Month: January 2025

Actor Athiya Shetty, who will soon embark on the chapter of parenthood with husband and cricketer KL Rahul, welcomed New Year with a cute post.

Taking to Instagram, Athiya shared adorable moments spent with KL Rahul.

The first snap shows Athiya leaning her head on KL ‘s shoulder. In another slide, she can be seen flaunting her baby bump as she takes a stroll with her husband.

“2025, looking forward to you,” she captioned the post.

Athiya also penned a note that read, “Slow down often count your blessings be kind to your heart believe in new beginnings.”

In November 2024, Athiya and KL took to their respective Instagram handles and announced their pregnancy.They dropped a note which read, “Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025 (baby feet emojis).”

The beautiful note also features a clip art of evil eye.

As soon as the couple shared the news, netizens flooded the comment section with congratulatory wishes.Actor Rakul Preet Singh commented, “Omgggggg congratulations!!! So so happppy for you guys.””Congratulations my darling so happy for you both,” actor Shibani Dandekar wrote.

Athiya’s close friend Akansha Ranjan Kapoor dropped a string of red heart emojis in the comment section.

KL Rahul and Athiya exchanged vows on January 23, 2023, at Suniel’s farmhouse in Khandala.

Meanwhile, on the work front, KL recently completed 10 years in international cricket. He is currently busy playing for Team India in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy.

On the other hand, Athiya, daughter of veteran actor Suniel Shetty, is also a part of the film industry. She made her acting debut in 2015 with Hero. Later, she was featured in films like ‘Mubarakan’ and ‘Motichoor Chaknachoor’. (ANI)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the setting up of “Grain from Ukraine” fund in order to provide security and economic prospects for stabilising Syria. The announcement was made on Thursday.

Zelenskyy shared the details on X.

“I received a report from the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine regarding their visit to Syria. The outcomes of the Damascus talks, along with security and economic prospects. Ukraine will support all efforts to stabilize Syria. We will set up the “Grain from Ukraine” program to cooperate with the Syrian administration and all interested partners. We will engage with the Europeans and America to ensure maximum support. More stability in the Middle East means more peace and trade for all partners.”

The first tranche of the grain fund was announced during Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha’s visit to Ukraine.

On December 30, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha held talks in Damascus with the leadership of the Syrian administration, its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir, and Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.

“We are ready to help the Syrian people, because Ukraine is interested in stable Syria and the development of mutually beneficial cooperation,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had said.

During his visit to Damascus which also saw the restoring of diplomatic ties between Ukraine and Syria.

Foreign Minister Sybiha made the announcement of giving to Syria, “500 tons of Ukrainian flour within the framework of the humanitarian program, Grain from Ukraine. This amount of flour will be enough to meet the needs of more than 33 thousand Syrian families or 167 thousand people for a month”, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported.

“This is the first delivery of free humanitarian aid. We are ready to deliver more,” emphasized the Foreign Minister. (ANI)

World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, who has been awarded Khel Ratna, has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s words have always inspired him to strive for excellence and make the nation proud and that he will continue delivering his best moves “on 64 squares and outside of it”.

‘Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award’ is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.

Apart from Gukesh, double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker, Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Para Athlete Praveen Kumar have been awarded the prestigious Khel Ratna.

“Honourable Prime Minister @narendramodi, I am truly grateful and feel humbled to receive the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Your words and guidance have always inspired me to strive for excellence and make the nation proud. I promise to continue delivering my best moves on 64 squares and outside of it. Thank you Hon. Sports Minister @mansukhmandviya for your constant support,” D Gukesh wrote in a post on X.

Gukesh’s success story was one of the major highlights of Indian sports in 2024. He made history in December by defeating China’s Ding Liren in the decisive 14th game of the FIDE World Championship match in Singapore. The championship, tied at 6.5-6.5 heading into the final game, saw a stellar performance from Gukesh, who secured a 7.5-6.5 victory, becoming the youngest world champion at 18. He also became India’s second world chess champion after Viswanathan Anand.

Indian men’s hockey players Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and women’s hockey team captain Salima Tete have been awarded Arjuna Awards for outstanding performance in Sports and Games 2024.

Indian chess grandmaster Vantika Agrawal and athlete Jyothi Yarraji have also been named for Arjuna Awards.

Para athletes Preeti Pal, Jeevanji Deepthi, Ajeet Singh, Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Dharambir, Pranav Soorma, Hokato Sema, Simran, and Navdeep will also receive Arjuna Awards.

Olympic medalists Swapnil Suresh Kusale and Sarabjot Singh and Para-Olympic shooters Mona Agarwal and Rubina Francis have also been awarded with Arjuna Awards.

Former Dempo FC and East Bengal head coach Armando Agnelo Colaco was also awarded with Dronacharya Award in the lifetime category.

The awardees will receive their awards from President Droupadi Murmu at a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 17, 2025. (ANI)

After daily essentials, beauty and cosmetics, pet care products, baby care products, food items, among others, Blinkit has added one more service to its kitty, and it is for a social cause – ambulances at patient’s doorstep in about 10 minutes.

To start with, as many as first five ambulances hit the road in Gurugram starting Thursday, Founder and CEO quick commerce firm Blinkit, Albinder Dhindsa, announced through a post on X.

“Ambulance in 10 minutes. We are taking our first step towards solving the problem of providing quick and reliable ambulance service in our cities. The first five ambulances will be on the road in Gurugram starting today. As we expand the service to more areas, you will start seeing an option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance through the @letsblinkit app,” Dhindsa posted.

The CEO said they aim to solve the problem of providing quick and reliable ambulance service in Indian cities.

“As we expand the service to more areas, you will start seeing an option to book a Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance through the Blinkit app,” said Dhindsa in the X post.

According to Dhindsa, Blinkit ambulances are equipped with essential life-saving equipment, including oxygen cylinders, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), stretcher, monitor, suction machine, and essential emergency medicines and injections.

Each ambulance would have a paramedic, an assistant and a trained driver to make sure they are able to deliver quality service.

“Profit is not a goal here,” the startup founder said. “We will operate this service at an affordable cost for customers and invest in really solving this critical problem for the long term.”

Blinkit aims to expand to all major cities over the next two years.

As Blinkit launched this ambulance service, Dhindsa appealed to people to make way for an ambulance always.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of quick online commerce gained much currency in India and the world over. Many players are entering into this quick commerce business, fulfilling daily essential needs of citizens in the comfort of their homes. (ANI)

The Israel Air Force (IAF) conducted an intelligence-based strike in the Humanitarian Area in Khan Yunis and eliminated Hassam Shahwan, the Head of Hamas Internal Security Forces in southern Gaza, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said on Thursday.

The IDF further said that Shahwan was responsible for developing intelligence assessments in coordination with elements of Hamas’ military wing in attacks on the IDF in Gaza.

“The Head of Hamas Internal Security Forces in southern Gaza, the terrorist Hassam Shahwan, was eliminated by the IAF in an intelligence-based strike in the Humanitarian Area in Khan Yunis. Shahwan was responsible for developing intelligence assessments in coordination with elements of Hamas’ military wing in attacks on the IDF in Gaza. The Hamas Internal Security Forces have conducted violent interrogations of the Gazan population, violating human rights and suppressing dissent within the organization,” IDF said in a post on X.

Israel has been conducting military operations on Hamas operatives in the region.

Earlier this week, the IDF had confirmed the killing of Hamas’ Nukhba Platoon commander, Abd al-Hadi Sabah, in a recent drone strike. As per the IDF, Sabah had led the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023, massacre.

On December 30, the IDF had stated the elimination of six Hamas terrorists who participated in the brutal October 7 massacre in Israel.

The IDF had further confirmed that Rasem Judeh, a Hamas company commander in the Jabaliya region, was also eliminated. Judeh, who played a direct role in the October 7 massacre, was killed alongside four other Hamas commanders and five additional terrorists.

On Sunday, IDF the IDF had confirmed that the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza is being questioned for his suspected involvement in terrorist activities, following a raid that led to the arrest of over 240 alleged Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives. (ANI)

Legendary cricketer and former ICC President Zaheer Abbas struck a chord with cricket fans during an engaging episode of Cricket Predicta in the UAE. Abbas reflected on the timeless appeal of India-Pakistan cricket and expressed his deep admiration for Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

“Whenever India and Pakistan clash, the whole world stops to watch, no matter where they are,” Abbas said on Cricket Predicta.

Speaking about the rivalry that has enthralled fans for generations, Abbas passionately remarked, “All the countries in the world are playing matches with each other, but why are India and Pakistan not playing them? I don’t understand why these two nations are not playing bilateral series. When the people of India breathe, they come to Pakistan. When the people of Pakistan breathe, they come to India. But they are not playing the match in front of you. I don’t understand why it is like this.”

Abbas’ heartfelt words captured the essence of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, a spectacle that transcends sport and unites fans across borders. His disappointment over the lack of bilateral matches was palpable, underscoring the significance of these games in the hearts of millions.

The conversation also turned to Rohit Sharma, with Zaheer Abbas lavishing praise on the Indian skipper’s sublime batting abilities.

“Rohit Sharma has a lot of time to play the shot. He plays the shot as he wishes, wherever he wants. What Rohit Sharma has done is something that happens to very few players. I am a big fan of Rohit Sharma,” he noted.

Abbas’ admiration for Sharma extended beyond his talent, emphasizing the Indian captain’s remarkable consistency under pressure and his unique ability to dominate at the crease.

Known as “the Asian Bradman,” Zaheer Abbas is no stranger to greatness himself. His stellar career includes becoming the first cricketer to score three consecutive centuries in ODIs during the 1982/83 season, a record that still stands as a testament to his brilliance.

In 2020, Zaheer Abbas was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, an honour befitting his extraordinary contributions to the sport. Decades after his retirement, his legacy continues to inspire cricketers and fans worldwide, making him one of the most celebrated figures in cricket history. (ANI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met stakeholders from the financial sector and capital markets as part of her series pre-Budget consultations.

The meeting was also attended by Finance Secretary, DIPAM secretary, and secretaries of Department of Economic Affairs and Department of Financial Services, and Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India.

Today’s was her seventh in the pre-budget series of meetings.

The Finance Ministry conducts several pre-budget consultation meetings annually with experts, industry leaders, economists, and state officials. The formal exercise to prepare the annual Budget for the next financial year has already begun.

Sitharaman has so far held a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including with MSMEs, farmers’ associations, and economists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also interacted with a group of eminent economists and thought leaders in preparation for the Union Budget 2025-26 at the NITI Aayog premises last week.

As is the convention, the Budget for 2025-26 will be tabled on February 1, 2025.

The 2025-26 Budget will mark Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s eighth. All eyes will be on the key announcements and the government’s forward-looking economic guidance for the remainder of the Modi 3.0 tenure.

This upcoming budget comes in the backdrop of weak GDP numbers and weak consumption in the economy.

The Indian economy grew by 5.4 per cent in real terms in the July-September quarter of the current financial year 2024-25. The quarterly growth was quite lower than RBI’s forecast of 7 per cent. In the April-June quarter too, India’s GDP grew at a slower pace than was estimated by its central bank.

The Reserve Bank in its latest monetary policy had cut India’s growth forecast for 2024-25 to 6.6 per cent from 7.2 per cent.

The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament earlier this year “conservatively” projected India’s real GDP growth at 6.5-7 per cent for 2024-25, acknowledging that market expectations are higher. Real GDP growth is the reported economic growth adjusted for inflation.

High frequency indicators for the third quarter of 2024- 25 (October-December) indicate that the Indian economy is recovering from the slowdown in momentum witnessed in July-September, driven by strong festival activity and a sustained upswing in rural demand, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asserted in its monthly bulletin recently.

India’s GDP grew by an impressive 8.2 per cent during the financial year 2023-24, and continued to be the fastest-growing major economy. The economy grew by 7.2 per cent in 2022-23 and 8.7 per cent in 2021-22. (ANI)

Reacting to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement that ‘alliance doors are always open for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that “dreams” of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief will always remain “dreams.”

“The dreams of Lalu Yadav will always remain dreams (Mungeri Lal ke Haseen Sapne hi rahenge). They will never be fulfilled,” Devendra Fadnavis said after the Cabinet meeting concluded in Mumbai.

This came following Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement saying that the opposition alliance doors are always open for the Bihar Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Union Minister and JDU leader Lallan Singh affirmed that his party is with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“We are with the NDA and with full firmness. I cannot react to what people say–there is freedom of expression; people can say whatever they want,” Singh told reporters.

However, reacting to Lalu’s statements, his son Tejashwi Yadav said, “You keep asking him this; what else would he say? He said this just to calm you all down.”

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said that RJD supremo is making such statements out of ‘fear.’

“Nitish Kumar knows Lalu Prasad Yadav inside out… Lalu Prasad Yadav is just scared,” Samrat Chaudhary said.

Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan said, “If followers of Gandhi detach themselves from the followers of Godse, then we are with them.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Tejashwi Yadav made a pledge for Bihar in 2025, promising to end unemployment and migration from the state.

Speaking about his vision for the upcoming year, Yadav declared, “In the new year, we have resolved that this time we will end unemployment and migration from Bihar. We will form a new government in the new year.”

The RJD leader said that the new government if elected would focus on key areas including education, medicine, income, irrigation, and accountability. He also stressed the need for significant reforms in the state’s administrative machinery.

The assembly elections in Bihar are likely to be held in October-November 2025. (ANI)

Australia captain Pat Cummins on Thursday showered praise on India talisman pacer Jasprit Bumrah and said that the 31-year-old is “always tough” against the opponents.

Despite ending on the losing side, Bumrah showed his charm with the ball yet again. In the first innings at the Melbourne Test, when Australia had complete control of the game, he struck thrice in quick succession to pull India back into the mix. Even in the second innings, Bumrah lived to his reputation and ended the match with figures of 9/156.

Bumrah is now the highest wicket-taker at the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with 30 scalps at an average of 12.83.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Cummins said Bumrah is bowling well at the moment. The skipper also hoped that Bumrah would be out of fuel when he comes out to bat at the Sydney Test. The Aussie all-rounder added that the India pacer always poses a challenge.

“There’s no doubt he’s bowling well at the moment, he’s always tough. Hopefully, by the time I come in, he’s well into his late in the day and he’s bowled a fair bit which makes it a little bit easier for me. He’s bowled well so I’ve faced him quite a bit across the world in different formats. But he always poses a challenge,” Cummins said.

According to ICC, Australia dropped a selection surprise by adding 31-year-old Beau Webster in the playing eleven, who will make his debut in the Sydney Test, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been dropped. Webster will become the third debutant for Australia in the ongoing series after Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney.

Australia clinched an 184-run victory over India in the Melbourne Test and took a 2-1 lead in the series, also ending India’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s early next year. Currently, Australia lead 2-1 over India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia will take on india in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3.

Australia XI: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland. (ANI)

Police clashed with hundreds of local government representatives on Wednesday during a protest outside the provincial assembly, resulting in multiple injuries and arrests, the Dawn reported.

The five-hour demonstration was organised by mayors and chairmen of the city, tehsil, village, and neighbourhood councils. They are demanding the release of development funds and the restoration of powers they claim were unjustly curtailed by the provincial government.

The Dawn reported that the protest escalated when police used tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd near the assembly building. Several protesters were injured, and others fainted due to the effects of the tear gas.

The protesters gathered on the busy Khyber and GT roads, chanting slogans against the provincial administration. They are calling for the disbursement of Rs 120 billion in overdue funds, which they claim have not been released since the establishment of local governments three years ago.

Local Council Association (LCA) president, Himayatullah Mayar, condemned the police’s actions, calling the use of force against peaceful demonstrators “unprecedented.” “We will not be deterred by tear gas or baton charges. Our fight for funds and powers continues,” Mayar told the Dawn.

The protesters have been demanding that the provincial government fulfil its legal obligations under the Local Government Act of 2013, which stipulates that 20 per cent of the total Annual Development Programme funds should be allocated to local governments. However, Mayar argued that the government has consistently failed to honour this provision.

Taimur Kamal, chairman of Tarkha village council, told the Dawn that local government representatives had previously met with the chief minister and other cabinet members, who promised to address their grievances, but these promises remain unfulfilled.

The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations by local government officials seeking greater autonomy and financial support to empower grassroots communities. Despite the crackdown, Mayar confirmed that the protest would continue, with another march planned for Thursday at 11 am from Jinnah Park to the provincial assembly. (ANI)