goes into effect on January 1. Theother counties that have been previously affectedby the ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, which was issued earlier this year. The action comes despite Trump's promise to do everything he could to make Syria successful after landmark talks in November with the Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who until recently was sanctioned by Washington as a foreign terrorist. Trump has backed Sharaa, whose visit completed a year for the rebel-turned-ruler who collapsed longtime autocratic leader Bashar al-Assad and has since traveled the world trying to depict himself as a moderate leader who wants to unify his war-ravaged nation and end its decades of international isolation. But in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump vowed "very serious retaliation" after the US military said two US Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in Syria by a suspected Islamic State attacker who targeted a convoy of American and Syrian forces before being shot dead. He described the incident in remarks to reporters as a "terrible" attack. The White House cited visa overstay rates for Syria in its justification for the ban. "Syria is emerging from a protracted period of civil unrest and internal strife. While the country is working to address its security challenges in close coordination with the United States, Syria still lacks an adequate central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures," the White House said. In June, Trump signed a proclamation banning the citizens of 12 countries from entering the United States and restricting those from seven others, saying it was necessary to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other threats to national security. The bans apply to both immigrants and non-immigrants, such as tourists, students and business travelers. The travel ban remains on those twelve countries, the White House said. Trump also added partial restrictions and entry limitations on an additional 15 countries, including Nigeria, which is under scrutiny from Trump, who in early November threatened military action over the treatment of Christians in the country. Nigeria says claims that Christians face persecution misrepresent a complex security situation and do not take into account efforts to safeguard religious freedom. Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, sending federal agents to major US cities and turning away asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border. The expansion of the countries subject to entry restrictions marks a further escalation of immigration measures the administration has taken since the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, last month. Investigators say the shooting was carried out by an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 through a resettlement program under which Trump administration officials have argued there was insufficient vetting. Days after the shooting, Trump vowed to "permanently pause" migration from all "Third World Countries," although he did not identify any by name or define the term.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 03:33 AM

Lucknow Super Giants' IPL 2026 Squad: Retentions, Releases, and New Signings

Lucknow Super Giants (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)NEW DELHI: The Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants came into the IPL Auction 2026 with a purse of Rs 22.95 crore after letting go of seven players, including two overseas names. Despite making headlines last year by breaking the IPL auction record with a Rs 27 crore signing of India's star wicketkeeper-batter Pant, LSG endured a disappointing campaign and finished seventh.Their first purchase in the auction was Wanindu Hasaranga, bought at his base price of Rs 2 crore.Lucknow Super Giants Full Team List IPL 2026Players Reatined:Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Mohammed Shami (traded in from SRH), Arjun Tendulkar (traded in from MI)LSG IPL retentions, releases, trades: Why the biggest buy - Rishabh Pant - is biggest problemPlayers Released:Aryan Juyal, David Miller, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Akash Deep, Will O’Rourke, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Shardul Thakur (traded to MI)LSG full squadfor IPL 2026:PlayerStatusAbdul SamadIndianAyush BadoniIndianAiden MarkramOverseasMatthew BreetzkeOverseasHimmat SinghIndianRishabh Pant (c)IndianNicholas PooranOverseasMitchell MarshOverseasShahbaz AhmedIndianArshin KulkarniIndianMayank YadavIndianAvesh KhanIndianMohsin KhanIndianManimaran SiddharthIndianDigvesh RathiIndianPrince YadavIndianAkash SinghIndianMohammed ShamiIndianArjun TendulkarIndianWanindu HasarangaOverseasAnrich NortjeOverseasMukul ChoudharyIndianNaman TiwariIndianAkshat RaghuwanshiIndianJosh InglisOverseasPlayers bought at auction:Player NameBase PriceSold AtWanindu HasarangaRs 2 croreRs 2 croreAnrich NortjeRs 2 croreRs 2 croreMukul ChoudharyRs 30 LakhsRs 2.6 croreNaman TiwariRs 30 LakhsRs 1 croreAkshat RaghuwanshiRs 30 LakhsRs 2.2 croreJosh InglisRs 2 croreRs 8.6 croreGet an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:25 AM

Uttar Pradesh: Bus-Truck Collision Kills Four, Injures 20 in Basti

Basti (Uttar Pradesh):At least four people were killed and 20 others injured after a truck collided with a bus carrying pilgrims late on Monday night at the Hardiya intersection under the Basti Sadar police station area. District Magistrate Kritika Jyotsna said the accident occurred late in the night, leaving four pilgrims dead on the spot. Of the injured, three were referred to higher medical centres, while 17 others are undergoing treatment at local hospitals and are reported to be out of danger. "The district administration is providing all possible assistance to the injured," the DM said. यूपी के बस्ती से बड़ा सड़क हादसा कई लोगों के मारे जाने की खबर। बस और ट्रक के बीच हुई टक्कर। पहली सूचना में करीब 5 लोगों की मौत और 20 से ज्यादा लोग घायल बताया जा रहे हैं। पुरानी बस्ती थाना क्षेत्र का मामला#BastiNews#RoadAccident@bastipolicepic.twitter.com/JHnLnbmsux Visuals from the accident site showed cranes being deployed to remove the heavily damaged vehicles and clear the debris from the road. Police teams reached the spot soon after the incident, rescued the injured and shifted them to the nearest hospitals. The area was cordoned off to facilitate rescue and clearance operations. A case has been registered regarding the incident, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision. Further details are awaited. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:23 AM

MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro Killed at 47: A Leading Theoretical Physicist in Plasma Physics

Nuno Loureiro, professor of nuclear science and engineering and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Centre (PSFC), passed away at the age of 47, the institute confirmed. According to reports, he was shot and killed at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. According to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office, Brookline police responded late Monday night to a report of a man with apparent gunshot wounds at a private residence. Loureiro was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that he was pronounced dead earlier that day. Loureiro joined MIT in 2016 and quickly established himself as a leading theoretical physicist whose work bridged fundamental science and real-world engineering challenges. In 2024, he was appointed director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Centre, placing him at the helm of one of the world’s most prominent fusion research institutions. He also held the Herman Feshbach (1942) Professorship of Physics. His research focused on the behaviour of magnetised plasmas, turbulence, magnetic reconnection and plasma confinement, core problems that must be solved to make fusion energy a practical and reliable power source. Loureiro’s findings helped improve understanding of how plasma behaves inside fusion reactors, potentially reducing material damage and improving efficiency. His work brought scientists closer to realising the promise of clean, near-limitless fusion energy. Beyond fusion, Loureiro made major contributions to astrophysics. He developed the first theory of turbulence in pair plasmas, a rare form of plasma thought to exist in extreme cosmic environments, and his work helped explain energetic phenomena such as solar flares and events linked to neutron star mergers. Also Watch: Colleagues described him as an extraordinary scientist and an equally remarkable human being. Dennis Whyte, former head of MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, said Loureiro was “a brilliant scientist and a brilliant person,” admired for his compassion, clarity and leadership. Physics Department head Deepto Chakrabarty noted that Loureiro was a strong advocate for plasma physics and an inspiring mentor, adding that his recent work on quantum computing algorithms for plasma simulations marked an exciting new direction in the field. Nuno Loureiro's Early Life Born in Portugal, Loureiro earned his undergraduate degree from Instituto Superior Técnico and completed his PhD at Imperial College London in 2005. He later worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and the UK’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy before returning to Portugal and eventually joining MIT. As a teacher, Loureiro left a lasting impact, instructing core plasma physics courses and winning multiple teaching awards. His career was marked by numerous honours, including the NSF CAREER Award, the American Physical Society’s Thomas H. Stix Award and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers earlier this year.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:21 AM

India's Jet Fuel Sales Decline Amid IndiGo Flight Cancellations

New Delhi: IndiGo's widespread flight cancellations in early this month resulted in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) sales falling by over 4 per cent in the first fortnight of December, according to preliminary industry data on Tuesday. Jet fuel or ATF demand had been consistently rising for the past two years as India's aviation sector rebounded from the lows of the Covid pandemic-induced disruptions. But this trend changed when IndiGo saw mass flight cancellations in December as India's largest airline struggled with new pilot duty-time rules, crew shortages, and winter weather disruptions like dense fog at major airports. IndiGo cancelled almost 5,000 flights - over 1,600 out of about 2,300 daily flights at the peak. Operations stabilised over the weekend. ATF sales during December 1 to 15 dropped to 3,31,400 tonnes from 3,45,400 tonnes in the same period a year back, the data showed. Month-on-month, the sales were down 7.2 per cent. Jet was an outlier in the fuel basket, with other major fuels such as petrol, diesel, and LPG posting robust growth. India's diesel consumption - the most consumed fuel in the country, accounting for almost 40 per cent of the fuel consumption basket - rose by nearly 5 per cent to 3.3 million tonnes during December 1-15. Month-on-month sales were, however, down 5.5 per cent as festive demand wore off. Compared to 3.16 million tonnes of diesel consumption during December 1-15, 2023, the demand for India's most used fuel was up 4.4 per cent. It was up 15.2 per cent, when compared to 2.87 million tonnes sales in the first half of December 2022. Petrol consumption in the first fortnight of December was up 7.7 per cent to 1.33 million tonnes. Compared to December 1-15, 2023, petrol sales were up 8.4 per cent and 24.7 per cent in relation to 1.06 million tonnes of sales in the first half of December 2022. Month-on-month consumption was down 5.1 per cent. LPG sales were up 15.1 per cent at 1.55 million tonnes in December 1-15, as domestic cooking needs continued to fuel growth. One of the primary reasons for the surge is household demand for the fuel. Month-on-month, LPG demand was up 4.4 per cent when compared to 1.49 million tonnes sold in the first half of November. India added 25 lakh new homes to the subsidised LPG supply scheme, PMUY, lifting the number of households covered to 10.58 crore from 10.33 crore. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:19 AM

US Expands Travel Restrictions to 20 Countries, Including Palestinian Authority

Washington:US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to expand US travel restrictions, adding 20 more countries and the Palestinian Authority to the list. The move sharply widens limits on who can visit or immigrate to the United States. Details Five countries now face a full travel ban to the US. Another 15 countries face partial restrictions. The administration also fully restricted travel by people using Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. The White House said the decision is part of its effort to tighten US entry standards. Officials linked the move to security concerns. They cited the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of the shooting of two National Guard troops near the White House over Thanksgiving weekend. The restrictions include several exemptions. People who already hold valid US visas are exempt. Lawful permanent residents are exempt. Diplomats, athletes, and some other visa holders are exempt. Entry may also be allowed if it serves US interests. The administration did not say when the new measures will take effect. Trump announced the original round of restrictions in June. At that time, citizens of 12 countries were barred from entering the US. Nationals of seven other countries faced partial limits. The move revived a signature policy from Trump’s first term. The June ban covered Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions were imposed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. On Tuesday, the administration added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the full-ban list. It also imposed a complete restriction on travel by people holding Palestinian Authority-issued documents. South Sudan had already been under significant limits. Another 15 countries were added to the partial-restriction list. They are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, the Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The restrictions apply to visitors and immigrants. They affect people seeking short-term travel and those seeking permanent entry. In his proclamation, Trump said many of the affected countries have “widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents and criminal records.” It said these problems make it hard to properly vet travelers. Officials also cited high visa overstay rates. They said some governments refuse to take back citizens that the US wants to deport. They pointed to instability and weak government control in some countries. Immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and national security concerns were also cited in the national travel ban. The administration also changed earlier restrictions. Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial limits to full suspensions. In contrast, Turkmenistan saw some easing of restrictions. The administration said the country had made improvements. All other provisions announced in June remain in place. The new measures against Palestinians go further than earlier steps. In recent months, restrictions already made it nearly impossible for holders of Palestinian Authority passports to obtain US travel documents for business, work, education, or tourism. The new decision bars them from emigrating to the US. According to the proclamation, several “US-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens.” It said the recent war likely weakened vetting and screening capabilities in those areas, as well as the national travel ban. Travel bans became a defining issue during Trump’s first term, sparking protests and legal challenges. Courts later upheld revised versions. Supporters say it protects national security. Critics say it unfairly targets people based on where they are from. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 03:18 AM

Charles Barkley Slams Adam Silver's NBA Cup Initiative as 'Embarrassing' and 'Ridiculous'

Images via GettyThe NBA Cup Finals are on December 16, 2025, between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. While fans are excited about the game, not everyone within the league circuit shares the same opinion on Adam Silver’s in-season initiative.Former legend andNBAsports analyst Charles Barkley is quite dismissive of the in-season tournament. He even used words like “embarrassing” and "ridiculous" while expressing his honest opinions on the format.The NBA Cup was first announced in 2023 and instantly became a part of that season itself. Commissioner Adam Silver launched the format to keep the interest of both the players and the fans intact during the course of the regular season.IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomEach player from the winning team receives a cash prize. The tournament is divided into stages, with the first one being group play. These performances add to the standing of both the regular season and the NBA Cup tournament.The next stage is the single-elimination knockout rounds.Charles Barkley expresses his honest yet brutal opinion on Adam Silver’s NBA Cup initiativeWhile winning teams and players are earning from the tournament, Charles Barkley is not very supportive of the format. During a recent episode of the Tom Tolbert Show, the NBA analyst decided to open up brutally on his thoughts on the ongoing tournament.He stated, “I think the Cup thing is somewhat embarrassing. I’m disappointed that we have to make an in-season tournament to make these guys more money, so they won’t do load management.”Ep. 101.25 Tom Tolbert Show | Special Guest: Charles BarkleyThe former NBA legend made it clear that he had nothing against the players making more money. Adding to his comment, Barkley further stated, “To have to pay these guys extra money to make them play other games – they should play basketball because they’re well-compensated to play basketball.To do an in-season tournament to make them extra money, come on, man. That’s a little bit ridiculous.”NBA Cup: Format, prize pool and everything you need to knowAnnounced on July 8, 2023, the NBA Cup is an in-season tournament. It is a multi-stage one. The first stage is the group play, where there are 6 groups across both conferences. Each group will have five teams. The teams will play four group stage games and then the winner of each group proceeds to the next stage. The next stage is the single-elimination knockout round. A wild-card team from each conference joins the team in this round.The prize pool of the event is $18+ million. There is also a trophy that the winning team receives. In the 2025-2026 season, the finalists for the NBA Cup are the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.Also Read:NBA legend Luka Doncic turns Santa Claus for Los Angeles Lakers with adorable Christmas surpriseGet an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:15 AM

Lionel Messi's Heartfelt Message After G.O.A.T India Tour: 'Namaste India!'

Lionel Messi on Wednesday reflected on his memorable time in the country by sharing a heartfelt message on his Instagram account following the conclusion of his G.O.A.T India Tour. Posting a note addressed to fans across the nation, the Argentine football legend wrote, “Namaste India!” before thanking the cities that hosted him during the tour: Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Messi expressed his gratitude for the warmth, hospitality and overwhelming love he received at every stop, calling the visit an incredible experience. Messi’s message highlighted the deep impression India left on him during the tour, which drew massive crowds and unprecedented enthusiasm from football fans. From packed stadiums to emotional fan interactions, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was welcomed like a global icon wherever he went. His appearances sparked celebrations that went beyond football, with fans turning up in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning captain and chant his name. A post shared by The Free Press Journal (@freepressjournal) In his post, Messi also shared an optimistic outlook for the sport in the country, stating that he hopes football has a bright future in India. The remark resonated strongly with Indian fans and aspiring footballers, especially at a time when the game continues to grow steadily across the nation. His words were seen as an endorsement of India’s rising football culture and its passionate fan base. The G.O.A.T India Tour featured several high-profile events, including fan interactions, ceremonial appearances and football-related showcases, all aimed at celebrating the sport and inspiring the next generation. Organised as part of a Satadru Dutta initiative, the tour was designed to bring one of the greatest footballers of all time closer to Indian fans, a goal that was clearly achieved given the scale of excitement witnessed across cities. Messi concluded his post with hashtags such as #GOAT, #TourIndia, #GOATconcert and #MessiinIndia, encapsulating the spirit of the tour. As his message went viral on social media, fans once again flooded comment sections with messages of love and gratitude, marking his visit as a landmark moment for Indian football and a memory that will be cherished for years to come. Viral Video Shows Cristiano Ronaldo Fans Escorted Out Of Arun Jaitley Stadium In Delhi During Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour A moment of tension briefly interrupted the celebratory atmosphere at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi after a group of Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo fans were escorted out by police while Lionel Messi was present at the venue as part of his G.O.A.T India Tour. What began as passionate fan expression soon turned into a situation that authorities felt needed immediate control to prevent any untoward incident. According to visuals, the fans were repeatedly performing Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siu’ celebration from the stands. While the gesture is widely recognised and celebrated by football fans across the world, its timing and location appeared to provoke sections of the crowd, many of whom had gathered specifically to welcome Lionel Messi. The atmosphere in the stands reportedly grew increasingly charged as chants and reactions intensified, creating visible discomfort among nearby spectators. Let us know! 👂What type of content would you like to see from us this year? Security personnel and local police intervened after assessing that the situation could escalate into verbal or physical clashes. To maintain order and ensure the safety of all attendees, the Ronaldo supporters were calmly escorted out of the stadium. Lionel Messi’s arrival at the Arun Jaitley Stadium had drawn massive attention, with fans eager to witness the Argentine legend during his G.O.A.T India Tour. The event was marked by loud cheers, emotional moments and overwhelming support for the World Cup-winning icon, underscoring his immense popularity in India. However, the long-standing football rivalry between fans of Messi and Ronaldo was clearly evident in the stands, reflecting the deep passion the sport commands. Despite the brief disruption, the situation was swiftly brought under control and the event continued smoothly. Authorities reiterated the importance of maintaining mutual respect among fans, especially during landmark sporting occasions that celebrate football legends rather than rivalry. The incident served as a reminder of the intensity of football fandom and the fine balance required to ensure such historic moments remain safe and enjoyable for everyone present.

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NorthEast Now

Dec 17, 2025, 03:15 AM

Mizoram Government to Sign $108 Million Loan Agreement with ADB to Strengthen Public Healthcare Schemes

Aizawl:TheMizoram governmentwill soon sign a loan agreement worth $108 million with theAsian Development Bank(ADB) to implement and strengthen public healthcare schemes in the state, Health Minister Lalrinpuii said on Tuesday.The Asian Development Bank approved the $108 million loan (approximately Rs 980 crore) on December 5 under the ‘Supporting Public Healthcare System Strengthening to Achieve Universal Health Care for Mizoram’ project, she said.She added that the Centre will repay 90 per cent of the loan amount, while the state government will repay the remaining 10 per cent within 15 years.“Although the ADB has approved the loan, the government will sign the formal loan agreement once the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) fixes a date. As the Centre will repay 90 per cent of the loan amount, it will significantly reduce the state’s expenditure on implementing the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS),” Lalrinpuii told a press conference here.Once the loan agreement is signed, the authorities will release Rs 21 crore within a month based on the existing Disbursement Linked Indicator (DLI), she said.The Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government, led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma, launched the MUHCS in March to provide Rs 5 lakh annual coverage for cashless treatment at government hospitals and empanelled private and church-run hospitals. The scheme became operational in April.According to Mizoram Health Care Society Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lalhriatzuali Ralte, 65,193 families, including 36,323 families of government employees and 8,733 families of civil pensioners, have registered under the scheme in the current financial year.In addition, over 2.20 lakh families registered under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) are also eligible to avail benefits under the scheme, she said.Lalrinpuii said that 59,602 beneficiaries have so far benefited from the MUHCS, with the government spending over Rs 100 crore on healthcare expenses under the scheme.She added that state-run hospitals treated 68.56 per cent of beneficiaries and accounted for 43.47 per cent of the total healthcare expenditure.The minister said the government is making concerted efforts to strengthen the healthcare system by upgrading infrastructure and improving manpower.She said the state government has upgraded the lone Zoram Medical College and Hospital (ZMCH) to 520 beds with 40 cabins and increased the number of intensive care units from 13 to 26.She added that the government is strengthening and upgrading Aizawl Civil Hospital, the state’s largest civil hospital, with additional facilities under the Aizawl Smart City project.The health minister said Aizawl Civil Hospital will soon conduct kidney transplants after the completion of the operating theatre.Nephrologists and other healthcare professionals will undergo training at Tagore Hospital in Kolkata in January next year, after which kidney transplants will begin at the hospital, she added.Related

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:14 AM

CCI Approves ITC's Acquisition of Aditya Birla Real Estate's Pulp and Paper Business for Rs 3,498 Crore

New Delhi: Fair trade regulator CCI on Tuesday cleared conglomerate ITC Ltd's proposal to acquire the pulp and paper business of Aditya Birla Real Estate Ltd (ABREL) for Rs 3,498 crore. The development came after ABREL in March this year announced that its board has approved the execution of the business transfer agreement for the divestment of the pulp and paper undertaking situated in Lalkuan, Uttarakhand, by way of a slump sale to ITC. Press Release | The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved the proposed deal. "Commission approves acquisition of paper and pulp manufacturing business of Aditya Birla Real Estate Limited by ITC Limited," the regulator said in a post on X. Established in 1984 at Lalkuan (Nainital, Uttarakhand), pulp and paper undertaking Century Pulp and Paper (CPP) of ABREL is a well-established player in the Indian paper industry with an installed capacity of 4.8 lakh metric tonnes per annum. In March, ABREL said, "The transfer of the business will be for a lump-sum cash consideration of Rs 3,498 crore, to be paid by ITC to ABREL." The divestment of the pulp and paper undertaking is a value-unlocking exercise. It will further enable the company to pursue growth opportunities in its core business - real estate, the company added. Kolkata-headquartered ITC has said its paperboards and packaging segment is expected to continue generating free cash flow going forward. During FY20-24, the segment generated a free cash flow of RS 4,000 crore. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 03:07 AM

IIFL Finance's Credit Rating Outlook Revised to 'Positive' by S&P

New Delhi: IIFL Finance on Tuesday said that the global credit rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) has revised the company's outlook to 'Positive' from 'Stable' on recovering market share in gold loans. 📈 IIFL Finance’s Growth & Outlook: Key Financial Projections & Gold Loan Surge | MCap 24,099.04 Cr- Gold loan AUM grew 2.2x in 12 months (as of Sept. 30, 2025), driven by high gold prices & strong demand.- Return on assets (ROA) expected to improve to 2.3%-2.6% in FY27 & FY28…pic.twitter.com/fZKcvcoY6n S&P, in its rating rationale, said, "The outlook revision reflects IIFL's strengthening market share in the gold financing business. This is a year after a central bank embargo on the company sanctioning or disbursing fresh gold loans was lifted. We expect IIFL to maintain very strong levels of capitalisation over the next 12 months." S&P also anticipated that the company's portfolio pruning and reduced exposure to microfinancing will lower its credit costs. It further said that the IIFL's credit costs will peak this fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. The rating agency said the company's risk-adjusted capital (RAC) ratio will moderately decline to 18-19 per cent over the next two years, compared with 20.4 per cent as of March 31, 2025, it said. "Our positive outlook on the long-term issuer credit rating on IIFL reflects our view that the company will strengthen its market share and maintain robust capitalisation over the next 12 months," it said. The rating agency projected that IIFL's credit costs will decline after FY26, and that the company will likely maintain access to funding despite its sensitivity to market confidence. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 03:05 AM

Phillies' Adolis Garcia Signing: A Strategic Move to Extend Franchise Catcher J.T. Realmuto

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:56 AM

IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Franchises Finalize Squads, Kolkata Knight Riders Spend Big

TheIPL 2026 mini auction, held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16, has finally brought clarity on how all 10 franchises will line up for the upcoming season. Several teams made huge buys, spending over Rs 200 crore to add big overseas names and some young Indian talent to strengthen their squads. Camron Green, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 25.20 crore, emerged as themost expensive player at the IPL 2026 auction, while Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer were the most expensive uncapped players after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) shelled out Rs 14.20 crore for each of them. Here is a team-wise look at the full squads for IPL 2026 after the auction. CSK squad:Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Sanju Samson (traded from RR), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shivam Dube, Urvil Patel (wk), Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Rahul Chahar SRH squad:Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Pat Cummins (c), Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Liam Livingstone, Shivang Kumar, Salil Arora, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Krains Fuletra, Jack Edwards, Shivam Mavi RR squad:Ravindra Jadeja (traded from CSK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Sam Curran (traded from CSK), Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Shubham Dubey, Shimron Hetmyer, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira (traded from DC), Sandeep Sharma, Yudhvir Charak, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Yash Raj Punja, Vignesh Puthur, Ravi Singh, Adam Milne, Kuldeep Sen Also Read |IPL Auction 2026: Which teams overpaid and who bagged the best bargains? DC squad:Nitish Rana (traded from RR), Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Ashutosh Sharma, Axar Patel, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Vipraj Nigam, Mukesh Kumar, Ajay Mandal, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Pathum Nissanka, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Kyle Jamieson, Lungi Ngidi, Prithvi Shaw, Sahil Parakh KKR squad:Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Akash Deep, Rachin Ravindra, Daksh Kamra, Sarthak Ranjan GT squad:Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Ashok Sharma, Luke Wood, Prithviraj Yarra Also Read |IPL Auction 2026: Full List of Sold and Unsold Players LSG squad:Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh, Josh Inglis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Anrich Nortje, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Naman Tiwari, Mohammed Shami (traded from SRH), Arjun Tendulkar (traded from MI) PBKS squad:Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod, Ben Dwarshuis, Cooper Connolly, Vishal Nishad, Pravin Dubey MI squad:Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton, Hardik Pandya, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma, AM Ghazanfar, Quinton de Kock, Shardul Thakur (traded from LSG), Sherfane Rutherford (traded from GT), Mayank Markande (traded from KKR), Mayank Rawat, Atharva Ankolekar, Mohammad Izhar, Danish Malewar RCB squad:Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Mangesh Yadav, Jacob Duffy, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal, Satvik Deswal Jasprit Bumrah was rested for fifth Test against England at The Oval Workload management was believed to be the reason behind Bumrah's absence The pacer, however, reportedly has a knee injury, a BCCI official claimed in a report. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:53 AM

US Job Market Shows Signs of Weakness as Unemployment Rises to Four-Year High

Worries are mounting for President DonaldTrumpat home after a delayedUSjobs report showed unemployment climbing to a four-year high, underlining fresh strain in the labour market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the jobless rate rose to 4.6% in November, as the economy struggled to regain momentum following months of disruption linked to the federal shutdown. According to figures released on Tuesday, the US economy lost 105,000 jobs in October and added 64,000 jobs in November. The unemployment rate increased from 4.4% in September to 4.6% last month. Almost all economic reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau were delayed due to the historically long federal shutdown, which hampered data collection. As a result, the October report marked the first time in nearly eight decades that a monthly snapshot did not include the unemployment rate. The Census Bureau also reported that October retail sales remained flat, the weakest reading in five months. Employers added 64,000 jobs in November, exceeding many economists’ expectations, following a sharp October decline driven by the loss of 162,000 federal government roles tied to the Trump administration’s push earlier this year to cut government jobs. The Labor Department also said job gains in September and August were lower than initially estimated. The delayed release was the first full snapshot of the labour market since the US government shutdown. While the data pointed to growing weakness in the labour market, economists cautioned that it was unlikely to settle internal disagreements at the Federal Reserve over the future path of interest rates. The US central bank is balancing a weakening job market against rising prices. It cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point last week, its third cut this year, to support the slowing labour market. Projections released last week showed Fed officials largely expect one rate cut in 2026, though further signs of labour market weakness could strengthen the case for additional cuts next year. Analysts said the delayed report was unusually difficult to interpret. “For a data-dependent Fed, this morning’s data will only increase the internal debate,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management. “It remains to be seen how attentive they are to the labour market versus the fact that inflation has remained stubbornly above their 2% target.” Fed Chair Jerome Powell is “likely to view today’s jobs data with a fair degree of scepticism”, said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management, adding that data distortions and tighter immigration policies mean the payroll figures “should not be taken at face value”. Still, Shah said the unexpectedly sharp rise in unemployment last month will “trigger some creeping concern within the Fed”. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House’s National Economic Council, said the figures followed an expected pattern. “I think that from the private sector point of view it’s just about what we’ve been getting all year. It’s solid upward trajectory,” he told CNBC. US President Donald Trump will deliver a live national address from the White House, reflecting on the past year’s achievements and outlining future plans, with expected focus on border security, the economy, and upcoming policy initiatives. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:53 AM

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd's IPO Receives 39.17 Times Subscription

New Delhi: The initial public offering of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd, an arm of the ICICI Bank, received 39.17 times subscription on the final day of bidding on Tuesday, led by heavy demand from institutional buyers. File Image | The Rs 10,602.65-crore IPO received bids for 1,37,14,88,316 shares against 3,50,15,691 shares on offer, according to details available with the NSE. File Image | The Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) category fetched 123.87 times subscription, while the quota meant for non-institutional investors got subscribed 22.04 times. Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) portion received 2.53 times subscription. ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC) on Thursday said it has raised Rs 3,022 crore from anchor investors. File Image | The company has fixed a price band of Rs 2,061-2,165 per share for the issue, valuing it at about Rs 1.07 lakh crore (USD 11.86 billion). The initial public offering (IPO) is an entirely offer-for-sale of more than 4.89 crore shares by its promoter, UK-based Prudential Corporation Holdings, meaning the company will not receive any proceeds from the offering. Currently, ICICI Bank holds 51 per cent in the AMC, while Prudential owns the remaining 49 per cent. Once listed, ICICI Prudential AMC will join asset managers such as HDFC AMC, UTI AMC, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, Shriram AMC, and Nippon Life India Asset Management. It will also be the fifth ICICI Group entity to be listed, after ICICI Bank, ICICI Prudential Life, ICICI Lombard, and ICICI Securities. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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Deccan Herald

Dec 17, 2025, 02:53 AM

Economist Warns of Logistical Challenges in India's Simultaneous Poll Reforms

New Delhi: Well-known economist Gita Gopinath has told the Parliament’s ‘ONOE’ panel that simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and Assemblies could reduce election costs but warned that it could face “heavy logistical pressures” and “unusually high staffing needs” citing the example of 2024 Indonesian polls. Her advice was to undertake a systematic analysis of the experience of states – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim – that currently hold simultaneous elections, as it would provide a useful assessment of logistical challenges, cost-effectiveness, and help share best practices across states. In her written submission to the Joint Committee of Parliament, she said ‘ONOE’ (One Nation, One Election) could “reduce uncertainty and foster economic activity” as well as “increase” long-term infrastructure investment while emphasising that she views simultaneous polls as a “positive reform” from an economic standpoint. However, she said the exact costs of implementing simultaneous elections remain uncertain and logistical challenges of synchronising elections should not be underestimated, as underscored by Indonesia’s recent experience under fully simultaneous elections. Gopinath, IMF First Deputy Managing Director, said Indonesia last year faced “record spending, heavy logistical pressures, and unusually high staffing needs”, culminating in a Constitutional Court directive to partially separate elections from 2029. She will be appearing before the panel on Wednesday. “While India’s geography and administrative strengths – including robust identification infrastructure – may mitigate some pressures, there remains uncertainty as to the logistical process of synchronization and the net cost effects,” she said. A well-evaluated implementation will be essential to ensure that the reform becomes a sustainable model – one that contributes to long-term economic stability and growth, she said adding that it is also essential to address the “significant political and constitutional questions surrounding ‘ONOE’ such as its impact on federalism and the balance of power”. Emphasising that ONOE could reduce uncertainty and foster economic activity, she said studies show pre-election uncertainty tends to slow investment as international firms cut investment in countries in national election years. In the Indian context, she said this is reinforced by the Model Code of Conduct, which freezes new public projects during staggered state and national polls. “By reducing the number of separate election windows, synchronisation can reduce periods of uncertainty for both firms and ministries, thereby enabling steadier procurement and investment planning. This pattern is supported by evidence of stronger post-election growth in states with simultaneous elections,” she said. Gopinath also said election periods in India are often marked by short-term fiscal spending – typically in the form of subsidies or 'freebies' – that crowd out longer-term infrastructure investments. “International evidence mirrors this dynamic: governments commonly increase public deficits in election years, and later offset this spending with cuts to capital investment. This shift matters for growth, as capital spending in India generates roughly 2.5 times the GDP returns than transfer programs. By reducing the frequency of elections, synchronised elections could help shift public spending towards infrastructure investment and contribute to longer-term economic growth,” she added.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:50 AM

IPL 2026: Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan's Emotional Comeback Stories

Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz KhanNEW DELHI: The IPL 2026 auction delivered many big-money headlines, but few stories matched the emotional weight of Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan scripting their return to the league after early rejection.Once touted as India’s next batting stars, both were initially left unsold, only to find new life in the accelerated round — a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change at the IPL auction table.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.SUBSCRIBE NOW!Shaw’s journey was the most dramatic. After going unsold twice at his base price of Rs 75 lakh, the former India opener briefly took to social media, posting a heartbreak emoji with the words “It’s OK.”IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomWithin minutes, the script flipped. Delhi Capitals, the franchise he represented from 2018 to 2024, revived his name late in the auction and brought him back for Rs 75 lakh. Shaw swiftly deleted his earlier post and shared DC’s welcome graphic instead, captioning it “Back to my family,” sealing a full-circle moment.IPL 2026 Mini Auction: CSK Go Big on Uncapped Talent | Stephen Fleming & Shashwat GoenkaThe 26-year-old has been in strong domestic form and recently made headlines by scoring the second-fastest double century in Ranji Trophy history.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teams - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoHaving shifted from Mumbai to Maharashtra this season, Shaw now gets another chance to revive his IPL and international ambitions with a familiar franchise.Sarfaraz Khan’s wait ended in similar fashion. After going unsold in the main round despite a prolific domestic record — including a blistering 22-ball 73 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy just an hour before the auction started — Chennai Super Kings snapped him up for Rs 75 lakh.For Sarfaraz, the move represents an opportunity to showcase his power-hitting under MS Dhoni’s watchful eye.While Shaw and Sarfaraz embodied redemption, the auction also saw fireworks elsewhere. Kolkata Knight Riders shattered records by signing Australia all-rounder Cameron Green for Rs 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. KKR also landed Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore, while uncapped Indians continued to cash in big.Yet amid the crores and bidding wars, it was the quiet, late picks of Shaw and Sarfaraz that stood out — proof that in the IPL, a comeback is never more than one bid away.Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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The Indian Express

Dec 17, 2025, 02:47 AM

India Set to Open Nuclear Power Sector to Private and Foreign Investment with SHANTI Bill

Building on the clear directional push to open up the restricted nuclear power sector to private sector participation, the rules that will follow the passage of the proposed Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 (SHANTI) are likely to make a provision for potential foreign funding in the nuclear sector. Thenew Bill, which was tabled in Parliament Monday and aims to repeal both the Atomic EnergyAct, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, comes amid India’s move to look outward for collaborations on nuclear that is driven by two clear policy imperatives: the desperate need for base load alternatives to coal-fired capacity to tide over the limitations of renewables; and more importantly, the need for capital to scale up nuclear capacity addition. Foreign funds, including sovereign funds from West Asia, have expressed early interest to put in capital to part-finance the country’s stated objectives to scale up nuclear power, including getting into the manufacturing value chain of SMRs, or small modular reactors.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:45 AM

Google Partners with ReNew Energy for 150-Megawatt Solar Project in Rajasthan

New Delhi: Decarbonisation solutions company ReNew Energy Global Plc on Tuesday said it has partnered with technology giant Google for the development of a 150-megawatt (MW) solar project in Rajasthan. Under this partnership, Google will procure the project's energy attributes, such as carbon credits from ReNew, a company statement said. This long-term procurement is essential for the bankability of the project, and will also help Google make progress towards addressing its value chain emissions, it said. The project, scheduled for commissioning in 2026, is expected to generate around 4,25,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, which is equivalent to powering over 3,60,000 Indian households, it stated. With this, ReNew's committed commercial and industrial portfolio expands to 2.7 gigawatts (GW), reinforcing its position as one of India's leading providers of corporate clean energy and carbon reduction solutions. Vaishali Nigam Sinha, Co-founder & Chairperson, Sustainability at ReNew, said in the statement, "This partnership with Google reflects the growing global confidence in India's clean energy ecosystem and ReNew's ability to deliver climate-positive solutions at scale. Long-term agreements of this kind are catalytic; they enable new renewable capacity, support India's energy transition, and help global companies meet ambitious sustainability commitments." Vrushali Gaud, Global Director, Climate Operations at Google, said,"This novel agreement with ReNew is a critical strategic step; it brings new solar capacity onto the grid in a key region, and helps address challenging portions of our value chain emissions. We are committed to supporting India's clean energy journey through this collaboration and contributing positively to the national grid." India aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:44 AM

India Threatens 'Lesson' for Bangladesh Over Northeastern Region Remarks

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma (File photo)NEW DELHI: Assam chief ministerHimanta Biswa Sarmaon Tuesday warned that India would not remain silent and teach a "lesson" if politicians in Bangladesh continued to make remarks about India's northeastern region.His comments came a day after Hasnat Abdullah, a senior leader of the newly formed National Citizen Party, said Dhaka should “isolate” India’s northeastern states and support separatist elements in the region if New Delhi attempted to “destabilise” the neighbouring country.Bangladesh Election Turmoil Deepens, Hasina's Awami League Rejects Poll Timeline Under Yunus Re"For the last one year, statements have been coming repeatedly from that country (Bangladesh) that the states of northeast India should be separated and made a part of Bangladesh.IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomWe are a very big country, a nuclear nation and the world’s fourth-largest economy. How can Bangladesh even think about it?" Assam CM told reporters, according to PTI."This mindset should not be encouraged, and Bangladesh should not be helped much in any way. We should teach them a lesson that if they continue to behave in this way. We will not remain silent," the BJP leader added.On Monday, Abdullah, a key leader of the student-led protests that brought down Bangladesh'sSheikh Hasinagovernment in August last year, claimed that India’s north-eastern states were geographically "vulnerable" as they depend on the narrow Siliguri Corridor, also known as the "Chicken’s Neck", for connectivity with the rest of the country.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeIndia Habit Index 2025 | Travel & Food Habits That Define IndiaUndoIndia-US ties: Donald Trump hails PM Modi as 'great friend'; calls New Delhi a key strategic partner - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoHasina has been living in Delhi since fleeing Dhaka, and ties between the two neighbours have been at an all-time low since her ouster. Last month, an International Crimes Tribunal found her guilty and sentenced her to death for "crimes against humanity" during the protests. Hasina rejected the verdict, describing it as "politically motivated."Dhaka has repeatedly sought the former prime minister’s extradition, a request New Delhi has said is “being examined.”Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, whose caretaker administration has been governing Bangladesh since the fall of Hasina’s government, has alsorepeatedly commentedon India’s north-eastern region, commonly known as the "Seven Sisters" after the seven states that constitute it.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:43 AM

CLAT 2026 Results Announced: How to Download Scorecards and View Final Answer Key

CLAT 2026 Results:The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2026 was announced on the official website of the Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLUs). Candidates can visit consortiumofnlus.ac.in, the official website, to view the results. The CLAT exam for undergraduate and graduate law programs offered by National Law Universities (NLUs) and other universities was administered this year on December 7 at 126 locations throughout 25 states and four Union Territories. Direct link for official notification CLAT Results 2026: How to download? Applicants must take the actions listed below in order to download the results: Step 1:Go to consortiumofnlus.ac.in, the CNLU's official website. Step 2:Click the link to the final answer key and result on the homepage. Step 3:Next, enter your login information and hit submit. Step 4:The final answer key and CLAT 2026 result will now be displayed on the screen. Step 5:Download the final answer key and CLAT 2026 result, then print it off for your records. Direct link for CLAT 2026 scorecard CLAT Results 2026: Counselling dates Registration: December 16–27, 2025 First allotment list: January 7, 2026 Fee payment & admission (1st list): January 7–15, 2026 Second allotment list: January 22, 2026 Fee payment & admission (2nd list): January 22–29, 2026 Third allotment list: February 5, 2026 Fee payment & admission (3rd list): February 5–12, 2026 University fee payment: April 24, 2026 CLAT Result 2026: Strong involvement was demonstrated by the Consortium's stated overall attendance of approximately 96%. Approximately 57% of the candidates were female, and 43% were male. The participation of transgender candidates was also highlighted by the CLAT. The official paper featured performance data by gender and examination city, showing impressive results from big cities like Bengaluru and New Delhi.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:40 AM

The Mysterious '67' Meme: A Reflection of Internet Humor's Evolution

In the headspinning world of internet culture, memes tend to strike out of nowhere and spread like wildfire, with most people being none the wiser about what they even refer to. Among such memes is the "67" meme, which has been driving the internet crazy.Well, at first sight, the number looks random, but that's just where the magic of its popularity lies. So, what does the "67" meme mean?From where did it start?The 67 meme did not start with a fixed definition or a clearly documented origin. It started organically across platforms like Instagram, Twitter (X), and TikTok, where users started commenting "67" under posts with absolutely no explanation. This incomprehensible repetition then started to get notice and raise eyebrows among onlookers.Unlike memes tied to pop culture references, celebrities, or specific events, “67” began popping off the simple reason that people noticed other people using it and joined in.What does "67" mean?A great deal of irony lies in the fact that the 67 meme does not have one agreed-upon meaning. The humor resides in that it's out of context on purpose. Many users use it as a response, as one would use it when it clearly doesn't belong.It works on the level of sarcasm and irony. Moreover, it has this "inside joke" vibe going for it, where people would act like they knew what it means, but outsiders would be bewildered.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIndia-US ties: Donald Trump hails PM Modi as 'great friend'; calls New Delhi a key strategic partner - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoThe bewilderment invites further engagement, as viewers would ask questions and help along the meme's proliferation unintentionally.Why did the meme go viral?The internet often adopts content that is fun and has sarcasm. This 67 meme fits right into that trend. Scrolling through comment sections, reels, and captions with the same number over and over again sparks curiosity and invites imitation.With time, "67" gained plenty of meanings from its users, which range from personal codes to far-fetched, imaginary explanations.None of these works as being official or anywhere near widely accepted, since the lack of any fixed meaning is, in fact, what keeps this meme alive.The origins of the 67 meme pretty much encapsulate how internet humor has gone ahead to evolve. Memes today do not need to make sense, nor do they need clear punchlines. They most often live on shared confusion, irony, and repetition.The trend speaks volumes about the idea that online communities can turn the most common or meaningless elements into viral phenomena.The 67 meme is the best example of the randomness of the internet having distilled into a moment in culture. There is nothing secretive behind the message nor any deeper symbolisms to it. A reflection of how memes are, more often nowadays, about participation and not understanding.Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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Deccan Herald

Dec 17, 2025, 02:40 AM

RCB's Mini-Auction Success: A Formula for Success?

Bengaluru: After years ofRoyal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL auction being termed their Achilles Heel, there was a sense of excitement among the representatives during the mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The camp seemed to have enjoyed the day without much pressure with the luxury of a settled core, having retained the talent (17 players) that helped them to go all the way to their first-ever IPL crown. The defending champions, in the hope of strengthening their squad, had 16.4 crore left in the bank, with eight slots and two overseas options to fill. RCB’s eyes lit up when a certain Venkatesh Iyer went under the hammer, a player who they went chasing till Rs 23.50 crore last time around, eventually losing him to Kolkata Knight Riders at Rs 23.75 crore. While the tussle was of smaller proportions this time, it was KKR again who showed interest in Iyer, with both teams flashing their paddles after some early attention from Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. KKR eventually pulled out of the race against RCB, who signed Iyer for Rs 7 crore. Though the last IPL season was slightly muted for Iyer, he remains a valuable and versatile option, especially after improving his batting against spin. However, it will be interesting to see if the management gives him a middle-order role and play an extra overseas seamer instead of all-rounder Romario Shepherd. After picking their most prized asset, RCB went about their priority in fast bowling depth and roped in New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy at a base price of Rs 2 crore. The Challengers, then, expectedly went big on a left-arm quick in Mangesh Yadav as a back-up for Yash Dayal, signing the Madhya Pradesh pacer for Rs 5.2 crore on a day when the Indian uncapped players were in high demand. While one of their uncapped picks stole the auction limelight, RCB also got in Satvik Deswal (Rs 30 lakh), Jordan Cox (Rs 75 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (Rs 30 lakh), Kanishk Chouhan (Rs 30 lakh), Vihaan Malhotra (Rs 30 lakh) to wrap up the 25-member squad. A not-so experienced IPL captain who has gained a lot of trust from his faithful, a coach who has one of the best CVs going around, a Director of Cricket known to produce results and a flexible squad - Royal Challengers Bengaluru seem to have found their formula for success. Whether they live up to the squad’s strength on paper, only time will tell. For now, they will walk away from Abu Dhabi happy. The squad (Retentions): Abhinandan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jacob Bethell, Jitesh Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, Nuwan Thushara, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Dar, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal Players brought:Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 7 crore), Jacob Duffy (Rs 2 crore), Satwik Deswal (Rs 30 lakh), Mangesh Yadav (5.2 crore), Jordan Cox (75 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (Rs 30 lakh), Kanishk Chouhan (Rs 30 lakh), Vihaan Malhotra (Rs 30 lakh).

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:38 AM

Fusion CX Limited Gets SEBI Nod for Rs 1,000-Crore Initial Public Offering (IPO)

Kolkata: Kolkata-based customer experience (CX) support service provider Fusion CX Limited has received Sebi's green signal, clearing the way for the company to go ahead with its Rs 1,000-crore initial public offering (IPO). The proposed IPO comprises a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 600 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 400 crore, according to filing documents. The OFS involves the sale of shares by the company's promoter. The promoters of the company include Pankaj Dhanuka, Kishore Saraogi, P N S Business Private Limited, and Rasish Consultants Private Limited. Fusion CX plans to utilise the net proceeds from the fresh issue for several strategic purposes. The company has earmarked Rs 291.8 crore for the repayment or prepayment of outstanding borrowings by the firm and its subsidiaries. Additionally, Rs 74.7 crore will be invested in its step-down subsidiaries, Omind Technologies Inc and Omind Technologies Private Limited, to upgrade their IT tools. The remaining funds will be directed towards pursuing inorganic growth through acquisitions and other strategic initiatives, as well as for general corporate purposes, officials said. The company filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI on May 26, 2025. Incorporated in 2004, Fusion CX specialises in delivering high-end, complex, and integrated customer experience services across multiple channels, including voice, email, chat, social media, and messaging. As of December 31, 2024, Fusion CX operates a multilingual global network with 40 delivery centres spread across 15 countries and serves a client portfolio of 197, which includes 22 Fortune 1000 companies. The equity shares of Fusion CX are proposed to be listed on both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Nuvama Wealth Management Limited, IIFL Capital Services Limited, and Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors Limited are appointed as the book running lead managers to the issue. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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Deccan Herald

Dec 17, 2025, 02:38 AM

Bengaluru Sees Spike in Pollution-Related Ailments Amid Poor Air Quality

Bengaluru doctors have seen a rise in pollution-related ailments over the past two to three weeks. This is due to Bengaluru’s air quality, which has fluctuated between satisfactory and moderate over the last two weeks, they say. Cases of respiratory infections, asthma flare-ups, eye irritation and dry skin are significantly higher this season, as are the severity of the symptoms. This spike has affected the “vulnerable category” the most — children, older adults and those with pre-existing conditions. Breathlessness, cough Dr Chandil Gunashekar, a general physician in Whitefield, has observed a 20-25% increase in upper respiratory tract infections (URI) compared to last December. “Cough, asthma symptoms and respiratory infections are the most common complaints,” he says. Pulmonologists observed a similar rise. Dr Sachin Kumar, director ofpulmonology and critical care medicine at a private hospital, says outpatient footfall for respiratory complaints has increased by 20% in the last two weeks. “Both infectious and non-infectious respiratory symptoms are higher this year,” he adds. Patients are coming in with issues of breathlessness, cough, throat irritation, wheezing and sneezing, either as symptoms of an allergy or a viral infection. Among allergy-related respiratory complaints, Dr Shalini Joshi, internal medicine specialist at a private hospital, estimates a 30% increase. “Consistently poor air quality worsens people’s tolerance to pollen. Pollutants make the airway more reactive and sensitive, worsening existing pollen allergies,” she adds. Eye-related complaints are another concern. Dr Naren Shetty, opthalmologist and director at a private hospital, says eye irritation, dryness and redness have increased by around 30% this year. “Allergic conjunctivitis cases are up by nearly 60% compared to December 2024,” he adds. He attributes the rise to exposure to fine particulate matter such as particulate matter (PM) 2.5, which affects the surface of the eye and the meibomian glands responsible for keeping the eyes moist. Ailments lasting longer Some doctors have observed that illnesses are lingering longer this year. Dr Gunashekar says infections that earlier resolved within a week are now lasting up to two weeks. “The intensity of symptoms are also higher,” he adds. Dr Kumar agrees, noting that viral illnesses that earlier resolved in two to three days are now lasting up to 10 days. “Also, patients with diabetes, kidney or heart disease, and people without prior respiratory illness are developing pneumonia. In some cases, they require oxygen support or ICU care,” he says. Docs’ advice On high-pollution days, early morning walks must be avoided as fog traps pollutants close to the ground, says Dr Gunashekar. Warm, nutrient-rich food and adequate hydration help boost immunity,he adds. For essential outdoor travel, a well-fitted N95 mask is advised, particularly for two-wheeler riders and those with asthma or allergies. Outdoor workouts should be avoided on high-AQI days, says Dr Shalini. To improve indoor air quality, she advises using air purifiers or High Efficiency Particulate Air filters and keeping windows shut on high-pollution days. “Changing clothes, and washing hands and face immediately after reaching home, will help.” Pollution data According to data from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) across its 11 monitoring stations ranged between satisfactory and moderate on December 5 and 6, from December 8 to 12, and on December 15 and 16. PM10 and PM2.5 were the dominant pollutants during this period. AQI is categorised as 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and above 401 (severe), a KSPCB official explained.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:37 AM

Mankhurd Gas Cylinder Blast Leaves Two Injured in Mumbai

Mumbai:Two persons sustained burn injuries following a gas cylinder blast in a chawl at Mankhurd on Tuesday afternoon. Both the injured are currently undergoing treatment at the civic-run Sion Hospital. About The Incident The incident occurred around 3.40 pm on 30 Feet Road in Janata Nagar, near Madina Hospital, Mankhurd. According to preliminary information, a gas cylinder explosion took place inside a room, resulting in damage to a portion of the roof. Let us know! 👂What type of content would you like to see from us this year? Local residents immediately rushed to the spot and shifted the injured persons to Sion Hospital for medical treatment. The injured have been identified as Prithviipal Jaspal (40), who sustained approximately 30 per cent burn injuries, and Rajesh Khichad (25), who suffered around 25 per cent burns. To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit:https://budgetproperties.in/

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Siasat News✓

Dec 17, 2025, 02:36 AM

Hyderabad Sees Rise in Murders: Rohingya Refugee Brutally Killed at Balapur

Hyderabad:Unidentified persons murdered a Rohingya refugee at Balapur on Tuesday night. The man, Murshid, 22, stayed at Royal Colony under Balapur police station limits. He earned his livelihood by doing scrap collection work. On Tuesday night, two people allegedly beat the man and stabbed him to death at Balapur. The police, on information, reached the place and started an investigation. Ten murders have been reported in the city in the past 17 days.

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:34 AM

Akshaye Khanna's Blockbuster Success: A Star on Cloud Nine

Akshaye Khanna should be on cloud nine post two blockbusters in the same year-ChhaavaandDhurandhar. The recluse star is getting immense praise for his restrained and remarkable performance as Rehman Dakait. And amid the success that he deserves, the actor performed a Vastu Shanti Hawan at his Alibaug home for peace and prosperity. The ritual was shared on Instagram by priest Shivam Mhatre, who wrote in Marathi, “I had the fortune of performing a traditional and devotional puja at actor Akshaye Khanna’s residence. His calm nature, simplicity, and positive energy made the experience truly special.” Mhatre added, “Akshaye is the definition of ‘class’ in acting. Through his powerful and impactful role in Chhaava, he captured the audience’s attention. This was followed by his intense performance in Dhurandhar, his restrained yet compelling work in Drishyam 2, and his realistic portrayal in Section 375. With carefully chosen roles and meaningful cinema, Akshaye continues to hold a unique and respected place in the hearts of audiences.” And if a report by Box-Office India is to be believed, he could be reuniting with his ‘Tees Maar Khan’ co-star Akshay Kumar for‘Bhagam Bhag 2.’ Nothing about the development has been confirmed yet. Akshaye Khannaseems to have become the flavour of the month post his bone-chilling and barbaric performance in Aditya Dhar’s severely discussed and debated spy dramaDhurandhar. The pensive star essayed the role of Pakistani gangster Rahman Dakait. The vintage Akshaye Khanna smirks were sprinkled on the heinous demeanour of this dreaded gangster. Dhar allows his actor to chew the scenery and fascinatingly fulfills his wish of starring in an action film. There’s swag even in his sorrows. He dies a painful death in an encounter that happens in 2009 in the film, inspired by real-life events and incidents. Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court sentenced Zaheerul Hassan Shah, a senior Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leader, to 35 years in prison for inciting violence against ex-Chief Justice Isa, amid a crackdown on the banned group after recent deadly clashes. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:32 AM

FIFA Best Awards 2025: Dembele Wins Men's Player of the Year, Bonmati Takes Women's Title

It was double delight for Paris St-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner was named the men’s player of the year at the FIFA Best awards on Tuesday in Qatar. While Dembele won the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year award for helping PSG win four trophies in the 2024-25 season, Barcelona and Spain national team midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won The Best FIFA Women’s Player award for a record third consecutive time. The Best FIFA Football Awards is a year-end ceremony that rewards the best performers in men’s and women’s football, acknowledges the best coaches, goalkeepers, and the most spectacular goals. The voting for The Best FIFA Football Awards is divided into four different sections, with each section contributing 25 per cent of the final result. The four groups who vote for the The Best FIFA Football Awards are national team captains, national team coaches, media and fans. This is the first time Dembele has been named the men’s player of the year at the FIFA Best awards. He won the award after making 51 goal contributions in 53 games for PSG in the last season, in which they won a treble including the UEFA Champions League. He left behind Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe to clinch the FIFA award. Meanwhile, former PSG goalkeeper, who now plays for Manchester City, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was named the FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2025. Also, six players from PSG’s 2024-25 season were part of FIFA The Best Men’s XI. Cole Palmer and Virgil van Dijk were the only two English Premier League players in the XI, while Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Jude Bellingham were picked from La Liga. The Best FIFA Men’s 11 2025 Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Donnarumma Defenders:Achraf Hakimi, William Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes Midfielders:Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Vitinha, Pedri Attackers:Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele The Best FIFA Women’s 11 2025 Aitana Bonmati was also a part of The Best FIFA Women’s 11 2025, as six Barcelona players featured. #TheBestFIFA Women's 11 in 2025. ✨ FIFA The Best Women’s XI 2025: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Ona Batlle (Barcelona), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona), Claudia Pina (Barcelona), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) Best coaches PSG manager Luis Enrique was named the best men’s coach for leading PSG to a treble, while England’s Sarina Wiegman won the women’s coach of the year after guiding the Lionesses to Euro 2025 victory. The men’s Puskás Award for the best goal of 2025 went to Argentine forward Santiago Montiel for his sensational overhead kick goal for Independiente in the Argentine league against Independiente Rivadavia. ¡SANTIAGO MONTIEL GANÓ EL PREMIO PUSKAS! 🤯🏆🇦🇷⭐️ El zurdo de Independiente se quedó con el premio por su tremenda chilena contra Independiente Rivadavia➕ Alejandro Garnacho lo había ganado el año pasadopic.twitter.com/AK68Pt5bzn The FIFA 2025 Marta Award for best goal in women’s football was won by Lizbeth Ovalle for her scorpion kick goal for Tigres against Guadalajara in March. ⚽️🇲🇽 Lizbeth Ovalle se lleva el 'PREMIO MARTA', entregado en los 'THE BEST' de la FIFA al MEJOR GOL DEL 2025 en el fútbol femenino.'La Maga' se queda con la 2° entrega del galardón, por esta LOCURA DE GOL que marcó cuando aún vestía la camiseta de Tigres Femenil.#TheBestpic.twitter.com/Jz4IJIBVSR The Best FIFA Women’s Player:Aitana Bonmati The Best FIFA Men’s Player:Ousmane Dembele The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper:Hannah Hampton The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Donnarumma The Best FIFA Women’s Coach:Sarina Wiegman The Best FIFA Men’s Coach:Luis Enrique The FIFA Marta Award:Lizbeth Ovalle The FIFA Puskas Award:Santiago Montiel FIFA Fan Award:Fans of Zakho SC FIFA Fair Play Award:Dr Harlass-Neuking, SSV Jahn Regensburg Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:32 AM

MPESB Group 1 Sub Group 2 Recruitment 2025-26: Notification Released for Paramedical Staff Posts

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:32 AM

Narendra Modi Conferred with Ethiopia's Highest Civilian Honor

.Prime MinisterNarendra Modiwas on Tuesday conferred with Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, during his first bilateral visit to the country.Speaking after receiving the award, PM Modi said it was a matter of pride to be honoured by “a very ancient and prosperous civilisation”.He said he accepted the award on behalf of all Indians and described it as a recognition of the many Indians who have contributed to strengthening India–Ethiopia ties.PM Modi Holds Talks With Abiy Ahmed Ali, India-Ethiopia Ties Elevated To Strategic PartnershipPM Modi also said, "On this occasion, I also express heartfelt gratitude to my friend PM Abiy Ahmed Ali. Last month, when we met during the G20 Summit in South Africa, with great love and right, you had urged me to visit Ethiopia. How could I have turned down this invitation from my friend, my brother? So, at the first chance, I decided to come to Ethiopia."IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomDuring the visit, India and Ethiopia agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, where the two leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues."We are elevating India and Ethiopia relations to a strategic partnership. This step will provide new energy, new momentum and new depth to our ties," Prime Minister Modi said during the delegation-level talks.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIndia-US ties: Donald Trump hails PM Modi as 'great friend'; calls New Delhi a key strategic partner - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoPM Modi said the talks focused on cooperation in areas including economy, innovation, technology, defence, health, capacity-building and multilateral forums.On Wednesday, PM Modi is scheduled to address a joint session of Ethiopia’s Parliament, where he will speak about India’s democratic journey and the value of the India–Ethiopia partnership for the Global South.PM Modi arrived in Ethiopia from Jordan, where he held talks with King Abdullah II and signed several agreements to boost bilateral cooperation. He will next travel to Oman on the final leg of his three-nation tour.

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NorthEast Now

Dec 17, 2025, 02:30 AM

NEHU Pro Vice-Chancellor Resigns Amid Administrative Crisis

Guwahati:Professor S. Umdor has resigned as Pro Vice-Chancellor ofNorth-Eastern Hill University(NEHU), citing an increasingly unworkableadministrative situationmarked by leadership gaps, repeated resignations, and sustained unrest on campus.Professor Umdor’s resignation will take effect from the afternoon of December 15, 2025. He formally communicated his decision during a meeting with deans and senior officers held on December 12. His exit follows months during which he oversaw the university’s academic and administrative affairs almost single-handedly, as the Vice-Chancellor remained away from the Shillong campus and the state of Meghalaya.His departure adds to a growing list of senior exits at NEHU. In recent weeks, the registrar, finance officer, and several senior faculty members handling additional administrative responsibilities have also stepped down, deepening the governance crisis at the university.Despite these challenges, Professor Umdor’s tenure witnessed the continuation of key academic and administrative functions. The university managed operations amid a sharp 42 per cent cut in UGC recurring grants for the 2025–26 financial year. NEHU conducted end-of-semester examinations on schedule and cleared long-pending teacher promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme at Levels 11 and 12, along with promotions of non-teaching staff through the Departmental Promotion Committee.During this period, the administration also commissioned a 100-seat girls’ hostel with an additional 24 beds, finalised recruitment advertisements for non-teaching posts, and complied with multiple court directives. NEHU successfully hosted the Smart India Hackathon 2025, advanced the NEP-UG programme into its fifth semester with revised curricula featuring internships, vocational courses, and MOOCs, and conducted CUET-based admissions for affiliated colleges in Meghalaya for the first time.However, attempts by Professor Umdor to convene Executive Council meetings under the Vice-Chancellor’s chairmanship encountered strong resistance from student groups and staff associations, intensifying campus unrest. To address the impasse, he proposed that the Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Tura campus temporarily chair the meetings, but authorities did not accept the proposal. He maintained that such an arrangement could have ensured timely decisions on urgent student and staff welfare issues.In his resignation statement, Professor Umdor said frequent objections to routine administrative and academic decisions had led to delays and operational disruptions. He stated that the lack of institutional support and ongoing uncertainty over critical governance matters made it impossible to continue in office while upholding standards of accountability and professionalism.Expressing appreciation for the cooperation he received during his tenure, Professor Umdor voiced hope that NEHU would regain stability in the near future.With his resignation, the university now faces the dual challenge of appointing new leadership and addressing the structural governance issues that have triggered the current administrative crisis.Related

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The Indian Express

Dec 17, 2025, 02:27 AM

Indian Government Proposes Restrictions on Rural Employment Generation Works During Peak Agricultural Seasons

The Narendra Modi government’s Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G) Bill, introduced in Parliament on Tuesday, has a provision to restrict the undertaking of rural employment generation works under the planned new law during the “peak agricultural seasons of sowing and harvesting”. The curbs on commencing or executing any such work, for a period aggregating 60 days in a financial year and to be notified in advance by state governments, have been proposed in order to “facilitate adequate availability of agricultural labour” during the peak planting and picking time of crops. The existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005 — which the VG-G RAM G Bill seeks to repeal and replace with a new statutory wage works programme — has been criticised by many (including the Union Agriculture Minister during the previous UPA administration, Sharad Pawar) for contributing to labour shortages in farms.

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Deccan Herald

Dec 17, 2025, 02:27 AM

IPL Mini-Auction: Cameron Green Breaks Records as Chennai Super Kings Make Bold Moves

Bengaluru: Australian all-rounder Cameron Green lived up to his blue-chip stock status, emerging as the most expensive foreign purchase ever at the IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, but the ones who headlined the bidding process on a highly calculated day of trading were nano caps Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. Green, who had two impressive IPLs in 2023 and 2024 for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru respectively before missing out last year due to a lower back injury, was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 25.20 crore, making him the third highest purchase ever behind Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 cr) and Shreyas Iyer (Rs 26.75 cr). The 26-year-old Green’s stock soaring through the roof was a given considering he is one of the hottest properties in world cricket, but what set the tongues wagging was Chennai Super Kings splurging Rs 14.20 cr each on relatively unknown commodities Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma — a bold decision that was made by the seasoned think-tank at the table possibly based on the inputs from their talent scouts. Sitting on the second highest purse of Rs 43.40 crore going into the auction, five-time champions CSK, who failed to qualify for the playoffs the last two seasons, didn’t blink twice in going after Veer and Kartik following intense bidding wars with neighbours Sunrisers Hyderabad on both occasions. Moment Veer’s name came up for auction, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants kickstarted the bidding to acquire the 20-year-old left-arm spinning all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, who was first noticed in the UP T20 League before rising to prominence in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. CSK, looking at him as a potential like-for-like replacement for Ravindra Jadeja, entered the fray at Rs 1.4 cr. LSG backed out at Rs 4.4 cr when Rajasthan Royals, generally known for picking such unheralded talents at moderate prices, joined the war. But they too backed off when his prize surged past the Rs 6 cr mark. Sunrisers jumped into the picture at Rs 6.8 crore and they went toe-to-toe with CSK before the latter signed him. A similar pattern followed for Rajasthan’s 19-year-old big-hitting sensation Kartik. MI and LSG started off with the bidding before the former exited and were joined by KKR. CSK then jumped in by offering Rs 3 cr, but KKR too were interested in signing the finisher whose lusty hitting has impressed the likes of Kevin Pietersen and R Ashwin. CSK and KKR, like in the case of Green, kept raising the paddle alternately until the Purple bench stopped at Rs 13 cr. Watching all the action unfold silently, Sunrisers made an entry at 13.20 cr, but CSK held strong until signing the teenager for Rs 14.20 cr. Another uncapped Indian, a category which probably witnessed the most activity, who finally realised his long-time dream of being picked up by a franchise was Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi Dar. Having improved his death-bowling skills, which was his deterrent earlier, Auqib was strongly pursued by SRH and Delhi Capitals before the latter won the battle by roping him for Rs 8.4 cr. Meanwhile, Green, who incidentally was listed in the batters’ groups that allowed him the luxury of coming up in the opening set, set the tempo for a high-octane day. MI and RR kicked off the proceedings, KKR, who had the deepest pocket with Rs 64.30 cr, entered at Rs 2.80 cr. RR and KKR went on till CSK joined in at Rs 13.80. At that stage itself, it was clear the two would go all-out and they did so until CSK stopped raising the paddle when KKR offered Rs 25.20 cr. KKR also roped in Sri Lanka’s slinging fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, dubbed ‘Baby Malinga’, for Rs 18 cr. Unlike in the case of Green, where they made their intention clear at the start itself, they were spectators for most of the bidding war, deciding to throw their hat in the ring only at Rs 16 crore. DC backed out at that stage, but LSG stayed on until pulling out of the race when KKR splurged Rs 18 cr.

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:26 AM

India Seeks Greater Insurance Penetration, Better Regulation with New Reforms

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the insurance reforms brought in through a bill in Parliament will grant greater access to insurance for the people, have better regulatory oversight and ensure ease of compliance. Moving the 'The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025' for consideration of the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the draft legislation was aimed at bringing transparency, ease of compliance mandates and increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector. The minister said that the FDI limit in the insurance sector was increased from 26 per cent to 49 per cent in 2015, 74 per cent in 2021 and now proposed to 100 per cent. "These have brought in a greater push for the insurance sector. The number of insurers has risen from 53 in 2014 to 74 now," Sitharaman said. She said insurance penetration has improved from 3.3 per cent in 2014-15 to 3.8 per cent now and insurance density or the average insurance premium paid per person in a year has jumped from USD 55 in 2014 to USD 97 now. The minister said the total insurance premium paid has risen from Rs 4.15 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 11.93 lakh crore and assets under management increased from Rs 24.2 lakh crore to Rs 74.4 lakh crore. "We are now looking for greater penetration, better regulatory oversight, easier compliance and more FDI," Sitharaman said. The minister said over the year, an ecosystem has developed in the country for providing greater access for people to insurance. Sitharaman said that various government schemes such as the PM Fasal Bima Yojana and the Jana Arogya Yojana have brought poor people under the insurance umbrella, a move that has helped immensely during the Covid pandemic. The minister said public sector insurance companies can meet the insurance requirements of the people of India and listing them on the stock markets has made the functioning of these firms transparent. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:26 AM

Rob Reiner's Son Nick's Disturbing Behavior at Holiday Party Before Parents' Tragic Death

The night beforeRob Reinerand his wife, Michele, were found dead, their son, Nick Reiner, attended a holiday party with his father at the home of Conan O'Brien and alarmed the guests with his behaviour, according to two attendees who asked not to be named to maintain relationships.Rob and Nick Reiner got into a shouting match at the party in West Los Angeles, said one of the attendees, who recalled Rob Reiner telling his son that his behaviour was inappropriate. The attendee, who did not speak to the Reiners at the party, said that people seemed to be very aware of Nick Reiner's history with drug abuse, which the family has discussed publicly.Inside Rob and Nick Reiner’s Conan Party Fight That Terrified Their Parents Before TragedyAnother attendee said that he did not witness the dispute, but he recognised Rob Reiner in the crowd and noticed the younger Reiner hovering at the fringes of the informal gathering.IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomThe guest said that he and other attendees were worried and that several people commented to him on Nick Reiner's behaviour, saying he looked anxious and uncomfortable in a way that deeply unsettled them. A third person who attended the party said that he saw the Reiners but did not see the argument.Representatives for O'Brien declined to comment on Monday.Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested Sunday night, hours after Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found stabbed to death in their home in the affluent Los Angeles neighbourhood of Brentwood.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teams - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndoLos Angeles authorities said the son was being held without bail at the city's Twin Towers Correctional Facility.The couple - a renowned actor, director and liberal political activist and an accomplished producer - had three grown children together and were well known to their neighbours, as well as to California's entertainment and political circles. Neighbours and acquaintances said that Nick Reiner's struggles with drugs and alcohol were common knowledge in the affluent West Los Angeles enclave.In 2016, the father and son released a semi-autobiographical film, "Being Charlie," about a Los Angeles teen who abused drugs and who had a turbulent relationship with his father. At the time, Nick Reiner was 22 and said he had been in and out of rehab about 18 times since he was 15.

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Siasat News✓

Dec 17, 2025, 02:24 AM

US Expands Travel Restrictions Amid Security Concerns

Washington:US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to expand US travel restrictions, adding 20 more countries and the Palestinian Authority to the list. The move sharply widens limits on who can visit or immigrate to the United States. Five countries now face a full travel ban to the US. Another 15 countries face partial restrictions. The administration also fully restricted travel by people using Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents. The White House said the decision is part of its effort to tighten US entry standards. Officials linked the move to security concerns. They cited the recent arrest of an Afghan national accused of the shooting of two National Guard troops near the White House over Thanksgiving weekend. The restrictions include several exemptions. People who already hold valid US visas are exempt. Lawful permanent residents are exempt. Diplomats, athletes, and some other visa holders are exempt. Entry may also be allowed if it serves US interests. The administration did not say when the new measures will take effect. Trump announced the original round of restrictions in June. At that time, citizens of 12 countries were barred from entering the US. Nationals of seven other countries faced partial limits. The move revived a signature policy from Trump’s first term. The June ban covered Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions were imposed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. On Tuesday, the administration added Burkina following countries to the full ban list It also imposed a complete restriction on travel by people holding Palestinian Authority-issued documents. South Sudan had already been under significant limits. Another 15 countries were added to the partial-restriction list. They are The restrictions apply to visitors and immigrants. They affect people seeking short-term travel and those seeking permanent entry. In his proclamation, Trump said many of the affected countries have “widespread corruption, fraudulent or unreliable civil documents and criminal records.” It said these problems make it hard to properly vet travelers. Officials also cited high visa overstay rates. They said some governments refuse to take back citizens that the US wants to deport. They pointed to instability and weak government control in some countries. Immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and national security concerns were also cited in the national travel ban. The administration also changed earlier restrictions. Laos and Sierra Leone were moved from partial limits to full suspensions. In contrast, Turkmenistan saw some easing of restrictions. The administration said the country had made improvements. All other provisions announced in June remain in place. The new measures against Palestinians go further than earlier steps. In recent months, restrictions already made it nearly impossible for holders of Palestinian Authority passports to obtain US travel documents for business, work, education, or tourism. The new decision bars them from emigrating to the US. According to the proclamation, several “US-designated terrorist groups operate actively in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and have murdered American citizens.” It said the recent war likely weakened vetting and screening capabilities in those areas, as well as the national travel ban. Travel bans became a defining issue during Trump’s first term, sparking protests and legal challenges. Courts later upheld revised versions. Supporters say it protects national security. Critics say it unfairly targets people based on where they are from.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:23 AM

NEET PG Round 2 Seat Allotment Result: Reporting and Admission Confirmation Timeline

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The Free Press Journal

Dec 17, 2025, 02:19 AM

Saregama and Bhansali Productions Join Forces in Strategic Music Investment Deal

Kolkata: Saregama India Ltd on Tuesday said its board has approved a strategic investment in filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali-promoted Bhansali Productions Pvt Ltd (BPPL) through a Rs 325-crore subscription to compulsory convertible preference shares. Saregama & Bhansali Productions Join Forces 🎬🎵 – A Strategic Move to Boost Margins & Music Pipeline | MCap 7,485.83 Cr- Saregama makes a strategic equity investment in Bhansali Productions.- Bhansali’s future film music will be exclusively sold to Saregama, securing a…pic.twitter.com/Ch4thHCcv2 The company said it will subscribe to 9,960 compulsory convertible preference shares (CCPS) of BPPL, which would be completed by February 14, 2026, subject to customary conditions precedent. Post conversion of the CCPS, Saregama India's shareholding in BPPL is expected to range between 28 per cent and 49.9 per cent on a fully diluted basis by 2028, with an option to acquire additional stake in multiple tranches, leading to 51 per cent by 2030, it said. As part of the transaction, Saregama India will also acquire ownership of all music created and produced by BPPL, strengthening its position in music licensing and expanding its presence in the video business, the company said in a regulatory filing. BPPL, incorporated in 2003, is engaged in the creation, production and monetisation of feature films, web series and music content. It reported a turnover of Rs 304.14 crore in FY'25, a sharp jump from Rs 5.52 crore in FY'24 and Rs 7.91 crore in FY'23. BPPL has delivered Bollywood films such as Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas, Ram-leela, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Gangubai Kathiawadi and Netflix hit Heeramandi. With over 10 films planned in three years, BPPL's upcoming slate includes Love and War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, and Do Deewane Shehar Mein, directed by Ravi Udyawar, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Mrunal Thakur, a statement said. Disclaimer: This story is from the syndicated feed. Nothing has changed except the headline.

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:18 AM

Trump to Deliver Live National Address, Outlining Plans for Future

US President DonaldTrumphas said he will deliver a live national address from the White House on Wednesday at 9 pm (7:30 am Indian Standard Time on Thursday), in which he is expected to reflect on the past year and outline his administration’s plans for the period ahead. In a post on his social media platform on Tuesday, Trump described the past year as a strong one for the country and said, “It has been a great year for our Country, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!” He added that he was looking forward to addressing the nation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed the address while speaking with reporters on Tuesday, saying Trump would highlight what she described as the “historic accomplishments” of his administration over the past year, along with expectations for the period ahead. “It’s going to be a really good speech. I was just in the Oval Office with the president discussing it,” Leavitt said. She noted that Trump plans to talk about achievements from the past 11 months, efforts to bring the country “back to greatness”, and his agenda for the next three years. Speaking separately in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Leavitt said the president is likely to address issues including border security and the economy. “President Trump will be talking about what’s to come. The best is truly yet to come, as he often says,” she said, adding that he could be “teasing some policy that will be coming” within the next year. The Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party named Yodchanan Wongsawat, Thaksin’s nephew and son of ex-PM Somchai Wongsawat, as a prime ministerial candidate ahead of Thailand’s snap election. The move highlights the Shinawatra family’s continued influence in Thai politics, despite recent setbacks and criticism of dynastic rule. Party leaders argue Yodchanan’s candidacy brings stability and a unified vision, while critics see it as perpetuating family dominance. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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The Indian Express

Dec 17, 2025, 02:17 AM

Delhi Bans Non-BS VI Private Vehicles and Fuel Sales Without Pollution Certificates

No non-BS VI private vehicle registered outside Delhi will be allowed to enter the capital from Thursday, the Delhi government has announced. Private vehicles that flout the entry ban will be seized, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Tuesday. Sirsa also announced that beginning Thursday, vehicles that do not have a valid pollution under control certificate (PUCC) will not be sold fuel at fuel pumps in the capital. After three straight days of ‘severe’ air, including the second worst bad-air day on the record on Sunday, the airquality index (AQI) in Delhi improved to ‘very poor’on Tuesday. The average AQI on Tuesday was 354, somewhat better than the levels of 427, 461, and 431 recorded on the preceding three days.

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Siasat News✓

Dec 17, 2025, 02:17 AM

Telangana High Court Surprised at Power Department's Inaction in Recovering Electricity Dues from GITAM University

Hyderabad:TheTelangana High Courton Tuesday, December 16, expressed surprise over the inaction of the power department in recovering electricity dues of Rs 118.13 crore pending from GITAM University for nearly two decades. Despite issuing notices in September warning of disconnection of power supply for non-payment, the department failed to initiate further action, prompting the court to summon the Superintendent Engineer (SE) of the TGS-PSPDCL’s Operation Circle to appear personally on December 22 and explain the reasons. Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka was hearing a petition filed earlier by Geetam University challenging the notices issued by the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TGS-PSPDCL) demanding payment of arrears. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued that the dues pertained to VBC Ferro Alloys, a company that was earlier under the GITAM group but later sold to another entity. “Despite the sale, the department sent one-sided notices demanding that Geetam University clear those arrears, which is contrary to electricity laws and principles of natural justice. The authorities have failed to verify the facts properly before issuing the demand,” the counsel contended. Appearing for the power utility, advocate N Sridhar Reddy submitted that notices were first issued in 2020, prompting the university to obtain a stay from the High Court, which was later withdrawn. Since then, the arrears have reportedly risen to Rs 118 crore, and fresh notices were served in September this year, following which the university once again approached the court. After hearing both sides, the judge questioned the inaction of the department in recovering the amount or disconnecting supply when no interim orders were in force. Observing that ordinary consumers face immediate disconnection for even small arrears, Justice Bheemapaka recalled an instance when his household power connection had been cut for not paying Rs 800. The court directed the SE to personally appear on December 22 to give an explanation and adjourned the matter.

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Times of India

Dec 17, 2025, 02:17 AM

Man Stabs Girlfriend Multiple Times Before Jumping to Death in Kolkata

KOLKATA: A 35-year-old man entered a house and randomly stabbed his 28-year-old "girlfriend" multiple times before he reportedly jumped from the fourth-floor balcony on Tuesday around 8.15 am in the Posta area of central Kolkata.The man, Vicky Sharma, a resident of Jagmohan Mullick Lane, was taken to a nearby hospital in a serious condition, where the attending doctors declared him dead. Meanwhile, the woman, Shikha Singh, is stated to be critical and has been admitted to hospital.According to police, Shikha's husband passed away two years ago. She lived with her two children on rent in the Shibthakur Lane area of Posta. She earned her living doing sewing jobs.IPL Auction 2026IPL Auction 2026: Full list of sold and unsold players for all teamsIPL 2026 team and squad List: Updated players for all 10 Teams; who got whomLocals reported that Shikha met Vicky while her husband was still alive, and neighbours saw Vicky visit their home a couple of times. However, no one knew the nature of their relationship.A few months ago, Shikha came close to Vicky, who stayed around two blocks away in the same neighbourhood.In recent days, locals observed Vicky making derogatory comments about Shikha while passing by her house, but he did not enter her residence.by Taboolaby TaboolaSponsored LinksSponsored LinksPromoted LinksPromoted LinksYou May LikeNita Ambani unveils an innovative treehouse at Nita Mukesh...UndoIndia-US ties: Donald Trump hails PM Modi as 'great friend'; calls New Delhi a key strategic partner - The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaUndo"Around 8 am on Tuesday, when Shikha's children were at school, Vicky suddenly entered her home. Shikha was alone at that time, and Vicky allegedly attacked her with a knife. He then jumped from the fourth floor. Both were quickly taken to hospital, but Vicky had died by then.Police have started an investigation to determine why the man acted this way. The knife used in the crime has been recovered from the scene, and neighbours are being questioned along with family members."We have come to know that Shikha had been pressurising Vicky to marry her. However, Vicky was desisting because he did not have a stable income," said a senior officer.Cops said they are searching for family members to take care of the two children. "If we cannot arrange a relative to take care of them, we will have to send them to a shelter home," said a senior police officer.Even as a team from the detective department reached the spot, a forensic team picked up important evidence, including the knife used to carry out the attack."We have collected CCTV footage from the area for further investigations," said an officer.The tragic incident has sent shock waves through Posta area, with residents expressing disbelief over the violent turn of events.The police are delving deeper into the backgrounds of both individuals to piece together the events leading up to the attack. Investigators are examining the possibility of a strained relationship between Vicky Sharma and Shikha Singh, which may have escalated into violence. The authorities are also looking into Vicky's mental state and any potential history of violence or instability.Get an chance to win ₹5000 Amazon Voucher by taking part in India's Biggest Habit Index! Take the survey here

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:13 AM

Doctor Sentenced to Home Confinement for Role in Matthew Perry's Ketamine Overdose

A doctor who pleaded guilty in a scheme to supply ketamine to actorMatthew Perrybefore his overdose death was sentenced Tuesday to 8 months of home confinement. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence that included 3 years of supervised release to 55-year-old Dr. Mark Chavez in a federal courtroom in Los Angeles. Before the sentence was delivered, Chavez addressed the judge and said he had lost a loved one recently and understood the grief that Perry’s death has caused. “I just want to say my heart goes out to the Perry family,” he said. Chavez acquired ketamine and gave it toDr. Salvador Plasencia, who was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prisonearlier this monthfor selling ketamine to Perry in the months leading up to his death. Chavez’s attorneys emphasized the difference between the two doctors and said that Chavez “accepted responsibility early” by cooperating with investigators and voluntarily giving up his medical license ahead of his detention hearing. “These are real steps that someone takes toward accountability,” attorney Matthew Binninger said. He called the sentence a “fair and just outcome” for the case. Perry had been taking the surgical anestheticketaminelegally as a treatment for depression. But when his regular doctor wouldn’t provide it in the amounts he wanted, he turned to Plasencia. Plasencia admitted to taking advantage of Perry, knowing he was a struggling addict. Plasencia texted Chavez that Perry was a “moron” who could be exploited for money, according to court filings. Chavez admitted to obtaining the ketamine from a wholesale distributor on false pretenses andpleaded guiltyto one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He has not been in custody. Perrystruggled with addictionfor years, dating back to his time on “Friends,” when he became one of the biggest TV stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. Hestarred alongsideJennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 onNBC’s megahit. Chavez is the second person to be sentenced of the five defendants who have pleaded guilty in connection with Perry’s death at age 54 in 2023. Perry was found deadby his assistant on Oct. 28. The medical examiner ruledketaminewas the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression that has become increasingly common. Seeking more ketamine than his doctor would give him, about a month before his death Perry found Plasencia, who in turn asked Chavez to obtain the drug for him. He met with Plasencia between San Diego and Los Angeles to hand off ketamine he gotusing fraudulent prescriptions. In all, he admitted to supplying 22 5-milliliter vials of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges. Chavez will also be expected to do 300 hours of community service. The otherthree defendantswho reached deals to plead guilty will be sentenced at their own hearings in the coming months. Garnett has said she would seek to make sure all the sentences made sense in relation to one another. Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court sentenced Zaheerul Hassan Shah, a senior Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leader, to 35 years in prison for inciting violence against ex-Chief Justice Isa, amid a crackdown on the banned group after recent deadly clashes. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:10 AM

Actor-Director Rob Reiner's Son Charged with Murdering Him and His Wife

Rob Reiner’ssonNick Reinerwas charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, which stunned their communities in Hollywood and Democratic politics, where both were widely beloved. Nick Reiner, 32, is charged with killing the 78-year-old actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife,Michele Singer Reiner,District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced at a news conference with LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “Their loss is beyond tragic and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice,” Hochman said. Along with the two counts of first degree murder, prosecutors added special circumstances of multiple murders and a special allegation that the defendant used a dangerous weapon, a knife. The additions could mean a greater sentence. Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty in the case. “This case is heartbreaking and deeply personal, not only for the Reiner family and their loved ones but for our entire city,” McDonnell said. “We will continue to support the Reiner family and ensure that every step forward is taken with care, dignity and resolve.” The announcement came two days after the couple was found dead from apparent stab wounds in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the west side of Los Angeles. Nick Reiner did not resist when he was arrested hours later in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California, about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) from the crime scene, police said. Reiner had been expected to make an initial court appearance earlier Tuesday, but his attorney Alan Jackson said he was not brought from the jail to the courthouse for medical reasons and the appearance was postponed to Wednesday. Rob Reiner was the Emmy-winning star of the sitcom “All in the Family” who went on to direct films including “When Harry Met Sally&mldr;” and “The Princess Bride.” He was an outspoken liberal activist for decades. Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer, movie producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. They had been married for 36 years. Representatives for the Reiner family did not respond to requests for comment. Police haven’t said anything about a motive forthe killings. Nick Reiner is being held in jail without bail.He was arrestedseveral hours after his parents were found dead in their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday, police said. Jackson, the defendant’s attorney, is a high-profile lawyer who representedHarvey Weinsteinat his Los Angeles trial andKaren Readat her trial in Massachusetts. He was a central figure in the HBO documentary on the Read case. Investigators believe Rob and Michele Singer Reiner died from stab wounds, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official, who was briefed on the investigation, could not publicly discuss the details and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The killings were especially shocking giventhe warm comic legacy of the family. Rob Reiner was the son of comedy legendCarl Reiner, who died in 2020 at age 98. Kathy Bates, who won an Oscar as the star of Rob Reiner’s 1990 film “Misery,” wasamong those paying tribute to the couple. “I loved Rob,” Bates said in a statement. “He was brilliant and kind, a man who made films of every genre to challenge himself as an artist. He also fought courageously for his political beliefs. He changed the course of my life. Michele was a gifted photographer.” Bill Clinton called the couple “good, generous people who made everyone who knew them better.” “Hillary and I are heartbroken by the tragic deaths of our friends Rob and Michele Reiner,” he said in a statement. “They inspired and uplifted millions through their work in film and television.” Three months ago, Nick Reiner was photographed with his parents and siblings at the premiere of his father’s film “Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues.” He had spoken publicly of his struggles with addiction, cycling in and out of treatment facilities with bouts of homelessness in between through his teen years. Rob and Nick Reiner explored — and seemed to improve — their relationship through the making of the 2016 film, “Being Charlie.” Nick Reiner co-wrote and Rob Reiner directed the film about the struggles of an addicted son and a famous father. It was not autobiographical but included several elements of their lives. “It forced us to understand ourselves better than we had,”Rob Reiner told the APin 2016. “I told Nick while we were making it, I said, ‘You know it doesn’t matter, whatever happens to this thing, we won already.’” Rob Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable and endlessly watchable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap” and “A Few Good Men.” He met Michele Singer Reiner on the set of “When Harry Met Sally&mldr;,” and their meeting would inspire the film’s shift to a happy ending, with stars Billy Crystal — one of Reiner’s closest friends for decades — and Meg Ryan ending up together on New Year’s Eve. The Reiners were outspoken advocates for liberal causes and major Democratic donors. President Donald Trump on Monday blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director’s killing,delivering the unsubstantiated claimin a social media post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy. Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court sentenced Zaheerul Hassan Shah, a senior Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leader, to 35 years in prison for inciting violence against ex-Chief Justice Isa, amid a crackdown on the banned group after recent deadly clashes. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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First Post

Dec 17, 2025, 02:08 AM

Neeraj Ghaywan's 'Homebound' Shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at Oscars

Director Neeraj Ghaywan knows how to create emotions that create a wallop. Just likeMasaan, the beauty of hisHomeboundis how uncomfortable it could be as a watch. It’s a film that chronicles the struggles and sorrows of two men, their shattered and unfulfilled dreams, caste differences, and undying passion for what they aspire for. The film sheds light on the lives of Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter), a Muslim, and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), a Dalit, how they aspire to be police trainees and how destiny shackles their spirit. The film is set in a small North Indian village. And the film has added another feather to its cap. The journey to the Oscars The Instagram handle of Dharma Productions announced- “Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards. We’re deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we’ve received from around the world.” And this was reshared by Janhvi Kapoor. Karan Joharreacts The filmmaker wrote- “I am not sure I can articulate how proud, elated and over the moon I am with the journey of #HOMEBOUND… all of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography … thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true… from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film!!!!!!!!! Upwards and onwards…….. #HOMEBOUND streaming now on @netflix_in." The wave at Cannes 2025 Ghaywan re-shared a series of pictures from the red carpet with the cast and crew, along with a picture with Hollywood filmmaker Spike Lee on Instagram. “Chatted with @officialspikelee! Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X and Blackkklansman have been a huge inspiration to me. His oeuvre is a lesson in talking about oppression through cinema. More power to you, sir!” he wrote. The film is currently streaming on Netflix. Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court sentenced Zaheerul Hassan Shah, a senior Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan leader, to 35 years in prison for inciting violence against ex-Chief Justice Isa, amid a crackdown on the banned group after recent deadly clashes. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.

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