Berlin, Germany
Under a plan to cut bonuses, managers at Volkswagen (VW) are set to see their pay cut 10 percent 2 years in a row, according to report in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Sunday. The measures are under a wider restructuring deal to shed jobs and scale back output at Germany’s biggest automaker.  
The report also said bonus reductions, affecting 4,000 managers, will go into effect in May 2025 and 2026. After that, pay will decline by 8 percent in 2027, 6 percent in 2028, 5 percent in 2029.  
VW did not immediately comment on the report. Volkswagen’s employee works council and representatives from the powerful metalworkers’ union, IG Metall, could not be reached immediately for comment.  
That follows swiftly from Volkswagen's announcement Friday of sweeping operational changes in Germany. A reduction in production capacity and loss of over 35,000 future jobs is part of an agreement with unions, Advance reported over the weekend. The shift comes as costs rise and demand falls, as well as amid global competition, hoping to avoid strikes that could lead to mass absenteeism, which would jeopardise operations.  
As German industry worries over a combination of economic slowdown, rising energy costs and strict rules, Volkswagen's latest cost cutting measures are an indication of broader unease about the state of Germany's industrial economy. The restructuring deal comes after days of intense negotiations with unions in a spotlight of management-worker tensions at Europe’s biggest carmaker.  
VW's restructuring plan is now hit with the reported pay cuts for managers. Of course, German companies tend to rely on the higher levels of collective agreements with unions concerning a wider workforce. The teeing up of management pay illustrates how adrift VW is in restoring competitiveness.  
These cuts are part of a broader strategy at VW to focus on reducing fixed costs and adapting to the industry's accelerating transition toward electric vehicles and digitalisation. Despite the tumultuous period, VW remains committed to retaining its leading position in the global automotive market. Further official statements from the company and unions are anticipated in the coming weeks.

These cuts are part of a broader strategy at VW to focus on reducing fixed costs and adapting to the industry's accelerating transition toward electric vehicles and digitalisation. 

 



Berlin, Germany Under a plan to cut bonuses, managers at Volkswagen (VW) are set to see their pay cut 10 percent 2 years in a row, according to report in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Sunday. The measures are under a wider restructuring deal to shed jobs and scale back output at Germany’s biggest automaker. The report also said bonus reductions, affecting 4,000 managers, will go into effect in May 2025 and 2026. After that, pay will decline by 8 percent in 2027, 6 percent in 2028, 5 percent in 2029. VW did not immediately comment on the report. Volkswagen’s employee works council and representatives from the powerful metalworkers’ union, IG Metall, could not be reached immediately for comment. That follows swiftly from Volkswagen's announcement Friday of sweeping operational changes in Germany. A reduction in production capacity and loss of over 35,000 future jobs is part of an agreement with unions, Advance reported over the weekend. The shift comes as costs rise and demand falls, as well as amid global competition, hoping to avoid strikes that could lead to mass absenteeism, which would jeopardise operations. As German industry worries over a combination of economic slowdown, rising energy costs and strict rules, Volkswagen's latest cost cutting measures are an indication of broader unease about the state of Germany's industrial economy. The restructuring deal comes after days of intense negotiations with unions in a spotlight of management-worker tensions at Europe’s biggest carmaker. VW's restructuring plan is now hit with the reported pay cuts for managers. Of course, German companies tend to rely on the higher levels of collective agreements with unions concerning a wider workforce. The teeing up of management pay illustrates how adrift VW is in restoring competitiveness. These cuts are part of a broader strategy at VW to focus on reducing fixed costs and adapting to the industry's accelerating transition toward electric vehicles and digitalisation. Despite the tumultuous period, VW remains committed to retaining its leading position in the global automotive market. Further official statements from the company and unions are anticipated in the coming weeks.

Volkswagen managers face 10% pay cut as part of bonus reduction plan: report

Tokyo, Japan
Carlos Ghosn, former Nissan CEO, is wary of a rumored merger between Nissan and Honda. On Monday, Ghosn criticised the absence of industrial synergy between the two companies, saying he was not convinced by the planned merger: it was lacking strategic rationale.  
'Whatever they say if they don't make sense, this doesn't make sense,' he said, adding that successful mergers rely on partners that complement each other, and he does not see that here. For "industrial reasons," he argued, there is duplication everywhere.  
Sources tell Reuters Nissan and Honda plan to soon announce formal business integration talks that have spread rumors of a merger. In the face of new industry challenges, including the move from combustion engines toward electric vehicles and a growing number of new entrants, the two automakers are reportedly considering the move.  
Although the two companies are dealing with pressures caused by technological transformation and environmental regulation, Ghosn questioned if there would be any real benefits from such a partnership. He then remarked: 'If this merger happens... personally, I don't think it's going to be successful.'  
Ghosn spoke from Lebanon, where he has been in exile since fleeing Japan at the end of 2019. The former Vancouver Canucks star has been awaiting trial on charges of under reporting income, breach of trust and misuse of company funds, charges he maintains he is innocent of.  
It's not the first time Ghosn has spoken out from afar about Nissan's strategic decisions. During his tenure as CEO he was a key figure of the pioneering Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi alliance.  
Within the automotive industry, the mooted Honda-Nissan merger has caused a lot of debate. Ghosn is a critic who stresses the problems of overlapping operations and cultural differences that could get in the way of integration, while advocates say the deployment of resources broadly and the advantages of scale are areas in which the companies could cooperate.  
An official announcement from Honda and Nissan on the matter is yet to come, but Ghosn's remarks have already added fuel to the discussion over whether such a merger could succeed in reshaping Japan's auto industry.

Nissan and Honda plan to soon announce formal business integration talks that have spread rumors of a merger. 

 



Tokyo, Japan Carlos Ghosn, former Nissan CEO, is wary of a rumored merger between Nissan and Honda. On Monday, Ghosn criticised the absence of industrial synergy between the two companies, saying he was not convinced by the planned merger: it was lacking strategic rationale. 'Whatever they say if they don't make sense, this doesn't make sense,' he said, adding that successful mergers rely on partners that complement each other, and he does not see that here. For "industrial reasons," he argued, there is duplication everywhere. Sources tell Reuters Nissan and Honda plan to soon announce formal business integration talks that have spread rumors of a merger. In the face of new industry challenges, including the move from combustion engines toward electric vehicles and a growing number of new entrants, the two automakers are reportedly considering the move. Although the two companies are dealing with pressures caused by technological transformation and environmental regulation, Ghosn questioned if there would be any real benefits from such a partnership. He then remarked: 'If this merger happens... personally, I don't think it's going to be successful.' Ghosn spoke from Lebanon, where he has been in exile since fleeing Japan at the end of 2019. The former Vancouver Canucks star has been awaiting trial on charges of under reporting income, breach of trust and misuse of company funds, charges he maintains he is innocent of. It's not the first time Ghosn has spoken out from afar about Nissan's strategic decisions. During his tenure as CEO he was a key figure of the pioneering Nissan, Renault and Mitsubishi alliance. Within the automotive industry, the mooted Honda-Nissan merger has caused a lot of debate. Ghosn is a critic who stresses the problems of overlapping operations and cultural differences that could get in the way of integration, while advocates say the deployment of resources broadly and the advantages of scale are areas in which the companies could cooperate. An official announcement from Honda and Nissan on the matter is yet to come, but Ghosn's remarks have already added fuel to the discussion over whether such a merger could succeed in reshaping Japan's auto industry.

Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn questions viability of potential Nissan-Honda merger

New Delhi, India
GST Council recently clarified the popcorn taxation structure at its 55th meeting on Saturday (Dec 21), in which caramelised, salted and plain popcorn are taxed differently based on their sugar content.
The GST is classified as 5 per cent on unpacked and unlabelled salted popcorn, 12 per cent on pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat popcorn and 18 per cent on caramelised popcorn. This clarification by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has sparked memes on social media, with several users poking fun at the complex tax calculations and expressing dissatisfaction.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/55th-gst-council-meeting-key-discussion-points-786140">55th GST council meeting: key discussion points</a>
<h2>Memes flood social media</h2>
A user shared a picture of Nirmala Sitharaman with the caption: If anyone questions this, Nirmala Sitaphalam-G will say “This won’t affect middle class, is popcorn made for middle class?”
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? 5% GST on Non Pre-Packaged Popcorn mixed with salt &amp; spices
? 12% GST on Pre-packaged and labelled Popcorn
? 18% GST on Caramel Popcorn
If anyone questions this, Nirmala Sitaphalam-G will say “This won’t affect middle class, is popcorn made for middle class?” <a href="https://t.co/Xp6M2oHz6S">pic.twitter.com/Xp6M2oHz6S</a>
— Gurudath Shetty Karkala (@GurudathShettyK) <a href="https://twitter.com/GurudathShettyK/status/1870417952295563676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Another meme posted on X by a user criticised the high tax rates.
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18% GST on popcorn ?
18% GST on selling old car ? <a href="https://t.co/B3sAsjTS4l">pic.twitter.com/B3sAsjTS4l</a>
— Ex Bhakt (@exbhakt_) <a href="https://twitter.com/exbhakt_/status/1870469382067093987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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A user wrote, “Even Popcorn reaches 18% GST Slab. Next she'll tax air and sunlight,” with a picture of Nirmala Sitharaman sitting on a pile of gold coins as people stand in front of her holding popcorn.
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Even Popcorn reaches 18% GST Slab.
Next she'll tax air and sunlight.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GSTCouncil?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSTCouncil</a> <a href="https://t.co/xTpIjfkRve">pic.twitter.com/xTpIjfkRve</a>
— Dr Ranjan (@AAPforNewIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AAPforNewIndia/status/1870427043164307808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Another user depicted edited images of Nirmala Sitharaman with different tax slabs of popcorn and wrote, “United by popcorn, divided by GST. Can we add the popcorn with caramel and sugar + made from EXTRA VIRGIN OIL should be taxed at 28%?”
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Even Popcorn reaches 18% GST Slab.
Next she'll tax air and sunlight.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GSTCouncil?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GSTCouncil</a> <a href="https://t.co/xTpIjfkRve">pic.twitter.com/xTpIjfkRve</a>
— Dr Ranjan (@AAPforNewIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AAPforNewIndia/status/1870427043164307808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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A user hilariously questioned what the GST would be for a popcorn pack that has a mix of both salted and caramel popcorn while sharing an image of it.
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If salted popcorn is taxed at 5% GST and caramel popcorn at 18% GST, what will be the GST rate for this flavor : <a href="https://t.co/yFRvPOejvv">pic.twitter.com/yFRvPOejvv</a>
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) <a href="https://twitter.com/theskindoctor13/status/1870527095102922848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shocking-sunny-leones-name-in-chattisgarh-fraud-case-for-married-women-786086">Shocking! Sunny Leone's name in Chattisgarh fraud case for married women</a>
“How much tax to use this Meme?” a user satirically wrote while sharing a GIF of a person eating popcorn.
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How much tax to use this Meme ?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PopcornTax?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PopcornTax</a> <a href="https://t.co/4Yx1dTv7FK">pic.twitter.com/4Yx1dTv7FK</a>
— Rahul (@42pi) <a href="https://twitter.com/42pi/status/1870514096279544247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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An X handle that shares memes, poked fun at the intricate taxation for different flavours of popcorn while imagining a GST slab on masala dosa.
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We are planning to make some changes on GST rates of Masala Dosa. The slabs will be as follows:
Plain Masala Dosa - 9% GST
Masala Dosa with Aloo Bhaji - 12% GST
Masala with Aloo Bhaji, Chutney and Sambar - 18% GST <a href="https://t.co/1jsHhE442U">pic.twitter.com/1jsHhE442U</a>
— Jawaharlal Nehru (@The_Nehru) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Nehru/status/1870498314216706397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Modi ji even found a way to tax timepass!” another user wrote while sharing a GIF of a deer chewing popcorn referring to the fact that people sometimes munch on popcorn in their free time.
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Breaking: Popcorn Ka GST Tadka?
5% GST for the aam janta,
12% GST for the khaas janta,
18% GST for the elite janta enjoying caramel!
Modi ji even found a way to tax timepass! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PopcornPolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PopcornPolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/3iQLN8daFY">pic.twitter.com/3iQLN8daFY</a>
— Rais Shaikh (@rais_shk) <a href="https://twitter.com/rais_shk/status/1870463141190242422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Some memes also surfaced on social media criticising the tax on used cars.
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“If you wanna sell your used car, pay me 18% GST first, otherwise I won’t allow you to sell”
- Nirmala Sitaphalam-G Aka Vasooli Behan <a href="https://t.co/Yp59gDG9i3">pic.twitter.com/Yp59gDG9i3</a>
— Gurudath Shetty Karkala (@GurudathShettyK) <a href="https://twitter.com/GurudathShettyK/status/1870647461985046773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

The GST is classified as 5 per cent on unpacked and unlabelled salted popcorn, 12 per cent on pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat popcorn and 18 per cent on caramelised popcorn



New Delhi, India GST Council recently clarified the popcorn taxation structure at its 55th meeting on Saturday (Dec 21), in which caramelised, salted and plain popcorn are taxed differently based on their sugar content. The GST is classified as 5 per cent on unpacked and unlabelled salted popcorn, 12 per cent on pre-packed and labelled ready-to-eat popcorn and 18 per cent on caramelised popcorn. This clarification by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has sparked memes on social media, with several users poking fun at the complex tax calculations and expressing dissatisfaction. Also read | 55th GST council meeting: key discussion points Memes flood social media A user shared a picture of Nirmala Sitharaman with the caption: If anyone questions this, Nirmala Sitaphalam-G will say “This won’t affect middle class, is popcorn made for middle class?” ? 5% GST on Non Pre-Packaged Popcorn mixed with salt & spices ? 12% GST on Pre-packaged and labelled Popcorn ? 18% GST on Caramel Popcorn If anyone questions this, Nirmala Sitaphalam-G will say “This won’t affect middle class, is popcorn made for middle class?” pic.twitter.com/Xp6M2oHz6S — Gurudath Shetty Karkala (@GurudathShettyK) December 21, 2024 × Another meme posted on X by a user criticised the high tax rates. 18% GST on popcorn ? 18% GST on selling old car ? pic.twitter.com/B3sAsjTS4l — Ex Bhakt (@exbhakt_) December 21, 2024 × A user wrote, “Even Popcorn reaches 18% GST Slab. Next she'll tax air and sunlight,” with a picture of Nirmala Sitharaman sitting on a pile of gold coins as people stand in front of her holding popcorn. Even Popcorn reaches 18% GST Slab. Next she'll tax air and sunlight.#GSTCouncil pic.twitter.com/xTpIjfkRve — Dr Ranjan (@AAPforNewIndia) December 21, 2024 × Another user depicted edited images of Nirmala Sitharaman with different tax slabs of popcorn and wrote, “United by popcorn, divided by GST. Can we add the popcorn with caramel and sugar + made from EXTRA VIRGIN OIL should be taxed at 28%?” Even Popcorn reaches 18% GST Slab. Next she'll tax air and sunlight.#GSTCouncil pic.twitter.com/xTpIjfkRve — Dr Ranjan (@AAPforNewIndia) December 21, 2024 × A user hilariously questioned what the GST would be for a popcorn pack that has a mix of both salted and caramel popcorn while sharing an image of it. If salted popcorn is taxed at 5% GST and caramel popcorn at 18% GST, what will be the GST rate for this flavor : pic.twitter.com/yFRvPOejvv — THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) December 21, 2024 × Also read | Shocking! Sunny Leone's name in Chattisgarh fraud case for married women “How much tax to use this Meme?” a user satirically wrote while sharing a GIF of a person eating popcorn. How much tax to use this Meme ?#PopcornTax pic.twitter.com/4Yx1dTv7FK — Rahul (@42pi) December 21, 2024 × An X handle that shares memes, poked fun at the intricate taxation for different flavours of popcorn while imagining a GST slab on masala dosa. We are planning to make some changes on GST rates of Masala Dosa. The slabs will be as follows: Plain Masala Dosa - 9% GST Masala Dosa with Aloo Bhaji - 12% GST Masala with Aloo Bhaji, Chutney and Sambar - 18% GST pic.twitter.com/1jsHhE442U — Jawaharlal Nehru (@The_Nehru) December 21, 2024 × “Modi ji even found a way to tax timepass!” another user wrote while sharing a GIF of a deer chewing popcorn referring to the fact that people sometimes munch on popcorn in their free time. Breaking: Popcorn Ka GST Tadka? 5% GST for the aam janta, 12% GST for the khaas janta, 18% GST for the elite janta enjoying caramel! Modi ji even found a way to tax timepass! #PopcornPolitics pic.twitter.com/3iQLN8daFY — Rais Shaikh (@rais_shk) December 21, 2024 × Some memes also surfaced on social media criticising the tax on used cars. “If you wanna sell your used car, pay me 18% GST first, otherwise I won’t allow you to sell” - Nirmala Sitaphalam-G Aka Vasooli Behan pic.twitter.com/Yp59gDG9i3 — Gurudath Shetty Karkala (@GurudathShettyK) December 22, 2024 × (With inputs from agencies)

Memes take social media by storm amid clarification over 18% GST on caramelised popcorn

Mumbai, India
Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli is in news again - this time for getting hospitalised in Thane. Kambli said that he is under medical care due to 'urine infection' and is better now. Recently, Kambli was seen in a video in a frail condition, which sparked wide-spread discussion about his health on social media.
"I am better now. My wife takes care of me a lot. She took me to 3 different hospitals and told me 'You have to get fit'. Ajay Jadeja also came to visit me. It felt nice. I was suffering from a urine problem. It was just flowing. My son, Jesus Cristiano, picked me up and brought me back to my feet. My daughter, who is 10 years old, and my wife came to help me. This happened one month ago. My head started spinning; I collapsed and fell down. The doctor told me to get admitted," Kambli told while speaking to YouTuber Vickey Lalwani on his channel.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-india-vs-pakistan-on-february-23-in-uae-check-other-details-inside-786172">Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan on February 23 in UAE - check other details inside</a>
News agency IANS also posted pictures of Kambli with the caption "Cricketer Vinod Kambli's condition deteriorated again, leading to his admission at Akriti Hospital in Thane late Saturday night. His condition is now stable but remains critical."
In his recent video, which was taken at his childhood coach late Ramakant Achrekar's honoring ceremony, his health got the netizens worried. Many former cricketers, including Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, came forward to help him.
Kambli, who started his career with Sachin Tendulkar, was once touted as India's next big star but failed to live up to the expectations. 
Kambli represented India in 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, spanning from 1991-2004. He ended with 1,084 runs in Tests and 2,477 ODI runs. While he had a dream start to his career, inconsistencies and controversies both on and off the field derailed his journey. 
Tendulkar, on the other hand, kept rising up the ladder and played for India from 1989-2013, ending with over 34,000 international runs and 100 hundreds overall.

Recently, Kambli was seen a video in a frail condition which sparked wide-spread discussion about his health on social media.



Mumbai, India Former India cricketer Vinod Kambli is in news again - this time for getting hospitalised in Thane. Kambli said that he is under medical care due to 'urine infection' and is better now. Recently, Kambli was seen in a video in a frail condition, which sparked wide-spread discussion about his health on social media. "I am better now. My wife takes care of me a lot. She took me to 3 different hospitals and told me 'You have to get fit'. Ajay Jadeja also came to visit me. It felt nice. I was suffering from a urine problem. It was just flowing. My son, Jesus Cristiano, picked me up and brought me back to my feet. My daughter, who is 10 years old, and my wife came to help me. This happened one month ago. My head started spinning; I collapsed and fell down. The doctor told me to get admitted," Kambli told while speaking to YouTuber Vickey Lalwani on his channel. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan on February 23 in UAE - check other details inside News agency IANS also posted pictures of Kambli with the caption "Cricketer Vinod Kambli's condition deteriorated again, leading to his admission at Akriti Hospital in Thane late Saturday night. His condition is now stable but remains critical." In his recent video, which was taken at his childhood coach late Ramakant Achrekar's honoring ceremony, his health got the netizens worried. Many former cricketers, including Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, came forward to help him. Kambli, who started his career with Sachin Tendulkar, was once touted as India's next big star but failed to live up to the expectations. Kambli represented India in 17 Tests and 104 ODIs, spanning from 1991-2004. He ended with 1,084 runs in Tests and 2,477 ODI runs. While he had a dream start to his career, inconsistencies and controversies both on and off the field derailed his journey. Tendulkar, on the other hand, kept rising up the ladder and played for India from 1989-2013, ending with over 34,000 international runs and 100 hundreds overall.

'I collapsed and...,' Ex-India cricketer Vinod Kambli 'better now' after hospitalisation

New Delhi
India will soon become the third-largest economy overtaking Japan and Germany. However, the journey from the third largest to the second largest or the largest is going to be extremely difficult given the large gap (The US at 7 times and China at 4.5 times the current size). Now, in order to bridge the gap with existing poles of the global economy and geopolitics, India has to focus more on the structure of the economy than size. The structure of the Indian economy remains shallow as we are dependent on foreign countries for most critical parts of the value chain and these vulnerabilities get reflected from time to time - most recently during Covid when API imports stopped.
India remains at the lower end of the value chain in the majority of the sectors. Among the 10 largest companies in the United States, 9 are IP-driven technology/Product companies, and the 10th is an investment firm with stocks of technology companies around the world. These companies are at the forefront of innovation and enjoy a premium in the market valuation based on their ability to be at the top of the game in their respective sectors.
<img alt="India economy" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="63b4b160-ede9-4d84-8782-67ba5fc14dfd" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/1aa.jpg"/>
On the other hand, none of the 10 most valued Indian companies are IP-driven. Most of the Indian companies are banking or technology service providers. Innovation is not at the core of any Indian companies among the top 10. If the structure of the economy remains the same, a few decades down the line, the Indian economy will become stagnant just like the European economy.
<img alt="India economy" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ce1cf8d-5c74-4fff-94df-6c405c8485b2" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/2aa.jpg"/>
The story is the same for European countries despite the fact these countries have lost in the innovation game in the last two decades. Among the top 10 European companies, Novo Nordisk, SAP, ASML, and Siemens are IP-driven product companies. What this tells us is that all the countries that escape the middle-income trap do it on the back of IP-driven product companies, not with process innovation-driven service companies that dominate the Indian economy today. 
<img alt="India economy" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8bc00696-96db-430a-a706-9773583a02ab" src="https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/sites/default/files/inline-images/3aa.jpg"/>
<h2>What makes the move from middle-income status to high-income status so difficult? </h2>
One reason is that as they move through middle-income status, countries cannot leap all at once from investment-driven growth to innovation-driven growth. (From WB’s World Development Report 2024)
So, to become a developed nation, we need our existing companies to transition from a process innovation-driven revenue model to a product-driven innovation model. And for this, we need next-gen products because it is extremely difficult to beat the incumbent in the current-gen products. Be it India's UPI for payments or China's EVs, the countries and companies have been able to defeat the incumbent only by focusing on the next-gen products and offering solutions that are 10X better than the existing products.
Coming up with next-generation products also needs to bring some of our diaspora back, which is doing cutting-edge R&amp;D in American universities and firms. These researchers won't come to the current CSIR setup for obvious reasons (some left this setup to go to the US). The Rs 1 lakh crore fund, announced during the interim budget, can be used to do pre-commercial research at universities (Institute of Brain Sciences at IISc model), academic institutions and firms (corporate labs like Bell Labs, Xerox PARC) and startups.
In the last few years, we have succeeded in building the first generation of IP-driven product companies in some sectors. In telecom equipment, there is Tejas Networks, in vaccine development, we have Bharat Biotech, in making trains, we have also made some progress with Vande Bharat, which was developed at the Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai shows that the private and public sectors can both develop IP-driven products that will be globally competitive. The mindset of the government as well as the private sector needs to change for this. 
Services companies can be built without significant government involvement, it is extremely difficult to build a product company without the support from the government on the day. The product companies need a large sum of money for pre-commercial investment before the product hits the market. Moreover, these companies also need market access, preferably from the government at an early stage, in order to iterate and improve the product. 
In most of the products, the government acts as a safe buyer. The government will buy only if the product has been used by the private sector before and the trials will be on No-Cost-No-Commitment (NCNC) basis. These steps have been taken to prevent corruption and cronyism in public procurement. For the product companies to succeed, the government needs to act as a first buyer to mitigate risk and spur innovation. 
Moreover, the government needs to fund pre-commercial research at corporations and startups instead of doing it as autonomous labs where the researchers are employed full time without any accountability on outcome. Throughout the world, the product companies, from America’s defense industrial complex to China's new energy domination, were built by public funding for private innovation. 
India also needs to bank on public funding for private innovation and government buying to build its IP-driven product companies. The public funding should be designed in a way that it could spur private investment in R&amp;D, which has been abysmally low at 0.3% of GDP.  What propelled India to become 5th and soon to be 3rd largest economy in the world from 17th in 1991 will not enable it to compete with the United States and China. We need a new way of thinking on political economy that could change the structure of the economy from shallow services and manufacturing to an IP-driven economy. It will enable the country to overcome the middle-income trap and set the path to overtake the United States and China in the coming decades. 
Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

India remains at the lower end of the value chain in the majority of the sectors. Among the 10 largest companies in the United States, 9 are IP-driven technology/Product companies, and the 10th is an investment firm with stocks of technology companies around the world.



New Delhi India will soon become the third-largest economy overtaking Japan and Germany. However, the journey from the third largest to the second largest or the largest is going to be extremely difficult given the large gap (The US at 7 times and China at 4.5 times the current size). Now, in order to bridge the gap with existing poles of the global economy and geopolitics, India has to focus more on the structure of the economy than size. The structure of the Indian economy remains shallow as we are dependent on foreign countries for most critical parts of the value chain and these vulnerabilities get reflected from time to time - most recently during Covid when API imports stopped. India remains at the lower end of the value chain in the majority of the sectors. Among the 10 largest companies in the United States, 9 are IP-driven technology/Product companies, and the 10th is an investment firm with stocks of technology companies around the world. These companies are at the forefront of innovation and enjoy a premium in the market valuation based on their ability to be at the top of the game in their respective sectors. On the other hand, none of the 10 most valued Indian companies are IP-driven. Most of the Indian companies are banking or technology service providers. Innovation is not at the core of any Indian companies among the top 10. If the structure of the economy remains the same, a few decades down the line, the Indian economy will become stagnant just like the European economy. The story is the same for European countries despite the fact these countries have lost in the innovation game in the last two decades. Among the top 10 European companies, Novo Nordisk, SAP, ASML, and Siemens are IP-driven product companies. What this tells us is that all the countries that escape the middle-income trap do it on the back of IP-driven product companies, not with process innovation-driven service companies that dominate the Indian economy today. What makes the move from middle-income status to high-income status so difficult? One reason is that as they move through middle-income status, countries cannot leap all at once from investment-driven growth to innovation-driven growth. (From WB’s World Development Report 2024) So, to become a developed nation, we need our existing companies to transition from a process innovation-driven revenue model to a product-driven innovation model. And for this, we need next-gen products because it is extremely difficult to beat the incumbent in the current-gen products. Be it India's UPI for payments or China's EVs, the countries and companies have been able to defeat the incumbent only by focusing on the next-gen products and offering solutions that are 10X better than the existing products. Coming up with next-generation products also needs to bring some of our diaspora back, which is doing cutting-edge R&D in American universities and firms. These researchers won't come to the current CSIR setup for obvious reasons (some left this setup to go to the US). The Rs 1 lakh crore fund, announced during the interim budget, can be used to do pre-commercial research at universities (Institute of Brain Sciences at IISc model), academic institutions and firms (corporate labs like Bell Labs, Xerox PARC) and startups. In the last few years, we have succeeded in building the first generation of IP-driven product companies in some sectors. In telecom equipment, there is Tejas Networks, in vaccine development, we have Bharat Biotech, in making trains, we have also made some progress with Vande Bharat, which was developed at the Integrated Coach Factory in Chennai shows that the private and public sectors can both develop IP-driven products that will be globally competitive. The mindset of the government as well as the private sector needs to change for this. Services companies can be built without significant government involvement, it is extremely difficult to build a product company without the support from the government on the day. The product companies need a large sum of money for pre-commercial investment before the product hits the market. Moreover, these companies also need market access, preferably from the government at an early stage, in order to iterate and improve the product. In most of the products, the government acts as a safe buyer. The government will buy only if the product has been used by the private sector before and the trials will be on No-Cost-No-Commitment (NCNC) basis. These steps have been taken to prevent corruption and cronyism in public procurement. For the product companies to succeed, the government needs to act as a first buyer to mitigate risk and spur innovation. Moreover, the government needs to fund pre-commercial research at corporations and startups instead of doing it as autonomous labs where the researchers are employed full time without any accountability on outcome. Throughout the world, the product companies, from America’s defense industrial complex to China's new energy domination, were built by public funding for private innovation. India also needs to bank on public funding for private innovation and government buying to build its IP-driven product companies. The public funding should be designed in a way that it could spur private investment in R&D, which has been abysmally low at 0.3% of GDP. What propelled India to become 5th and soon to be 3rd largest economy in the world from 17th in 1991 will not enable it to compete with the United States and China. We need a new way of thinking on political economy that could change the structure of the economy from shallow services and manufacturing to an IP-driven economy. It will enable the country to overcome the middle-income trap and set the path to overtake the United States and China in the coming decades. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

India needs to build IP-driven companies to escape middle-income trap

New Delhi
Hours after Allu Arjun's Hyderabad home was vandalised by members of Osmania University on Sunday, the actor's children Ayaan and Arha were whisked away. On Sunday, December 22, eight people held protest outside the actor's Jubilee Hills residence. They held placards, burned his effigy, broke plant pots and staged protests. The police detained the eight members who were involved in the incident on Sunday but they were released later on bail on Monday. 
At the time of the attack, Allu Arjun was not there at his home. After the attack, Allu Arjun and his wife, Sneha Reddy's children, Allu Arha and Allu Ayaan, were seen leaving the house.
Post the incident, Allu Aravind said, "Everyone has seen what happened at our house today. But, it is time for us to act accordingly. I don't see this as the right time to react to anything. The police have arrested the vandalisers and filed a case against them. The police personnel are deployed near my house to take away anybody who comes here to create a ruckus. No one should encourage such incidents. It is time to practice restraint. The law will take its course."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/allu-arjun-refused-to-leave-hyderabad-theatre-after-learning-about-womans-death-alleges-police-786125">Allu Arjun refused to leave Hyderabad theatre after learning about woman's death, alleges police</a>
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy condemned the incident and asked the police to take action. His post on X read, "I condemn the attack on the homes of film celebrities. I am directing the State DGP and City Police Commissioner to take strict action regarding law and order. No laxity will be tolerated in this regard. Senior officials should take precautions to prevent police personnel who are not involved in the Sandhya Theatre incident from responding."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/is-allu-arjuns-pushpa-2-releasing-on-ott-soon-makars-issues-clarification-785771" target="_blank">Is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 releasing on OTT? Makers issue clarification</a>
The attackers demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the family of 35-year-old woman named Revathi, who died in the stampede on December 4 at the iconic Sandhya Theatre, where Allu Arjun had arrived to attend the premiere of his film, Pushpa 2: The Rule. The nine-year-old son of the deceased is in critical condition and undergoing treatment in the hospital.
On December 13, Allu Arjun was arrested in relation to the stampede case and was granted bail a day later by Telangana High Court.

Hours after Allu Arjun's Hyderabad home was vandalised by members of Osmania University on Sunday, the actor's children Ayaan and Arha were whisked away.



New Delhi Hours after Allu Arjun's Hyderabad home was vandalised by members of Osmania University on Sunday, the actor's children Ayaan and Arha were whisked away. On Sunday, December 22, eight people held protest outside the actor's Jubilee Hills residence. They held placards, burned his effigy, broke plant pots and staged protests. The police detained the eight members who were involved in the incident on Sunday but they were released later on bail on Monday. At the time of the attack, Allu Arjun was not there at his home. After the attack, Allu Arjun and his wife, Sneha Reddy's children, Allu Arha and Allu Ayaan, were seen leaving the house. Post the incident, Allu Aravind said, "Everyone has seen what happened at our house today. But, it is time for us to act accordingly. I don't see this as the right time to react to anything. The police have arrested the vandalisers and filed a case against them. The police personnel are deployed near my house to take away anybody who comes here to create a ruckus. No one should encourage such incidents. It is time to practice restraint. The law will take its course." Also read: Allu Arjun refused to leave Hyderabad theatre after learning about woman's death, alleges police Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy condemned the incident and asked the police to take action. His post on X read, "I condemn the attack on the homes of film celebrities. I am directing the State DGP and City Police Commissioner to take strict action regarding law and order. No laxity will be tolerated in this regard. Senior officials should take precautions to prevent police personnel who are not involved in the Sandhya Theatre incident from responding." Also read: Is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 releasing on OTT? Makers issue clarification The attackers demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the family of 35-year-old woman named Revathi, who died in the stampede on December 4 at the iconic Sandhya Theatre, where Allu Arjun had arrived to attend the premiere of his film, Pushpa 2: The Rule. The nine-year-old son of the deceased is in critical condition and undergoing treatment in the hospital. On December 13, Allu Arjun was arrested in relation to the stampede case and was granted bail a day later by Telangana High Court.

Allu Arjun's kids whisked away hours after actor's home is vandalised

New Delhi, India 
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BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, rebuked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, launching a scathing attack, accusing him of failing to address women's issues during his ten-year tenure.
“Arvind Kejriwal is rattled. He didn’t do anything for women in the last 10 years. He even got Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal assaulted in his home. His MLAs have not even been nice to their wives,” Gupta told news agency ANI. Gupta gave the example of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal's alleged assault case and further said that AAP MLAs have not even been nice to their wives. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-arvind-kejriwal-claims-pm-modi-conspired-against-him-attacked-his-honesty-760929">India: Arvind Kejriwal claims PM Modi hatched ‘conspiracy’ against him, attacked his ‘honesty’</a>
<h2>Kejriwal lashed out at BJP </h2>
Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference on Sunday (Dec 22) criticising the central government for its decision to not include Delhi’s tableau from the Republic Day parade. “Delhi is the capital of India, and its tableau should participate in the 26th January parade every year. For many years, Delhi’s tableau has not been allowed. What kind of politics is this? Why do they hate the people of Delhi so much?,” Kejriwal asked.
“The Centre has no vision for the people of Delhi. Why should the people vote for them?,” he said.
<h2>Virendra Sachdeva condemns Kejriwal </h2>
Other BJP leaders, including Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, also condemned Kejriwal.
Virendra Sachdeva condemned the AAP leader for annihilating Delhi through corruption during his tenure. “Delhi is the capital of India, but whenever any national festival approaches, we see the anarchist nature of Arvind Kejriwal. We remember Republic Day 2014, when Kejriwal staged a protest. Now, he wants to do politics over the parade tableau,” Sachdeva said.
He added, “What does Kejriwal want to show in Delhi’s tableau? The sewer overflows that caused over 60 deaths or the ‘Sheeshmahal’ he built by looting public money?”
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-is-sheesh-mahal-row-bjp-stages-protest-outside-arvind-kejriwals-residence-778052">What is ‘Sheesh Mahal’ row? BJP stages protest outside Arvind Kejriwal’s residence</a>
<h2>MP Kamaljeet accuses Kejriwal </h2>
MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also alleged the Kejriwal government, accusing it of failing to highlight basic civic problems in the city. “The Delhi government has not understood the needs of its people even after 10 years in power. When election time comes, Kejriwal asks people to tell him their concerns. But basic issues like sewer cleaning in Rajinder Nagar remain unresolved. Three aspirants lost their lives because of you,” Sehrawat said.
(With inputs from agencies)

Gupta gave the example of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal's alleged assault and further said that AAP MLAs have not even been nice to their wives. 



New Delhi, India BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, rebuked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, launching a scathing attack, accusing him of failing to address women's issues during his ten-year tenure. “Arvind Kejriwal is rattled. He didn’t do anything for women in the last 10 years. He even got Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal assaulted in his home. His MLAs have not even been nice to their wives,” Gupta told news agency ANI. Gupta gave the example of Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal's alleged assault case and further said that AAP MLAs have not even been nice to their wives. Also Read: India: Arvind Kejriwal claims PM Modi hatched ‘conspiracy’ against him, attacked his ‘honesty’ Kejriwal lashed out at BJP Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference on Sunday (Dec 22) criticising the central government for its decision to not include Delhi’s tableau from the Republic Day parade. “Delhi is the capital of India, and its tableau should participate in the 26th January parade every year. For many years, Delhi’s tableau has not been allowed. What kind of politics is this? Why do they hate the people of Delhi so much?,” Kejriwal asked. “The Centre has no vision for the people of Delhi. Why should the people vote for them?,” he said. Virendra Sachdeva condemns Kejriwal Other BJP leaders, including Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva and MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat, also condemned Kejriwal. Virendra Sachdeva condemned the AAP leader for annihilating Delhi through corruption during his tenure. “Delhi is the capital of India, but whenever any national festival approaches, we see the anarchist nature of Arvind Kejriwal. We remember Republic Day 2014, when Kejriwal staged a protest. Now, he wants to do politics over the parade tableau,” Sachdeva said. He added, “What does Kejriwal want to show in Delhi’s tableau? The sewer overflows that caused over 60 deaths or the ‘Sheeshmahal’ he built by looting public money?” Also Read: What is ‘Sheesh Mahal’ row? BJP stages protest outside Arvind Kejriwal’s residence MP Kamaljeet accuses Kejriwal MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also alleged the Kejriwal government, accusing it of failing to highlight basic civic problems in the city. “The Delhi government has not understood the needs of its people even after 10 years in power. When election time comes, Kejriwal asks people to tell him their concerns. But basic issues like sewer cleaning in Rajinder Nagar remain unresolved. Three aspirants lost their lives because of you,” Sehrawat said. (With inputs from agencies)

BJP launches scathing attack on Kejriwal: 'He didn’t do anything for women in the last 10 years'

Washington
<meta content="uuidl5t9tEtYyubi" name="uuid"/>Wholesale egg prices in the United States (US) have reached an all-time high as an accelerating outbreak of bird flu in laying hens slashes supplies.
Citing data from commodity data firm Expana, a report by the news agency Reuters late Saturday (December 21) said that the wholesale prices for large eggs reached $5.77 per dozen in the Midwest on December 18, up 150 per cent from a year ago and topping the previous record of $5.46 from December 2022.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-declares-emergency-after-first-severe-human-case-of-bird-flu-emerges-in-us-785227">California declares emergency after first severe human case of bird flu emerges in US</a>
The average retail price of a dozen eggs exceeded $3.60 in November, up from $2.50 at the start of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only in September was the average price higher, at $3.80.
<h2>Prices are much higher in California</h2>
The wholesale prices for eggs were much higher in California, where supplies are further constrained by rules that prohibit farmers from raising hens in cages. There, eggs set an eye-popping record of $8.85 per dozen, Expana said.
Reuters reported that the increased prices were a bonanza for farmers who managed to avoid bird flu outbreaks and were not locked into long-term pricing arrangements that helped control costs at some major retailers.
The main factor driving the price rise is the damage to the laying flock from bird flu. The virus has wiped out nearly 123 million chickens, turkeys, and other poultry in 49 states (of the US) since the beginning of the current outbreak in 2022.
Also watch | Gravitas: Will bird flu cause the next pandemic?
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2024/06/17/1706_WION_NEXTPANDEMIC_GV_9PM-1718647823-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/1706_WION_NEXTPANDEMIC_GV_9PM.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=175&tags=bird flu,pandemic,World News,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Data showed that of the 35 million commercial egg-laying hens killed by bird flu this year, nearly half contracted the virus in the past three months. 
<h2>61 people infected with bird flu so far this year</h2>
According to the federal government, bird flu has infected 61 people in the US so far this year. 
The cases in humans have mostly been mild, though officials confirmed the first severe case last week in Louisiana. The patient from Louisiana was hospitalised in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock.
(With inputs from agencies)

The wholesale prices for large eggs reached $5.77 per dozen in the Midwest on December 18, up 150 per cent from a year ago and topping the previous record of $5.46 from December 2022.



Washington Wholesale egg prices in the United States (US) have reached an all-time high as an accelerating outbreak of bird flu in laying hens slashes supplies. Citing data from commodity data firm Expana, a report by the news agency Reuters late Saturday (December 21) said that the wholesale prices for large eggs reached $5.77 per dozen in the Midwest on December 18, up 150 per cent from a year ago and topping the previous record of $5.46 from December 2022. Also read | California declares emergency after first severe human case of bird flu emerges in US The average retail price of a dozen eggs exceeded $3.60 in November, up from $2.50 at the start of the year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only in September was the average price higher, at $3.80. Prices are much higher in California The wholesale prices for eggs were much higher in California, where supplies are further constrained by rules that prohibit farmers from raising hens in cages. There, eggs set an eye-popping record of $8.85 per dozen, Expana said. Reuters reported that the increased prices were a bonanza for farmers who managed to avoid bird flu outbreaks and were not locked into long-term pricing arrangements that helped control costs at some major retailers. The main factor driving the price rise is the damage to the laying flock from bird flu. The virus has wiped out nearly 123 million chickens, turkeys, and other poultry in 49 states (of the US) since the beginning of the current outbreak in 2022. Also watch | Gravitas: Will bird flu cause the next pandemic? Data showed that of the 35 million commercial egg-laying hens killed by bird flu this year, nearly half contracted the virus in the past three months. 61 people infected with bird flu so far this year According to the federal government, bird flu has infected 61 people in the US so far this year. The cases in humans have mostly been mild, though officials confirmed the first severe case last week in Louisiana. The patient from Louisiana was hospitalised in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard flock. (With inputs from agencies)

Bird flu crisis in US drives egg prices to an all-time high

Uttar Pradesh, India
In India's Uttar Pradesh, on Monday (Dec 23), officials from UP Police and Punjab police, in a joint operation, killed three Khalistani terrorists accused of attacking a police post in Punjab's Gurdaspur district.
The operation took place in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit. The three pro-Khalistani terrorists have been identified as Gurvinder Singh (25), Virender Singh alias Ravi (23), and Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh (18), members of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), a banned terror outfit. The three men were shot down after they allegedly fired at the police party.
News agency ANI on X shared the pictures of the three terrorists.
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Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar tweets "In a resolute step towards ensuring national security, UP Police, in collaboration with Punjab Police, successfully neutralized a Pak-sponsored terror module of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). The coordinated operation led to an… <a href="https://t.co/L49CHpithH">pic.twitter.com/L49CHpithH</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1871080095571661179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-suspected-pakistan-trained-terrorist-with-tehreek-ul-mujahideen-links-arrested-in-bengal-786049">India: Suspected Pakistan-trained terrorist with Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen links arrested in Bengal</a>
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A Unified Front Against Terror: UP Police &amp; Punjab Police Foil Khalistan Zindabad Force Module
In a resolute step towards ensuring national security, UP Police, in collaboration with Punjab Police, successfully neutralized a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pak</a>-sponsored terror module of the Khalistan Zindabad… <a href="https://t.co/QQBqjvzpjB">pic.twitter.com/QQBqjvzpjB</a>
— DGP UP (@dgpup) <a href="https://twitter.com/dgpup/status/1871062969754284313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Pakistan sponsored terrorism</h2>
Taking to X, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the encounter was a "major breakthrough against Pak (Pakistan) sponsored" Khalistan Zindabad Force terror module.
DGP Yadav said that the operation took place in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit. He revealed that the three men were "involved in the grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur".
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In a major breakthrough against a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pak</a>-sponsored Khalistan Zindabad Force(KZF) terror module, a joint operation of UP Police and Punjab Police has led to an encounter with three module members who fired at the police party.
This terror module is involved in grenade attacks at…
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1871038117735702901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Investigations are in progress to unveil the entire terror module," he added.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/priyanka-gandhi-bag-controversy-bjp-mocks-congress-mp-gifts-her-bag-featuring-1984-in-red-dripping-ink-785522">Priyanka Gandhi bag controversy: BJP mocks Congress MP, 'gifts' her bag featuring '1984' in red dripping ink</a>
Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (Law and Order), Uttar Pradesh Police said "The three sustained serious injuries in the encounter and were immediately rushed to CHC Puranpur for treatment."
During the operation, police officials seized two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols, and a huge cache of ammunition from the terrorists, he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

Taking to X, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the encounter was a "major breakthrough against Pak (Pakistan) sponsored" Khalistan Zindabad Force terror module



Uttar Pradesh, India In India's Uttar Pradesh, on Monday (Dec 23), officials from UP Police and Punjab police, in a joint operation, killed three Khalistani terrorists accused of attacking a police post in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. The operation took place in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit. The three pro-Khalistani terrorists have been identified as Gurvinder Singh (25), Virender Singh alias Ravi (23), and Jaspreet Singh alias Pratap Singh (18), members of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), a banned terror outfit. The three men were shot down after they allegedly fired at the police party. News agency ANI on X shared the pictures of the three terrorists. Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar tweets "In a resolute step towards ensuring national security, UP Police, in collaboration with Punjab Police, successfully neutralized a Pak-sponsored terror module of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF). The coordinated operation led to an… pic.twitter.com/L49CHpithH — ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2024 × Also read | India: Suspected Pakistan-trained terrorist with Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen links arrested in Bengal A Unified Front Against Terror: UP Police & Punjab Police Foil Khalistan Zindabad Force Module In a resolute step towards ensuring national security, UP Police, in collaboration with Punjab Police, successfully neutralized a #Pak-sponsored terror module of the Khalistan Zindabad… pic.twitter.com/QQBqjvzpjB — DGP UP (@dgpup) December 23, 2024 × Pakistan sponsored terrorism Taking to X, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the encounter was a "major breakthrough against Pak (Pakistan) sponsored" Khalistan Zindabad Force terror module. DGP Yadav said that the operation took place in the jurisdiction of PS Puranpur, Pilibhit. He revealed that the three men were "involved in the grenade attack on a police post in Gurdaspur". In a major breakthrough against a #Pak-sponsored Khalistan Zindabad Force(KZF) terror module, a joint operation of UP Police and Punjab Police has led to an encounter with three module members who fired at the police party. This terror module is involved in grenade attacks at… — DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) December 23, 2024 × Investigations are in progress to unveil the entire terror module," he added. Also read | Priyanka Gandhi bag controversy: BJP mocks Congress MP, 'gifts' her bag featuring '1984' in red dripping ink Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (Law and Order), Uttar Pradesh Police said "The three sustained serious injuries in the encounter and were immediately rushed to CHC Puranpur for treatment." During the operation, police officials seized two AK-47 rifles, two Glock pistols, and a huge cache of ammunition from the terrorists, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Three Pak-sponsored terrorists linked to banned 'Khalistan Zindabad Force' killed in encounter in UP

New Delhi, India
Telangana Police on Sunday (Dec 22) revealed that actor Allu Arjun refused to exit the Hyderabad theatre on December 4 after he was informed that a woman had died in the chaos outside. Arjun was at the theatre for the premiere of Pushpa 2 and the crowd surged to catch a glimpse of the actor which resulted in a stampede-like situation. 
This comes a day after Arjun said that he had left Sandhya Theatre as soon as he learned “about the problem outside.”
On Sunday, police released footage with timestamps indicating that the actor remained in the theatre until nearly midnight, alleging that he ignored police requests to leave.
During a press conference, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner C V Anand made a video presentation of the sequence of events leading to the stampede and its aftermath.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/allu-arjuns-home-vandalised-in-hyderabad-case-registered-against-six-786092">Allu Arjun's home vandalised in Hyderabad, case registered against six</a>
What happened at the Hyderabad theatre during Pushpa 2 screening
Chikkadapally Zone ACP Ramesh Kumar said the theatre manager had not initially allowed police to speak to Arjun, insisting that he would convey the police’s message to the actor.
According to the ACP, however, as Arjun did not leave, police then approached his manager and told him about the death of the woman and the critical injuries suffered by her nine-year-old son. But the manager also did not heed their request, the officer said.
“When we finally managed to go near Arjun and informed him about the woman’s death and the condition of the boy, as well as the chaos outside, he still refused to leave, saying he would go after watching the movie,” the ACP said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/allu-arjun-on-criticism-after-pushpa-2-stampede-says-baseless-claims-have-been-made-785861">Allu Arjun responds to criticism after Pushpa 2 stampede, says 'baseless claims have been made...'</a>
Close to midnight, as the situation outside the theatre turned more chaotic with fans pushing each other to catch a glimpse of the star, the DCP and ACP forced their way inside and told the actor to leave. “The actor did not heed police requests to leave so that the situation could be controlled. Doesn’t this video footage make it clear what transpired? Police officers, even seniors, faced several challenges to approach the actor and get him to leave,” the Commissioner said.
The footage was reportedly acquired from various sources, including social media and put together.
He also said Arjun’s security pushed and shoved people, including policemen.
“I take this opportunity to warn the bouncers hired by celebrities that they will be held accountable and responsible for their behaviour. I am issuing a stern warning to the bouncers and the agencies employing them that if any one of them touches or pushes a policeman in uniform or common citizens, strict action will be taken against them. We have seen how the bouncers behaved at the Sandhya Theatre, pushing and shoving people, even policemen on duty there… The celebrities are also responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers they hire,” the Commissioner said.
“We are taking legal advice on how to take this case forward,” he said.

On Sunday, police released footage with timestamps indicating that the actor remained in the theatre until nearly midnight, alleging that he ignored police requests to leave.



New Delhi, India Telangana Police on Sunday (Dec 22) revealed that actor Allu Arjun refused to exit the Hyderabad theatre on December 4 after he was informed that a woman had died in the chaos outside. Arjun was at the theatre for the premiere of Pushpa 2 and the crowd surged to catch a glimpse of the actor which resulted in a stampede-like situation. This comes a day after Arjun said that he had left Sandhya Theatre as soon as he learned “about the problem outside.” On Sunday, police released footage with timestamps indicating that the actor remained in the theatre until nearly midnight, alleging that he ignored police requests to leave. During a press conference, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner C V Anand made a video presentation of the sequence of events leading to the stampede and its aftermath. Also read: Allu Arjun's home vandalised in Hyderabad, case registered against six What happened at the Hyderabad theatre during Pushpa 2 screening Chikkadapally Zone ACP Ramesh Kumar said the theatre manager had not initially allowed police to speak to Arjun, insisting that he would convey the police’s message to the actor. According to the ACP, however, as Arjun did not leave, police then approached his manager and told him about the death of the woman and the critical injuries suffered by her nine-year-old son. But the manager also did not heed their request, the officer said. “When we finally managed to go near Arjun and informed him about the woman’s death and the condition of the boy, as well as the chaos outside, he still refused to leave, saying he would go after watching the movie,” the ACP said. Also read: Allu Arjun responds to criticism after Pushpa 2 stampede, says 'baseless claims have been made...' Close to midnight, as the situation outside the theatre turned more chaotic with fans pushing each other to catch a glimpse of the star, the DCP and ACP forced their way inside and told the actor to leave. “The actor did not heed police requests to leave so that the situation could be controlled. Doesn’t this video footage make it clear what transpired? Police officers, even seniors, faced several challenges to approach the actor and get him to leave,” the Commissioner said. The footage was reportedly acquired from various sources, including social media and put together. He also said Arjun’s security pushed and shoved people, including policemen. “I take this opportunity to warn the bouncers hired by celebrities that they will be held accountable and responsible for their behaviour. I am issuing a stern warning to the bouncers and the agencies employing them that if any one of them touches or pushes a policeman in uniform or common citizens, strict action will be taken against them. We have seen how the bouncers behaved at the Sandhya Theatre, pushing and shoving people, even policemen on duty there… The celebrities are also responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers they hire,” the Commissioner said. “We are taking legal advice on how to take this case forward,” he said.

Allu Arjun refused to leave Hyderabad theatre after learning about woman's death, alleges police

New Delhi
India and Pakistan are set to face off each other on February 23 in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 Group A fixture in UAE. The development comes after UAE was finalized as the venue for India's matches post much debate as reported by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo.
India and Pakistan were in deadlock after the Board on Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to security concerns. The impasse lasted weeks as Pakistan was firm in its demand to host the entire tournament and rejected the hybrid model.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-katich-reacts-to-virat-kohli-and-ravindra-jadejas-sour-moments-with-media-before-boxing-day-test-786112">Katich reacts to Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja's sour moments with media before Boxing Day Test</a>
The tussle was settled after both boards agreed to not travel to each other's country for the ICC tournaments till 2027. The drama ended with the UAE being selected as the neutral venue for India to play its matches, including the semi-final and the final if they make it that far.
"The PCB has picked the UAE as a neutral venue for the Champions Trophy," PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said, as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
India are in Group A along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand. They start their campaign vs Bangladesh on February 20 before facing Pakistan. Their last league game against New Zealand will be played on March 2.
The first semi-final will be played on March 4 and the final is scheduled on March 9—both in the UAE if India make it, else these matches will be played in Pakistan.
As for Pakistan, the defending champions kickoff their campaign against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19 before facing India in UAE. Their last group-stage fixture is against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi.
The eight-team tournament has Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan in Group B. All of their fixtures will be played across three venues in Pakistan - Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The second semi-final on March 5, which has a reserve day, will also be played in Pakistan.

India and Pakistan were in deadlock after the Board on Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to security concerns. The impasse lasted weeks as Pakistan was firm in its demand to host the entire tournament and rejected the hybrid model.



New Delhi India and Pakistan are set to face off each other on February 23 in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 Group A fixture in UAE. The development comes after UAE was finalized as the venue for India's matches post much debate as reported by cricket news website ESPNCricinfo. India and Pakistan were in deadlock after the Board on Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to security concerns. The impasse lasted weeks as Pakistan was firm in its demand to host the entire tournament and rejected the hybrid model. Also Read: Katich reacts to Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja's sour moments with media before Boxing Day Test The tussle was settled after both boards agreed to not travel to each other's country for the ICC tournaments till 2027. The drama ended with the UAE being selected as the neutral venue for India to play its matches, including the semi-final and the final if they make it that far. "The PCB has picked the UAE as a neutral venue for the Champions Trophy," PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. India are in Group A along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and New Zealand. They start their campaign vs Bangladesh on February 20 before facing Pakistan. Their last league game against New Zealand will be played on March 2. The first semi-final will be played on March 4 and the final is scheduled on March 9—both in the UAE if India make it, else these matches will be played in Pakistan. As for Pakistan, the defending champions kickoff their campaign against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19 before facing India in UAE. Their last group-stage fixture is against Bangladesh on February 27 in Rawalpindi. The eight-team tournament has Australia, South Africa, England and Afghanistan in Group B. All of their fixtures will be played across three venues in Pakistan - Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore. The second semi-final on March 5, which has a reserve day, will also be played in Pakistan.

Champions Trophy 2025: India vs Pakistan on February 23 in UAE - check other details inside

OTTAWA
Canadian National Railway (CN) workers, represented by Unifor, have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, the union announced on Sunday, successfully averting potential industrial action that could have disrupted one of Canada's vital transportation networks.
The agreement, which affects more than 3,000 workers across CN's Council 4000 and Local 100 committees, marks a significant development in labour relations within Canada's railway sector. The deal encompasses comprehensive improvements to wages and benefits, whilst incorporating crucial job protection measures for employees working at CN terminals and headquarters throughout Canada.
This ratification follows months of strategic negotiations that began in September 2023, when Unifor initiated discussions with CN Rail. The union entered these talks with clear objectives, primarily focusing on securing enhanced wages, addressing various pension plan concerns, and establishing stronger job security provisions for its membership.
The successful conclusion of these negotiations carries particular significance, as it comes in the wake of Unifor members having previously authorised strike action if an agreement had not been reached by 1st January. This authorisation had highlighted the determination of workers to achieve their bargaining objectives and underscored the potential economic implications of a work stoppage in Canada's railway sector.
Unifor National President Lana Payne emphasised the importance of the agreement, stating, "This agreement secures important gains that reflect the critical contributions of Unifor members to CN's operations." The statement underlines the union's success in achieving its key negotiating objectives whilst recognising the essential role its members play in CN's operations.
The significance of this agreement extends beyond the immediate parties involved. Canada, as the world's second-largest country by geographical area, relies heavily on its railway network for the transportation of a vast array of commodities and goods. The railway system serves as a crucial artery for the nation's economy, connecting diverse regions and facilitating both domestic and international trade.
The ratification of this agreement helps ensure the continued smooth operation of this vital transportation infrastructure, providing stability for both the workforce and the broader Canadian economy. It represents a balanced approach to addressing worker concerns whilst maintaining the operational efficiency of one of North America's largest railway networks.
The new collective agreement, which was initially reached as a tentative deal earlier this month, demonstrates the effectiveness of collective bargaining in achieving mutually beneficial outcomes for both labour and management in critical infrastructure sectors. The successful conclusion of these negotiations provides a framework for labour relations in the Canadian railway sector for the next four years.

Unifor's 3,000-plus railway workers secure new contract with CN Rail, featuring improved wages and enhanced job protection measures



OTTAWA Canadian National Railway (CN) workers, represented by Unifor, have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, the union announced on Sunday, successfully averting potential industrial action that could have disrupted one of Canada's vital transportation networks. The agreement, which affects more than 3,000 workers across CN's Council 4000 and Local 100 committees, marks a significant development in labour relations within Canada's railway sector. The deal encompasses comprehensive improvements to wages and benefits, whilst incorporating crucial job protection measures for employees working at CN terminals and headquarters throughout Canada. This ratification follows months of strategic negotiations that began in September 2023, when Unifor initiated discussions with CN Rail. The union entered these talks with clear objectives, primarily focusing on securing enhanced wages, addressing various pension plan concerns, and establishing stronger job security provisions for its membership. The successful conclusion of these negotiations carries particular significance, as it comes in the wake of Unifor members having previously authorised strike action if an agreement had not been reached by 1st January. This authorisation had highlighted the determination of workers to achieve their bargaining objectives and underscored the potential economic implications of a work stoppage in Canada's railway sector. Unifor National President Lana Payne emphasised the importance of the agreement, stating, "This agreement secures important gains that reflect the critical contributions of Unifor members to CN's operations." The statement underlines the union's success in achieving its key negotiating objectives whilst recognising the essential role its members play in CN's operations. The significance of this agreement extends beyond the immediate parties involved. Canada, as the world's second-largest country by geographical area, relies heavily on its railway network for the transportation of a vast array of commodities and goods. The railway system serves as a crucial artery for the nation's economy, connecting diverse regions and facilitating both domestic and international trade. The ratification of this agreement helps ensure the continued smooth operation of this vital transportation infrastructure, providing stability for both the workforce and the broader Canadian economy. It represents a balanced approach to addressing worker concerns whilst maintaining the operational efficiency of one of North America's largest railway networks. The new collective agreement, which was initially reached as a tentative deal earlier this month, demonstrates the effectiveness of collective bargaining in achieving mutually beneficial outcomes for both labour and management in critical infrastructure sectors. The successful conclusion of these negotiations provides a framework for labour relations in the Canadian railway sector for the next four years.

Canadian National Railway workers approve four-year labour agreement

Brasília, Brazil
A bridge connecting two states in Brazil's northern and northeastern regions collapsed on Sunday as vehicles were crossing, killing at least one person and spilling sulfuric acid into the Tocantins River.
The National Department of Transport Infrastructure said the central span of the 533-metre (0.3-mile) bridge, linking the cities of Estreito in Maranhao state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state, gave away in the afternoon. A tanker truck carrying the acid plunged into the water, officials said.
According to the fire department, one person has been confirmed dead and another was rescued alive.
Aguiarnopolis city councilman Elias Junior was recording a video asking authorities to fix problems with the bridge, which he said could no longer handle the heavy trucks passing over it. As he pointed to a large crack on the shoulder of the bridge, the structure collapsed in front of him, causing him to run backwards. Reuters could not immediately independently verify the video. Junior did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/one-dead-nine-injured-after-portion-of-under-construction-bridge-collapses-in-indias-bihar-702933">Brazil floods destroy nearly 100,000 homes, death toll surpasses 100</a>
Preliminary estimates indicate at least 11 people were involved in the accident with two trucks, a car, and a motorcycle falling into the river, which is more than 50 metres (164 feet) deep. By early evening, rescue divers halted their efforts after identifying that one submerged tanker was leaking sulfuric acid, said the fire department from Tocantins.
The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, inaugurated in 1960, was built with reinforced concrete and is part of the BR-226 highway, connecting the federal capital, Brasilia, to Belem, a northern city set to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference next year.
Watch | India: CCTV footage captures the moment Gujarat bridge collapsed
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/files/2022/10/31/3110_WION_SHORT_Gujarat_Bridge_Collapsed-1667198410-00000003.jpg&videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/3110_WION_SHORT_Gujarat_Bridge_Collapsed.mp4/index.m3u8&duration=46&tags=india,Gujarat,cable,bridge,WION" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
(With inputs from agencies)

The National Department of Transport Infrastructure said the central span of the 533-metre (0.3-mile) bridge, linking the cities of Estreito in Maranhao state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state, gave away in the afternoon.



Brasília, Brazil A bridge connecting two states in Brazil's northern and northeastern regions collapsed on Sunday as vehicles were crossing, killing at least one person and spilling sulfuric acid into the Tocantins River. The National Department of Transport Infrastructure said the central span of the 533-metre (0.3-mile) bridge, linking the cities of Estreito in Maranhao state and Aguiarnopolis in Tocantins state, gave away in the afternoon. A tanker truck carrying the acid plunged into the water, officials said. According to the fire department, one person has been confirmed dead and another was rescued alive. Aguiarnopolis city councilman Elias Junior was recording a video asking authorities to fix problems with the bridge, which he said could no longer handle the heavy trucks passing over it. As he pointed to a large crack on the shoulder of the bridge, the structure collapsed in front of him, causing him to run backwards. Reuters could not immediately independently verify the video. Junior did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Also Read: Brazil floods destroy nearly 100,000 homes, death toll surpasses 100 Preliminary estimates indicate at least 11 people were involved in the accident with two trucks, a car, and a motorcycle falling into the river, which is more than 50 metres (164 feet) deep. By early evening, rescue divers halted their efforts after identifying that one submerged tanker was leaking sulfuric acid, said the fire department from Tocantins. The Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira Bridge, inaugurated in 1960, was built with reinforced concrete and is part of the BR-226 highway, connecting the federal capital, Brasilia, to Belem, a northern city set to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference next year. Watch | India: CCTV footage captures the moment Gujarat bridge collapsed (With inputs from agencies)

Bridge collapse in Brazil: Sulfuric acid spills into river, triggers ecological crisis 

BEIJING
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio has announced plans to launch its new Firefly brand in European markets during the first half of 2025, despite facing challenges from recently imposed European Union tariffs. The announcement, made on Sunday, reveals the company's strategy to maintain its expansion into European markets through local partnerships for sales and service operations.
Nio's Chief Executive Officer, William Li, acknowledged during a press conference in Guangzhou that the EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles would impact Firefly's market position. The tariffs, implemented by the European Commission in October, have created additional challenges for Chinese manufacturers seeking to expand their presence in European markets.
Despite these obstacles, Li expressed confidence in Firefly's market prospects, citing the brand's foundation in smart EV technologies developed through Nio's decade-long investment in the sector. "Even so, Firefly is very competitive because it is a product developed with real smart EV technologies", Li stated, whilst acknowledging that the brand would have had "better chance in the market" without the tariffs.
The Firefly brand, unveiled on Saturday, has been positioned as a direct competitor to established European compact electric vehicles, specifically targeting the market segment occupied by Mercedes' Smart and BMW's Mini brands. The initiative was originally conceived as a strategy to increase Nio's market share in Europe before the implementation of the EU tariffs.
In addition to the vehicle launch, Nio has outlined plans to accelerate the deployment of its battery swapping infrastructure across Europe. The company plans to implement a more cost-effective approach, with Li announcing that Firefly's battery swapping stations will be constructed at a third of the cost of those serving Nio-branded vehicles in Europe. The company is actively seeking local partnerships to support this infrastructure expansion, recognising that charging infrastructure remains a significant constraint on global electric vehicle adoption.
The development comes at a time when the electric vehicle market is experiencing a slowdown in growth globally, with infrastructure limitations being identified as a key factor. Nio's strategy to address this through more economical battery swapping stations represents an attempt to overcome one of the primary obstacles to EV adoption in European markets.
The company's commitment to pursuing European expansion, despite the additional costs imposed by tariffs, demonstrates the strategic importance of the European market to Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. Through local partnerships and infrastructure development, Nio aims to establish a sustainable presence in Europe whilst adapting to regulatory challenges.

Chinese automaker Nio announces plans to introduce its new Firefly electric vehicle brand to European markets in early 2025, positioning it as a competitor to Mercedes' Smart and BMW's Mini

 



BEIJING Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio has announced plans to launch its new Firefly brand in European markets during the first half of 2025, despite facing challenges from recently imposed European Union tariffs. The announcement, made on Sunday, reveals the company's strategy to maintain its expansion into European markets through local partnerships for sales and service operations. Nio's Chief Executive Officer, William Li, acknowledged during a press conference in Guangzhou that the EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles would impact Firefly's market position. The tariffs, implemented by the European Commission in October, have created additional challenges for Chinese manufacturers seeking to expand their presence in European markets. Despite these obstacles, Li expressed confidence in Firefly's market prospects, citing the brand's foundation in smart EV technologies developed through Nio's decade-long investment in the sector. "Even so, Firefly is very competitive because it is a product developed with real smart EV technologies", Li stated, whilst acknowledging that the brand would have had "better chance in the market" without the tariffs. The Firefly brand, unveiled on Saturday, has been positioned as a direct competitor to established European compact electric vehicles, specifically targeting the market segment occupied by Mercedes' Smart and BMW's Mini brands. The initiative was originally conceived as a strategy to increase Nio's market share in Europe before the implementation of the EU tariffs. In addition to the vehicle launch, Nio has outlined plans to accelerate the deployment of its battery swapping infrastructure across Europe. The company plans to implement a more cost-effective approach, with Li announcing that Firefly's battery swapping stations will be constructed at a third of the cost of those serving Nio-branded vehicles in Europe. The company is actively seeking local partnerships to support this infrastructure expansion, recognising that charging infrastructure remains a significant constraint on global electric vehicle adoption. The development comes at a time when the electric vehicle market is experiencing a slowdown in growth globally, with infrastructure limitations being identified as a key factor. Nio's strategy to address this through more economical battery swapping stations represents an attempt to overcome one of the primary obstacles to EV adoption in European markets. The company's commitment to pursuing European expansion, despite the additional costs imposed by tariffs, demonstrates the strategic importance of the European market to Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. Through local partnerships and infrastructure development, Nio aims to establish a sustainable presence in Europe whilst adapting to regulatory challenges.

Nio to launch budget EV brand Firefly in Europe despite EU tariffs

Tokyo, Japan
In the 125 cc commuter motorcycle segment, Honda Motorcycle &amp; Scooter India (HMSI) has launched the next generation SP125, defining new benchmarks. The new SP125 is compliant with upcoming OBD2B emission regulations and is sporty by design, using modern tech, loaded with all the current market goodies a rider would need in today's tech-savvy world. The ex showroom price of the car is starting from INR 91,771 (Delhi).  
Speaking at the launch, Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President, and CEO of HMSI, expressed excitement about the introduction of the updated model. “The new OBD2B-compliant SP125 showcases our commitment to customer satisfaction by delivering value and innovation in the 125cc segment,” he said.  
Yogesh Mathur, Director of Sales and Marketing at HMSI, highlighted the SP125’s consistent appeal. “With advanced features like Bluetooth navigation, voice assist, and USB Type-C charging, the SP125 is designed to meet the demands of modern riders. Its stylish updates will undoubtedly captivate the youth and redefine the segment,” Mathur added.  
Features and Upgrades
The new SP125 is sportier than ever, with aggressive tank shrouds, a chrome muffler cover, new graphics and an all LED headlamp and taillamp. On the motorcycle, instead of a full instrument cluster, there's now a 4.2-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity and the Honda RoadSync app allows navigation and voice assist. Furthermore, a USB Type-C port allows for charging of on the go devices.  
The SP125 is powered by a 124cc single cylinder fuel injected engine which is OBD2B compliant. It is drives 8 kw of power and 10.9 Nm of torque with a 5 speed gearbox and an idling stop system to be more efficient.  
Pricing, Variants and Availability
The 2025 SP125 is available in two variants—Drum and Disc with prices of ₹91,771 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and ₹1,00,284 (ex-showroom, Delhi), respectively. Customers can choose from five striking colors: Imperial Red Metallic, Matt Marvel Blue Metallic, Pearl Siren Blue, Pearl Igneous Black and Matt Axis Grey Metallic.  
Now available across HMSI dealerships nationwide, the new SP125 also holds promise of combining style, innovation and affordability when it comes to meeting Indian riders’ requirements.

The new Honda SP125 is sportier than ever, with aggressive tank shrouds, a chrome muffler cover, new graphics and an all LED headlamp and taillamp.

 



Tokyo, Japan In the 125 cc commuter motorcycle segment, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has launched the next generation SP125, defining new benchmarks. The new SP125 is compliant with upcoming OBD2B emission regulations and is sporty by design, using modern tech, loaded with all the current market goodies a rider would need in today's tech-savvy world. The ex showroom price of the car is starting from INR 91,771 (Delhi). Speaking at the launch, Tsutsumu Otani, Managing Director, President, and CEO of HMSI, expressed excitement about the introduction of the updated model. “The new OBD2B-compliant SP125 showcases our commitment to customer satisfaction by delivering value and innovation in the 125cc segment,” he said. Yogesh Mathur, Director of Sales and Marketing at HMSI, highlighted the SP125’s consistent appeal. “With advanced features like Bluetooth navigation, voice assist, and USB Type-C charging, the SP125 is designed to meet the demands of modern riders. Its stylish updates will undoubtedly captivate the youth and redefine the segment,” Mathur added. Features and Upgrades The new SP125 is sportier than ever, with aggressive tank shrouds, a chrome muffler cover, new graphics and an all LED headlamp and taillamp. On the motorcycle, instead of a full instrument cluster, there's now a 4.2-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity and the Honda RoadSync app allows navigation and voice assist. Furthermore, a USB Type-C port allows for charging of on the go devices. The SP125 is powered by a 124cc single cylinder fuel injected engine which is OBD2B compliant. It is drives 8 kw of power and 10.9 Nm of torque with a 5 speed gearbox and an idling stop system to be more efficient. Pricing, Variants and Availability The 2025 SP125 is available in two variants—Drum and Disc with prices of ₹91,771 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and ₹1,00,284 (ex-showroom, Delhi), respectively. Customers can choose from five striking colors: Imperial Red Metallic, Matt Marvel Blue Metallic, Pearl Siren Blue, Pearl Igneous Black and Matt Axis Grey Metallic. Now available across HMSI dealerships nationwide, the new SP125 also holds promise of combining style, innovation and affordability when it comes to meeting Indian riders’ requirements.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India unveils 2025 SP125 at INR 91,771

DETROIT
Stellantis announced late Saturday that it has cancelled plans to lay off approximately 1,100 employees at its Ohio Jeep manufacturing facility, a decision that comes less than three weeks after the unexpected resignation of Chief Executive Carlos Tavares. The Franco-Italian automaker confirmed that workers at the Toledo South Assembly Plant will return to their posts as scheduled following the new year.
The company, which ranks as the world's fourth-largest automaker, has opted to extend a worker adjustment and retraining notification notice rather than proceed with the indefinite layoffs that were originally scheduled to begin on 5th January. This reversal represents a significant change in direction for the manufacturer of Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot vehicles.
Sources close to the matter revealed that Tavares' departure was prompted by disagreements over targets that certain board members considered either unrealistic or potentially damaging to the company. Under Tavares' leadership, Stellantis had placed considerable emphasis on cost-reduction measures across its operations.
The initial layoff announcement at the Toledo facility, which produces the Jeep Gladiator, was part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and reduce inventory levels throughout the company's North American operations. The region has historically been a significant profit centre for Stellantis, largely due to strong sales of its Jeep and Ram vehicles, though recent sales figures have shown decline.
This is not the first instance of workforce reduction within Stellantis' North American operations. The company had previously announced the indefinite layoff of 400 workers at a Detroit automotive parts facility. Additionally, in August, the company revealed plans to lay off up to 2,450 factory workers at a Michigan facility following the cessation of Ram 1500 Classic truck production.
Whilst Stellantis has implemented workforce reductions among salaried employees through voluntary buyout programmes, it is the manufacturing job cuts affecting United Auto Workers (UAW) union members that have drawn the most significant political attention. UAW President Shawn Fain has issued warnings of potential nationwide industrial action, asserting that Stellantis has failed to honour its commitments to the union. The company maintains that it is operating within the bounds of its contractual obligations.

Auto giant Stellantis reverses decision to lay off 1,100 Jeep plant workers in Toledo, marking significant shift after former CEO Carlos Tavares' sudden exit

 



DETROIT Stellantis announced late Saturday that it has cancelled plans to lay off approximately 1,100 employees at its Ohio Jeep manufacturing facility, a decision that comes less than three weeks after the unexpected resignation of Chief Executive Carlos Tavares. The Franco-Italian automaker confirmed that workers at the Toledo South Assembly Plant will return to their posts as scheduled following the new year. The company, which ranks as the world's fourth-largest automaker, has opted to extend a worker adjustment and retraining notification notice rather than proceed with the indefinite layoffs that were originally scheduled to begin on 5th January. This reversal represents a significant change in direction for the manufacturer of Jeep, Ram, Fiat, and Peugeot vehicles. Sources close to the matter revealed that Tavares' departure was prompted by disagreements over targets that certain board members considered either unrealistic or potentially damaging to the company. Under Tavares' leadership, Stellantis had placed considerable emphasis on cost-reduction measures across its operations. The initial layoff announcement at the Toledo facility, which produces the Jeep Gladiator, was part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and reduce inventory levels throughout the company's North American operations. The region has historically been a significant profit centre for Stellantis, largely due to strong sales of its Jeep and Ram vehicles, though recent sales figures have shown decline. This is not the first instance of workforce reduction within Stellantis' North American operations. The company had previously announced the indefinite layoff of 400 workers at a Detroit automotive parts facility. Additionally, in August, the company revealed plans to lay off up to 2,450 factory workers at a Michigan facility following the cessation of Ram 1500 Classic truck production. Whilst Stellantis has implemented workforce reductions among salaried employees through voluntary buyout programmes, it is the manufacturing job cuts affecting United Auto Workers (UAW) union members that have drawn the most significant political attention. UAW President Shawn Fain has issued warnings of potential nationwide industrial action, asserting that Stellantis has failed to honour its commitments to the union. The company maintains that it is operating within the bounds of its contractual obligations.

Stellantis cancels planned Ohio layoffs following CEO's departure

Sydney, Australia
Australia on Monday (Dec 23) took the decision to extradite Daniel Edmund Duggan to the US. Duggan, an ex-US Marine pilot, had allegedly illegally trained China's military pilots. 
He was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the request of the US government, which has accused him of breaking American arms control laws.
<h2>What are the charges against him?</h2>
The US alleged that the ex-marine illegally trained Chinese military pilots at a test flight academy "based in South Africa, with a presence in the People's Republic of China" between 2010 and 2012. This, the country claims, happened after he left the Marines in 2002.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-his-bones-are-out-wife-of-american-hostage-pleads-with-negotiators-to-bring-husband-back-786159">Gaza war: ‘His bones are out,’ Wife of American hostage pleads with negotiators to bring husband back</a>
<h2>Government justification</h2>
Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said that Duggan "should be extradited to the United States to face prosecution for the offences of which he is accused".
"Duggan was given the opportunity to provide representations as to why he should not be surrendered to the United States. In arriving at my decision, I took into consideration all material in front of me," he added.
<h2>Family reacts</h2>
Duggan's family received formal notice of the decision on Friday in a terse letter that confirmed Duggan would be handed over to US authorities between December 30 and February 17. 
His wife, in a statement, said that the decision so close to Christmas was devastating.
"We are shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision which has been delivered just before Christmas with no explanation or justification from the government," Duggan's wife, Saffrine, said in a statement.
They also said that Duggan's legal team is reviewing potential legal options for appeal, "including requesting specific reasons for the government’s decision". 
"We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family," she added.
Duggan is expected to be extradited between December 30 and February 17, barring further legal interventions. For now, his family remains committed to fighting the decision, as the broader implications of the case continue to unfold on an international stage. 
(With inputs from agencies)

Daniel Edmund Duggan was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the request of the US government, which has accused him of breaking American arms control laws



Sydney, Australia Australia on Monday (Dec 23) took the decision to extradite Daniel Edmund Duggan to the US. Duggan, an ex-US Marine pilot, had allegedly illegally trained China's military pilots. He was arrested in Australia in October 2022 at the request of the US government, which has accused him of breaking American arms control laws. What are the charges against him? The US alleged that the ex-marine illegally trained Chinese military pilots at a test flight academy "based in South Africa, with a presence in the People's Republic of China" between 2010 and 2012. This, the country claims, happened after he left the Marines in 2002. Also read | Gaza war: ‘His bones are out,’ Wife of American hostage pleads with negotiators to bring husband back Government justification Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said that Duggan "should be extradited to the United States to face prosecution for the offences of which he is accused". "Duggan was given the opportunity to provide representations as to why he should not be surrendered to the United States. In arriving at my decision, I took into consideration all material in front of me," he added. Family reacts Duggan's family received formal notice of the decision on Friday in a terse letter that confirmed Duggan would be handed over to US authorities between December 30 and February 17. His wife, in a statement, said that the decision so close to Christmas was devastating. "We are shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this callous and inhumane decision which has been delivered just before Christmas with no explanation or justification from the government," Duggan's wife, Saffrine, said in a statement. They also said that Duggan's legal team is reviewing potential legal options for appeal, "including requesting specific reasons for the government’s decision". "We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family," she added. Duggan is expected to be extradited between December 30 and February 17, barring further legal interventions. For now, his family remains committed to fighting the decision, as the broader implications of the case continue to unfold on an international stage. (With inputs from agencies)

US ex-Marine to be extradited from Australia over charges of illegally training Chinese military pilots

New Delhi, India
Manu Bhaker has not been named in the Khel Ratna nominees list, i.e. India's highest sporting honour. A 12-member National Sports Day committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramam, did not recommend the shooter's name for the prestigious award despite her recent achievements at the Paris Olympics. Manu won two medals in the prestigious event in Paris, winning two bronze medals—one in the women's 10m air pistol event and the other with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m pistol event.
Reportedly, the Sports Ministry has claimed that the 22-year-old Manu did not apply for the award. However, Manu's father, Ramakrishna, revealed that they did apply for the honour but did not hear back from the committee.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-nba-nikola-jokic-helps-denver-nuggets-rally-for-overtime-win-vs-new-orleans-pelicans-786114">NBA: Nikola Jokic helps Denver Nuggets rally for overtime win vs New Orleans Pelicans</a>
Speaking to India Today, Ramakrishna opened up on the entire matter and said, “What's the point of getting two medals in a single Olympics if you have to beg for awards?” “One government official is deciding, and committee members are silent, not giving their opinion. I don't understand. Is this the way you are encouraging athletes?,” he asked.
"We applied for the award but have heard nothing from the committee. Why are parents encouraging their kids to play; they should push them to become IRS officers in government," he further added.
In Manu's case, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is responsible for recommending her for the list. It remains unclear if NRAI made the recommendation, however, her father confirmed that the application was made. 
Manu became the first-ever Indian athlete, post Independence, to win two individual medals in an Olympic edition. She won the Arjuna Award in 2020.

Manu Bhaker, the Paris Olympics' double medallist from India, has reportedly not been named in the Khel Ratna nominees' list.



New Delhi, India Manu Bhaker has not been named in the Khel Ratna nominees list, i.e. India's highest sporting honour. A 12-member National Sports Day committee, headed by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice V Ramasubramam, did not recommend the shooter's name for the prestigious award despite her recent achievements at the Paris Olympics. Manu won two medals in the prestigious event in Paris, winning two bronze medals—one in the women's 10m air pistol event and the other with Sarabjot Singh in the mixed 10m pistol event. Reportedly, the Sports Ministry has claimed that the 22-year-old Manu did not apply for the award. However, Manu's father, Ramakrishna, revealed that they did apply for the honour but did not hear back from the committee. Also read: NBA: Nikola Jokic helps Denver Nuggets rally for overtime win vs New Orleans Pelicans Speaking to India Today, Ramakrishna opened up on the entire matter and said, “What's the point of getting two medals in a single Olympics if you have to beg for awards?” “One government official is deciding, and committee members are silent, not giving their opinion. I don't understand. Is this the way you are encouraging athletes?,” he asked. "We applied for the award but have heard nothing from the committee. Why are parents encouraging their kids to play; they should push them to become IRS officers in government," he further added. In Manu's case, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is responsible for recommending her for the list. It remains unclear if NRAI made the recommendation, however, her father confirmed that the application was made. Manu became the first-ever Indian athlete, post Independence, to win two individual medals in an Olympic edition. She won the Arjuna Award in 2020.

Manu Bhaker, Paris Olympics' double medallist, not named in Khel Ratna nominees' list: Sources

Pune, India
At least two toddlers and a man were crushed to death on Monday (Dec 23) in a horrific accident in the Indian city of Pune as a speeding bumper veered onto the footpath and mowed down nine sleeping labourers. The incident happened at around 1 am IST at Wagholi near the Kesnand Phata. At least three people were instantly killed while six others sustained critical injuries.
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VIDEO | Maharashtra: At least three persons killed, and several others injured as a dumper runs over people sleeping on footpath in Pune. Visuals from the spot.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PuneNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PuneNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PuneAccident?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PuneAccident</a>
(Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/n147TvrpG7">https://t.co/n147TvrpG7</a>) <a href="https://t.co/DDCQ4FX5HM">pic.twitter.com/DDCQ4FX5HM</a>
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As per initial reports, the truck driver was drunk and lost control of the vehicle. The dumper is owned by Buildwell Enterprises and the accident happened when it was while going from Pune to Wagholi.
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News agency IANS reported citing locals that around a dozen workers had arrived at the scene on Sunday (Dec 22) to work at different construction sites in the region.
Local police have now launched an investigation into the accident.
The victims have been identified as one-year-old Vaibhavi Ritesh Pawar, her two-year-old brother Vaibhav Ritest Pawar, and a 30-year-old named Rinesh N. Pawar. All of them were sleeping next to each other when the dumper ran over them.
As soon as the accident occurred, locals rushed to help the victims and were able to send the six injured to a nearby hospital. When police arrived, they seized the dumper and cleared the footpath.
Watch: Jaipur Fire: 11 Killed, 35 Injured After Gas Tanker Collides With Multiple Vehicles
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People on social media vented their anger against the incident, blaming authorities for negligence. "Now will the administration ask driver to copy paste same essay on they give different topic?" one user quipped.
"Such a pitiful state of traffic violations and lawlessness in Wagholi. Why the hell are we paying taxes for your salary, you should be sleeping on footpath probably then some rules might work," a second user wrote on X tagging Pune administration.
(With inputs from agencies)

The incident happened at around 1 am IST at Wagholi near the Kesnand Phata. At least three people were instantly killed while six others sustained critical injuries.



Pune, India At least two toddlers and a man were crushed to death on Monday (Dec 23) in a horrific accident in the Indian city of Pune as a speeding bumper veered onto the footpath and mowed down nine sleeping labourers. The incident happened at around 1 am IST at Wagholi near the Kesnand Phata. At least three people were instantly killed while six others sustained critical injuries. VIDEO | Maharashtra: At least three persons killed, and several others injured as a dumper runs over people sleeping on footpath in Pune. Visuals from the spot.#PuneNews #PuneAccident (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/DDCQ4FX5HM — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2024 × As per initial reports, the truck driver was drunk and lost control of the vehicle. The dumper is owned by Buildwell Enterprises and the accident happened when it was while going from Pune to Wagholi. Also read: India, Australia hold two-week joint military exercise `AustraHind` in Pune News agency IANS reported citing locals that around a dozen workers had arrived at the scene on Sunday (Dec 22) to work at different construction sites in the region. Local police have now launched an investigation into the accident. The victims have been identified as one-year-old Vaibhavi Ritesh Pawar, her two-year-old brother Vaibhav Ritest Pawar, and a 30-year-old named Rinesh N. Pawar. All of them were sleeping next to each other when the dumper ran over them. As soon as the accident occurred, locals rushed to help the victims and were able to send the six injured to a nearby hospital. When police arrived, they seized the dumper and cleared the footpath. Watch: Jaipur Fire: 11 Killed, 35 Injured After Gas Tanker Collides With Multiple Vehicles × People on social media vented their anger against the incident, blaming authorities for negligence. "Now will the administration ask driver to copy paste same essay on they give different topic?" one user quipped. "Such a pitiful state of traffic violations and lawlessness in Wagholi. Why the hell are we paying taxes for your salary, you should be sleeping on footpath probably then some rules might work," a second user wrote on X tagging Pune administration. (With inputs from agencies)

Pune road tragedy: Speeding bumper mows down sleeping labourers, three dead

New Delhi, India 
The India-Australia Test series is currently poised at 1-1 after the first three Tests. A lot of drama has taken place off the field before the next encounter at the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), i.e. the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Virat Kohli confronted an Australian journalist after the reporter filmed a video of his family, without permission, irking the star batter. After a few days, Ravindra Jadeja was accused by the Australian media for not entertaining questions in English after a net session at the MCG, Melbourne.
Speaking about Kohli and Jadeja's sour moments with the media, in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test, former Australia batter Simon Katich feels it is all 'mind games', due to the 'enormity of the series'.
Katich said on Channel 7, "Obviously, there’s been a few things unfolding in the last week or so, that haven’t gone down well at that camp. It’s probably just the mind games being played, given the enormity of this series. "The media are here to promote the game and I don’t know what the Indians are thinking at the moment. That’s their problem,” he added.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/sa-vs-pak-history-made-wanderers-stadium-witnesses-birth-of-baby-boy-during-third-odi-in-jburg-786094">SA vs Pak: HISTORY MADE! Wanderers Stadium witnesses birth of baby boy during third ODI in J'burg</a>
Talking about Kohli's confrontation with the media, the former Indian captain argued with the media after a video of his family was captured, without permission, at the Melbourne airport. To this, he was caught saying on the camera, "With my kids, I need some privacy. You can't film without asking me."
On the other hand, Jadeja took a few questions from the Indian reporters post a net session in Melbourne before rushing to catch the team bus. Just then, an Australian reporter argued with the Indian team media manager, saying, "Can't we take one question in English?" While the manager replied saying, "This was organised mainly for the travelling Indian media." The reporter expressed his frustration, stating, "the organisation is hopeless."
The fourth and penultimate Test between India and Australia kicks off at the iconic MCG, Melbourne on Thursday (Dec 26).

BGT: Former Australian batter Simon Katich reacted to Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja's sour moments with the media before the Boxing Day Test. Here is what he said - 



New Delhi, India The India-Australia Test series is currently poised at 1-1 after the first three Tests. A lot of drama has taken place off the field before the next encounter at the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), i.e. the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Virat Kohli confronted an Australian journalist after the reporter filmed a video of his family, without permission, irking the star batter. After a few days, Ravindra Jadeja was accused by the Australian media for not entertaining questions in English after a net session at the MCG, Melbourne. Speaking about Kohli and Jadeja's sour moments with the media, in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test, former Australia batter Simon Katich feels it is all 'mind games', due to the 'enormity of the series'. Katich said on Channel 7, "Obviously, there’s been a few things unfolding in the last week or so, that haven’t gone down well at that camp. It’s probably just the mind games being played, given the enormity of this series. "The media are here to promote the game and I don’t know what the Indians are thinking at the moment. That’s their problem,” he added. Also read: SA vs Pak: HISTORY MADE! Wanderers Stadium witnesses birth of baby boy during third ODI in J'burg Talking about Kohli's confrontation with the media, the former Indian captain argued with the media after a video of his family was captured, without permission, at the Melbourne airport. To this, he was caught saying on the camera, "With my kids, I need some privacy. You can't film without asking me." On the other hand, Jadeja took a few questions from the Indian reporters post a net session in Melbourne before rushing to catch the team bus. Just then, an Australian reporter argued with the Indian team media manager, saying, "Can't we take one question in English?" While the manager replied saying, "This was organised mainly for the travelling Indian media." The reporter expressed his frustration, stating, "the organisation is hopeless." The fourth and penultimate Test between India and Australia kicks off at the iconic MCG, Melbourne on Thursday (Dec 26).

BGT: Katich reacts to Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja's sour moments with media before Boxing Day Test

New Delhi
The 55th Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting has sparked a major discussion around changes proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Let's take a closer look at the announcements made.
Key points
What's cheaper now?
- fortified rice kernels
- gene therapy
- food preparations for free distribution
- systems for long range surface-to-air missile assembly
- inspection equipment for atomic energy
- pepper &amp; raisins supplied by agriculturists

what's expensive now?
- old &amp; used vehicle (including EVs)
- ready-to-eat popcorn
- autoclaved aerated concrete blocks
- sponsorship services by corporates
- penalty-only appeals

Popcorns
For people who like to eat caramel popcorn, the meeting came with a relatively bitter plan. The caramelised popcorn (mixed with sugar) will now attract an 18 per cent GST. Meanwhile, pre-packed and ready-to-eat popcorn will attract a 12 per cent GST. The council has notified that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will provide further clarity on the current taxation rules for Popcorn. Under the current system, ready-to-eat popcorn will attract a 5 per cent GST if not pre-packaged or labelled. When mixed with sugar to make caramel popcorn, the rate jumps to 18 per cent.
Health Insurance
While no final statement has been made, a Group of Ministers (GOM) set up by the council suggested exempting insurance premiums paid for term life insurance policies from GST. Health insurance premiums paid by senior citizens could be exempted or face a reduced rate. The Finance Minister announced more contemplation over the same.
Automotives &amp; EVs
The government has announced a focus on promoting Electric Vehicles by imposing a 5 per cent tax on new EVs. The 18 per cent tax will be levied when a company purchases a used EV or when a seller modifies a used EV but no indirect tax. This 18 per cent GST will also apply to the margin value between the purchase price and the selling price of a used car. This marks a 6 per cent increase from previous rules.
Meanwhile, the council also decided to increase the GST rate on small petrol and diesel cars from 12 per cent to 18 per cent.
Adjustments on luxury &amp; essential goods
The council has decided to increase GST rates on luxury items such as high-end wristwatches and shoes. The change is projected to generate an additional Rs 22,000 crore annually. Meanwhile, the council has lowered GST rates on essential goods, including bicycles and large packs of packaged drinking water. This move aims to reduce household expenses.
Aviation Fuel
According to Sitharaman, state governments rejected the proposal to include aviation turbine fuel within GST framework. She said, "States did not feel comfortable. They didn't want the ATF because they say it as part of the crude petroleum diesel basket, and therefore they said that it alone cannot be taken out, and therefore that continues to remain where it is today".
Construction and agricultural goods
ACC blocks containing 50 per cent fly ash will attract a GST rate of 12 per cent. Additionally, black pepper and raisins are exempt from GST.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/money-wise-planning-to-become-a-sip-expert-here-are-some-golden-rules-to-reap-profits-785260">Money-Wise: Planning to become a SIP expert? Here are some golden rules to reap profits</a>

The 55th Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting has sparked a major discussion around changes proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.



New Delhi The 55th Goods and Services Tax (GST) council meeting has sparked a major discussion around changes proposed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Let's take a closer look at the announcements made. Key points What's cheaper now? - fortified rice kernels - gene therapy - food preparations for free distribution - systems for long range surface-to-air missile assembly - inspection equipment for atomic energy - pepper & raisins supplied by agriculturists what's expensive now? - old & used vehicle (including EVs) - ready-to-eat popcorn - autoclaved aerated concrete blocks - sponsorship services by corporates - penalty-only appeals Popcorns For people who like to eat caramel popcorn, the meeting came with a relatively bitter plan. The caramelised popcorn (mixed with sugar) will now attract an 18 per cent GST. Meanwhile, pre-packed and ready-to-eat popcorn will attract a 12 per cent GST. The council has notified that the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will provide further clarity on the current taxation rules for Popcorn. Under the current system, ready-to-eat popcorn will attract a 5 per cent GST if not pre-packaged or labelled. When mixed with sugar to make caramel popcorn, the rate jumps to 18 per cent. Health Insurance While no final statement has been made, a Group of Ministers (GOM) set up by the council suggested exempting insurance premiums paid for term life insurance policies from GST. Health insurance premiums paid by senior citizens could be exempted or face a reduced rate. The Finance Minister announced more contemplation over the same. Automotives & EVs The government has announced a focus on promoting Electric Vehicles by imposing a 5 per cent tax on new EVs. The 18 per cent tax will be levied when a company purchases a used EV or when a seller modifies a used EV but no indirect tax. This 18 per cent GST will also apply to the margin value between the purchase price and the selling price of a used car. This marks a 6 per cent increase from previous rules. Meanwhile, the council also decided to increase the GST rate on small petrol and diesel cars from 12 per cent to 18 per cent. Adjustments on luxury & essential goods The council has decided to increase GST rates on luxury items such as high-end wristwatches and shoes. The change is projected to generate an additional Rs 22,000 crore annually. Meanwhile, the council has lowered GST rates on essential goods, including bicycles and large packs of packaged drinking water. This move aims to reduce household expenses. Aviation Fuel According to Sitharaman, state governments rejected the proposal to include aviation turbine fuel within GST framework. She said, "States did not feel comfortable. They didn't want the ATF because they say it as part of the crude petroleum diesel basket, and therefore they said that it alone cannot be taken out, and therefore that continues to remain where it is today". Construction and agricultural goods ACC blocks containing 50 per cent fly ash will attract a GST rate of 12 per cent. Additionally, black pepper and raisins are exempt from GST. Also read: Money-Wise: Planning to become a SIP expert? Here are some golden rules to reap profits

55th GST council meeting: key discussion points

New Delhi, India 
In India's Uttar Pradesh, a joint operation took place on Monday (Dec 23), neutralising three Khalistani terrorists accused of attacking a police post in the Gurdaspur district. In other news, the aid group Oxfam revealed on Sunday (Dec 22) that in the last two-and-a-half months, since October, only 12 trucks distributed aid in northern Gaza.
Meanwhile, in New York, a female passenger was set ablaze by another passenger while she was sleeping. The man who committed the crime was caught on CCTV and has been detained by the police. 
Click on the headlines to read more
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/only-12-aid-trucks-reached-starving-civilians-in-northern-gaza-since-october-reveals-oxfam-786062">Only 12 aid trucks reached starving civilians in northern Gaza since October, reveals Oxfam</a>
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As the global community raises the alarm over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, in the last two-and-a-half months, since October, only 12 trucks distributed in northern Gaza revealed Oxfam on Sunday (Dec 22).
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In New York, on Sunday (Dec 22), a female subway passenger was set on fire by another passenger, while she slept. The man who committed this heinous crime was captured on CCTV and has been apprehended by the New York police.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-sriram-krishnan-chennai-born-techie-tapped-by-trump-for-top-ai-adviser-role-786068">Who is Sriram Krishnan, Chennai-born techie tapped by Trump for top AI adviser role?</a>
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US President-elect Donald Trump Sunday (Dec 22) tapped Indian American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan for the role of Senior White House Policy Adviser on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Watch | Syria's New Leader Says All Weapons To Come Under 'State Control'
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Good morning! Start your day with WION's daily news brief. 



New Delhi, India In India's Uttar Pradesh, a joint operation took place on Monday (Dec 23), neutralising three Khalistani terrorists accused of attacking a police post in the Gurdaspur district. In other news, the aid group Oxfam revealed on Sunday (Dec 22) that in the last two-and-a-half months, since October, only 12 trucks distributed aid in northern Gaza. Meanwhile, in New York, a female passenger was set ablaze by another passenger while she was sleeping. The man who committed the crime was caught on CCTV and has been detained by the police. Click on the headlines to read more Only 12 aid trucks reached starving civilians in northern Gaza since October, reveals Oxfam As the global community raises the alarm over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, in the last two-and-a-half months, since October, only 12 trucks distributed in northern Gaza revealed Oxfam on Sunday (Dec 22). Subway horror in New York: Sleeping woman set on fire by stranger, police nab suspect In New York, on Sunday (Dec 22), a female subway passenger was set on fire by another passenger, while she slept. The man who committed this heinous crime was captured on CCTV and has been apprehended by the New York police. Who is Sriram Krishnan, Chennai-born techie tapped by Trump for top AI adviser role? US President-elect Donald Trump Sunday (Dec 22) tapped Indian American venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan for the role of Senior White House Policy Adviser on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Watch | Syria's New Leader Says All Weapons To Come Under 'State Control'

Morning news brief: Pak-sponsored terrorists killed in India's UP; Gaza humanitarian crisis worsens, and more

New Delhi, India 
South Africa and Pakistan met for the third and final ODI at the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday (Dec 22). While Pakistan already had an unassailable 2-0 lead, the dead rubber had plenty of moments on and off the field. The Pink ODI saw history being made as the stadium witnessed the birth of a baby boy. The incident took place during the first innings, with Pakistan batting first. The scoreboard read, "Congratulations Mr and Mrs Rabeng on the birth of your healthy son at Bullring." Notably, the baby was delivered at the stadium's medical facility.
The historic development was shared on social media platforms:
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‼️History made as woman gives birth at Wanderers Cricket Stadium while another couple got engaged during the Pink Day ODI‼️??‍??
The Rabeng’s were assisted by the Medics and gave birth to a baby boy at 17:20 in JHB
The Proteas need 309 runs to win and avoid a series whitewash <a href="https://t.co/VhAlVPhLtd">pic.twitter.com/VhAlVPhLtd</a>
— Xoli Zondo (MBA) (@XoliswaZondo) <a href="https://twitter.com/XoliswaZondo/status/1870881481012269418?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/in-form-saim-ayub-shines-as-pakistan-whitewash-south-africa-ahead-of-champions-trophy-786076">In-form Saim Ayub shines as Pakistan whitewash South Africa ahead of Champions Trophy</a>
In addition, one of the spectators went down on his knees to propose to his girlfriend during the match. The heart-warming moment was captured by many in the stands and the girl's approval led to loud cheers from the crowd.
Talking about the Pink ODI, saw the visitors being asked to bat first. Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan rode on in-form opener Saim Ayub's 94-ball 101 and fifties from Babar Azam and the skipper, along with Salman Agha's 33-ball 48, to post 308 for 9 in 47 overs (with a rain break reducing the contest to 47 overs aside). In reply, Temba Bavuma-led hosts only managed 271 in 42 overs with Heinrich Klaasen top-scoring with 81 (43).
After Pakistan became the first team to whitewash SA at home, Rizwan said at the post-match presentation, "Always a proud moment. The nation expects such things from us. We are happy. The whole team gave effort. The second ODI, everyone performed. That was a perfect team game. It is not easy playing away from your country. The guys had trust on each other. (On Saim Ayub) I don't want to praise him more. We trust him and believe in his talent."

SA vs Pak: HISTORY MADE! Wanderers Stadium witnessed the birth of a baby boy during the third ODI in Johannesburg. 



New Delhi, India South Africa and Pakistan met for the third and final ODI at the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday (Dec 22). While Pakistan already had an unassailable 2-0 lead, the dead rubber had plenty of moments on and off the field. The Pink ODI saw history being made as the stadium witnessed the birth of a baby boy. The incident took place during the first innings, with Pakistan batting first. The scoreboard read, "Congratulations Mr and Mrs Rabeng on the birth of your healthy son at Bullring." Notably, the baby was delivered at the stadium's medical facility. The historic development was shared on social media platforms: ‼️History made as woman gives birth at Wanderers Cricket Stadium while another couple got engaged during the Pink Day ODI‼️??‍?? The Rabeng’s were assisted by the Medics and gave birth to a baby boy at 17:20 in JHB The Proteas need 309 runs to win and avoid a series whitewash pic.twitter.com/VhAlVPhLtd — Xoli Zondo (MBA) (@XoliswaZondo) December 22, 2024 × Also read: In-form Saim Ayub shines as Pakistan whitewash South Africa ahead of Champions Trophy In addition, one of the spectators went down on his knees to propose to his girlfriend during the match. The heart-warming moment was captured by many in the stands and the girl's approval led to loud cheers from the crowd. Talking about the Pink ODI, saw the visitors being asked to bat first. Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan rode on in-form opener Saim Ayub's 94-ball 101 and fifties from Babar Azam and the skipper, along with Salman Agha's 33-ball 48, to post 308 for 9 in 47 overs (with a rain break reducing the contest to 47 overs aside). In reply, Temba Bavuma-led hosts only managed 271 in 42 overs with Heinrich Klaasen top-scoring with 81 (43). After Pakistan became the first team to whitewash SA at home, Rizwan said at the post-match presentation, "Always a proud moment. The nation expects such things from us. We are happy. The whole team gave effort. The second ODI, everyone performed. That was a perfect team game. It is not easy playing away from your country. The guys had trust on each other. (On Saim Ayub) I don't want to praise him more. We trust him and believe in his talent."

SA vs Pak: HISTORY MADE! Wanderers Stadium witnesses birth of baby boy during third ODI in J'burg

New Delhi, India
Paramount's new action comedy Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sped to the top of the North American box office this weekend, outdoing predictions with an estimated take of $62 million, one of the best December openings in years, industry watchers said Sunday.
The latest sequel about the blue-maned supersonic creature -- based on the popular Sega video game -- rode positive reviews and strong audience scores to what analyst David A. Gross called "an excellent opening" for the hybrid animation/live action genre. 
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-not-ready-to-leave-you-guys-says-millie-bobby-brown-as-stranger-things-season-5-wraps-production-786116">'Not ready to leave you guys', says Millie Bobby Brown as Stranger Things season 5 wraps production</a>
He predicted it would "far out-earn Sonic #2," which finished 2022 with $405 million  worldwide. Jim Carrey plays mad scientist Dr. Ivo Robotnik, while Ben Schwartz (Sonic) and Keanu Reeves (Shadow) top the voice cast. 
Disney's new animated musical drama Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel to The Lion King, placed second at $35 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported.
That was far below predictions of around $50 million, especially for a movie that cost an estimated $300 million to produce and promote, Variety reported. But Gross predicted a "very good run," with school children now enjoying year-end vacations in North America.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/blake-lively-alleges-tiff-with-justin-baldoni-led-to-her-losing-saturday-night-live-hosting-gig-786110">Blake Lively alleges tiff with Justin Baldoni led to her losing Saturday Night Live hosting gig</a>
The film's voice cast includes Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Seth Rogen, Beyonce and Donald Glover (AKA Childish Gambino), with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Universal's Wicked raked in another $13.5 million as it slipped one spot to third place. The musical fantasy is the first leg of a two-part adaptation of the popular Broadway play set in the magical world of Oz.
Touted as an Oscar favorite, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande starring, the weekend haul brings the film's global earnings to over $570 million.
Moana 2 set records when it opened over the Thanksgiving weekend, but the Disney film slipped to fourth place this weekend with an estimated $13.1 million in ticket sales.
Hawaiian-born Auli'i Cravalho reprises her voice acting role as the titular courageous young sea-traveler, while Dwayne The Rock Johnson voices the demigod Maui for the sequel, which has worldwide earnings of over $790 million.
And in fifth place was Homestead, a post-apocalyptic thriller from Utah-based Angel Studios, at $6.1 million. Neal McDonough and Dawn Olivieri star in the story of a family fleeing the chaos of a nuclear attack for refuge in the fortress-like mansion of an eccentric survivalist.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
Gladiator II ($4.5 million)
Kraven the Hunter ($3.1 million)
Red One ($1.5 million)
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim ($1.3 million)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever($825,000)
(This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)

And in fifth place was Homestead, a post-apocalyptic thriller from Utah-based Angel Studios, at $6.1 million. Neal McDonough and Dawn Olivieri star in the story of a family fleeing the chaos of a nuclear attack for refuge in the fortress-like mansion of an eccentric survivalist.



New Delhi, India Paramount's new action comedy Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sped to the top of the North American box office this weekend, outdoing predictions with an estimated take of $62 million, one of the best December openings in years, industry watchers said Sunday. The latest sequel about the blue-maned supersonic creature -- based on the popular Sega video game -- rode positive reviews and strong audience scores to what analyst David A. Gross called "an excellent opening" for the hybrid animation/live action genre. Also read: 'Not ready to leave you guys', says Millie Bobby Brown as Stranger Things season 5 wraps production He predicted it would "far out-earn Sonic #2," which finished 2022 with $405 million worldwide. Jim Carrey plays mad scientist Dr. Ivo Robotnik, while Ben Schwartz (Sonic) and Keanu Reeves (Shadow) top the voice cast. Disney's new animated musical drama Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel to The Lion King, placed second at $35 million for the Friday-through-Sunday period, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported. That was far below predictions of around $50 million, especially for a movie that cost an estimated $300 million to produce and promote, Variety reported. But Gross predicted a "very good run," with school children now enjoying year-end vacations in North America. Also read: Blake Lively alleges tiff with Justin Baldoni led to her losing Saturday Night Live hosting gig The film's voice cast includes Aaron Pierre (Mufasa), Seth Rogen, Beyonce and Donald Glover (AKA Childish Gambino), with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Universal's Wicked raked in another $13.5 million as it slipped one spot to third place. The musical fantasy is the first leg of a two-part adaptation of the popular Broadway play set in the magical world of Oz. Touted as an Oscar favorite, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande starring, the weekend haul brings the film's global earnings to over $570 million. Moana 2 set records when it opened over the Thanksgiving weekend, but the Disney film slipped to fourth place this weekend with an estimated $13.1 million in ticket sales. Hawaiian-born Auli'i Cravalho reprises her voice acting role as the titular courageous young sea-traveler, while Dwayne The Rock Johnson voices the demigod Maui for the sequel, which has worldwide earnings of over $790 million. And in fifth place was Homestead, a post-apocalyptic thriller from Utah-based Angel Studios, at $6.1 million. Neal McDonough and Dawn Olivieri star in the story of a family fleeing the chaos of a nuclear attack for refuge in the fortress-like mansion of an eccentric survivalist. Rounding out the top 10 were: Gladiator II ($4.5 million) Kraven the Hunter ($3.1 million) Red One ($1.5 million) The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim ($1.3 million) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever($825,000) (This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.)

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 zips to top of N.America box office

New Delhi, India 
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The Indian national capital, New Delhi, on Monday (23 Dec), woke up to a chilly morning with drizzle, waving a signal to the beginning of frigid winter days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the coming five days for rain, dense fog, and a dip in temperatures. "The coming days will bring challenges for Delhi residents as dense fog and biting cold combine with deteriorating air quality," said an IMD official.
<h2>Key highlights: </h2>
&gt; According to the latest update at 5:30 am IST (12:00 am GMT), the temperature fluttered at 8 degrees Celsius, and humidity stayed at 97 per cent with no wind activity recorded. Residents are advised to stay cautious during foggy conditions.
&gt; Heavy fog persists across Delhi-NCR
&gt; Cyclone conditions in the South Bay of Bengal, a western disturbance, and snowfall in the northern hills of India are the reasons for temperatures to fall.
&gt; IMD has further advised people to keep themselves warm.
ANI shared visuals of some areas in Delhi showing the present winter conditions.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs the national capital as coldwave grips the city.
Visuals from Tilak Marg. <a href="https://t.co/cj69q3Ghkp">pic.twitter.com/cj69q3Ghkp</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1870991485723951355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs the national capital as coldwave grips the city.
Visuals from Motilal Nehru Marg. <a href="https://t.co/WqBhHOhhxA">pic.twitter.com/WqBhHOhhxA</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1870993592036229506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>AQI levels soar high</h2>
The national capital's air quality on Sunday (22 Dec) soared to a high of 409, 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) or 'severe' level, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
In some areas, AQI levels were recorded at 474, indicating dangerously high PM 2.5 levels.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhis-aqi-remains-very-severe-imd-predicts-light-rain-dense-fog-in-coming-days-785943">India: Delhi’s AQI remains 'very severe'; IMD predicts light rain, dense fog in coming days</a>
<h2>AQI chart:</h2>
<ul>
<li>0-50: Good</li>
<li>51-100: Satisfactory</li>
<li>101-200: Moderate</li>
<li>201-300: Poor</li>
<li>301-400: Very Poor</li>
<li>401-500: Severe</li>
</ul>
Watch | India: Northern States Face Severe Cold Wave Conditions | World News | WION Dispatch
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With this, Delhi people are all prepped up for freezing winters and awful AQI days; life in the capital remains a challenge. 
(With inputs from agencies)

According to the latest update at 5:30 am IST, the temperature fluttered at 9.2°C, and humidity stayed at 97 per cent with no wind activity recorded. Residents are expected to stay cautious during foggy conditions.



New Delhi, India The Indian national capital, New Delhi, on Monday (23 Dec), woke up to a chilly morning with drizzle, waving a signal to the beginning of frigid winter days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the coming five days for rain, dense fog, and a dip in temperatures. "The coming days will bring challenges for Delhi residents as dense fog and biting cold combine with deteriorating air quality," said an IMD official. Key highlights: > According to the latest update at 5:30 am IST (12:00 am GMT), the temperature fluttered at 8 degrees Celsius, and humidity stayed at 97 per cent with no wind activity recorded. Residents are advised to stay cautious during foggy conditions. > Heavy fog persists across Delhi-NCR > Cyclone conditions in the South Bay of Bengal, a western disturbance, and snowfall in the northern hills of India are the reasons for temperatures to fall. > IMD has further advised people to keep themselves warm. ANI shared visuals of some areas in Delhi showing the present winter conditions. #WATCH | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs the national capital as coldwave grips the city. Visuals from Tilak Marg. pic.twitter.com/cj69q3Ghkp — ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2024 × #WATCH | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs the national capital as coldwave grips the city. Visuals from Motilal Nehru Marg. pic.twitter.com/WqBhHOhhxA — ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2024 × AQI levels soar high The national capital's air quality on Sunday (22 Dec) soared to a high of 409, 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) or 'severe' level, said the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In some areas, AQI levels were recorded at 474, indicating dangerously high PM 2.5 levels. Also Read: India: Delhi’s AQI remains 'very severe'; IMD predicts light rain, dense fog in coming days AQI chart: 0-50: Good 51-100: Satisfactory 101-200: Moderate 201-300: Poor 301-400: Very Poor 401-500: Severe Watch | India: Northern States Face Severe Cold Wave Conditions | World News | WION Dispatch With this, Delhi people are all prepped up for freezing winters and awful AQI days; life in the capital remains a challenge. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Fog patches, cold waves and 'severe AQI'; IMD issues orange alert for rain in northern part of country

Milan, Italy
Atalanta surged back to the top of the Serie A standings with a Charles De Ketelaere-inspired 3-2 win at home to Empoli on Sunday, while inconsistent Roma thrashed Parma 5-0. De Ketelaere was twice on target for Atalanta in the topsy-turvy encounter -- his second goal proving to be the winner with just four minutes left on the clock. Ademola Lookman was also on the scoresheet to ensure Gian Piero Gasperini's side won their 11th consecutive match in the league and leapfrogged Napoli back into top spot for the Christmas period.
"It's been a wonderful year, we're sorry it's ending, let's hope that 2025 will be just as good," Gasperini told DAZN. "It won't be easy, but beyond the results I'm very happy with the spirit that there is in this team."
The reigning Europa League champions restored their two-point buffer over Napoli, who had moved a point ahead of them following their 2-1 win at Genoa on Saturday. Lorenzo Colombo gave 11th-placed Empoli the lead at the Gewiss Stadium on 13 minutes.
Things got worse for Atalanta when Mateo Retegui, the top scorer in the league, was forced off with a muscular injury in the 21st minute -- casting a doubt over his availability for coming matches. But De Ketelaere hit back to level for the Bergamo-based outfit four minutes after the half-hour. Recently crowned African player of the year, Lookman got his 12th goal of the season in all competitions to put Atalanta in front in first-half added time.
Sebastiano Esposito pegged back Atalanta on 57 minutes, converting from the penalty spot. As the game crept towards a disappointing draw that would have still sent Atalanta back top on goal difference, Belgian midfielder De Ketelaere popped up with his fifth league goal this term in the 86th minute.
The 23-year-old showed skill and composure to glide along the edge of the box until a chance presented itself, and he then fired off a disguised left-footed shot which flashed past the goalkeeper.
"Today we suffered a bit, but always after goals we reacted and tried to win," said De Ketelaere. "It's December and it's not even over yet, we are happy where we are but every game is difficult and we continue."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba/news-nba-nikola-jokic-helps-denver-nuggets-rally-for-overtime-win-vs-new-orleans-pelicans-786114">NBA: Nikola Jokic helps Denver Nuggets rally for overtime win vs New Orleans Pelicans</a>
- 'Real Roma' -
Roma bounced back from last weekend's surprise 2-0 loss at Como, which had left Claudio Ranieri's side within two points of the drop zone, to thump Parma in the Italian capital. Paulo Dybala hit a brace, with goals also coming from Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Paredes and Artem Dovbyk as Roma moved to 10th place.
"The most important thing was the points. We had to show that the team seen against Como was not the real Roma, we had to do more," Saelemaekers told DAZN.
Parma remain one point above the drop zone in 16th spot. Dybala converted a penalty and Saelemaekers slammed home a volley to give the home side a 2-0 lead inside the opening quarter of an hour.
The Argentinian netted his second six minutes after the break. Paredes then scored from 12 yards in the 74th minute and Ukrainian striker Dovbyk put the cherry on top for the Romans with seven minutes remaining.
Venezia climbed off the bottom of the table with a vital 2-1 home win over fellow strugglers Cagliari. The result leaves Cagliari 18th on 14 points, one ahead of Venezia, with Monza propping up the standings with 10 points after defeat at home to Juventus.
Juventus maintained their unbeaten status in Serie A by seeing off the bottom side 2-1 thanks to first-half strikes from Weston McKennie and Nicolas Gonzalez. The Old Lady remain sixth on 31 points as they won for the first time in the league since early November following four consecutive draws.
They are level on points with fifth-placed Fiorentina, but the Tuscans can go clear again when they take on Udinese on Monday. Champions Inter Milan, in third on 34 points, host Como later that day.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

De Ketelaere was twice on target for Atalanta in the topsy-turvy encounter -- his second goal proving to be the winner with just four minutes left on the clock. Ademola Lookman was also on the scoresheet to ensure Gian Piero Gasperini's side won their 11th consecutive match in the league and leapfrogged Napoli back into top spot for the Christmas period.



Milan, Italy Atalanta surged back to the top of the Serie A standings with a Charles De Ketelaere-inspired 3-2 win at home to Empoli on Sunday, while inconsistent Roma thrashed Parma 5-0. De Ketelaere was twice on target for Atalanta in the topsy-turvy encounter -- his second goal proving to be the winner with just four minutes left on the clock. Ademola Lookman was also on the scoresheet to ensure Gian Piero Gasperini's side won their 11th consecutive match in the league and leapfrogged Napoli back into top spot for the Christmas period. "It's been a wonderful year, we're sorry it's ending, let's hope that 2025 will be just as good," Gasperini told DAZN. "It won't be easy, but beyond the results I'm very happy with the spirit that there is in this team." The reigning Europa League champions restored their two-point buffer over Napoli, who had moved a point ahead of them following their 2-1 win at Genoa on Saturday. Lorenzo Colombo gave 11th-placed Empoli the lead at the Gewiss Stadium on 13 minutes. Things got worse for Atalanta when Mateo Retegui, the top scorer in the league, was forced off with a muscular injury in the 21st minute -- casting a doubt over his availability for coming matches. But De Ketelaere hit back to level for the Bergamo-based outfit four minutes after the half-hour. Recently crowned African player of the year, Lookman got his 12th goal of the season in all competitions to put Atalanta in front in first-half added time. Sebastiano Esposito pegged back Atalanta on 57 minutes, converting from the penalty spot. As the game crept towards a disappointing draw that would have still sent Atalanta back top on goal difference, Belgian midfielder De Ketelaere popped up with his fifth league goal this term in the 86th minute. The 23-year-old showed skill and composure to glide along the edge of the box until a chance presented itself, and he then fired off a disguised left-footed shot which flashed past the goalkeeper. "Today we suffered a bit, but always after goals we reacted and tried to win," said De Ketelaere. "It's December and it's not even over yet, we are happy where we are but every game is difficult and we continue." Also read: NBA: Nikola Jokic helps Denver Nuggets rally for overtime win vs New Orleans Pelicans - 'Real Roma' - Roma bounced back from last weekend's surprise 2-0 loss at Como, which had left Claudio Ranieri's side within two points of the drop zone, to thump Parma in the Italian capital. Paulo Dybala hit a brace, with goals also coming from Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Paredes and Artem Dovbyk as Roma moved to 10th place. "The most important thing was the points. We had to show that the team seen against Como was not the real Roma, we had to do more," Saelemaekers told DAZN. Parma remain one point above the drop zone in 16th spot. Dybala converted a penalty and Saelemaekers slammed home a volley to give the home side a 2-0 lead inside the opening quarter of an hour. The Argentinian netted his second six minutes after the break. Paredes then scored from 12 yards in the 74th minute and Ukrainian striker Dovbyk put the cherry on top for the Romans with seven minutes remaining. Venezia climbed off the bottom of the table with a vital 2-1 home win over fellow strugglers Cagliari. The result leaves Cagliari 18th on 14 points, one ahead of Venezia, with Monza propping up the standings with 10 points after defeat at home to Juventus. Juventus maintained their unbeaten status in Serie A by seeing off the bottom side 2-1 thanks to first-half strikes from Weston McKennie and Nicolas Gonzalez. The Old Lady remain sixth on 31 points as they won for the first time in the league since early November following four consecutive draws. They are level on points with fifth-placed Fiorentina, but the Tuscans can go clear again when they take on Udinese on Monday. Champions Inter Milan, in third on 34 points, host Como later that day. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Atalanta fight back vs Empoli to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five vs Parma

Los Angeles, United States
Denver's NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic shook off a slow start to post a 27-point triple-double Sunday as the Nuggets rallied to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-129 in overtime. Jokic, who claimed his third MVP in four years last season, added 13 rebounds and 10 assists. But the Serb star, who was held to six points in the first half, bemoaned another slow start for Denver -- who trailed by as many as 17 in the third quarter. They took a 111-109 lead on Julian Strawther's layup with 4:37 left in regulation.
CJ McCollum put New Orleans back in front 119-117 with 53.2 seconds left in the fourth, but Denver guard Jamal Murray drilled a step-back basket with nine seconds to go to tie it at 119-119, and when McCollum missed a three-pointer they went to overtime. Jokic took over in the extra session, scoring Denver's first six points as they handed the Pelicans a seventh straight defeat.
"Seems like we just like it that way," Jokic said of the late heroics needed by the Nuggets, but added: "We should be more hungry." Murray also scored 27 points for Denver, and Russell Westbrook added 21 off the bench. Jordan Hawkins led New Orleans' scoring with 25 points and McCollum had 24.
Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers posted their fourth straight win in impressive style, powering away in the second half to beat the Kings 122-95 in Sacramento. Pascal Siakam delivered a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and the Pacers put up 70 points in the second half of a dominant victory in which seven Indiana players scored in double figures.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/premier-league-toppers-liverpool-thrash-tottenham-hotspur-6-0-786083">Premier League: Toppers Liverpool thrash Tottenham Hotspur 6-3</a>
Myles Turner scored 15 points, star guard Tyrese Haliburton and reserve Ben Sheppard added 14 apiece and T.J. McConnell contributed 12 points and 10 assists off the bench. "We brought it from start to finish," Sheppard said. "The energy we brought, both the bench and the starters, it was a great team win."
Point guard De'Aaron Fox scored 23 points to lead the Kings, and Domantas Sabonis added 17 points and 21 rebounds, but Kings fans were booing as the team fell to a fourth straight defeat. "Tough night for us," Kings coach Mike Brown said. "There are going to be nights when you don't have it offensively, but we can't give up 70 points in a half."
The Houston Rockets erased a 16-point first-half deficit to beat the Raptors 114-110 in Toronto. Dillon Brooks scored 27 points and Jalen Green added 22 for Houston, who held the Raptors to five-of-15 shooting in the fourth quarter to finally seal the game.
Alperen Sengun scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Houston, who out-scored Toronto 33-26 in the third quarter to take a one-point lead into the fourth. The Rockets pushed the advantage to as many as 11, but the Raptors cut the deficit to three on Ochai Agbaji's dunk with 22.7 seconds remaining.
Toronto would get no closer, however, with Brooks finally sealing it with a free throw.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

CJ McCollum put New Orleans back in front 119-117 with 53.2 seconds left in the fourth, but Denver guard Jamal Murray drilled a step-back basket with nine seconds to go to tie it at 119-119, and when McCollum missed a three-pointer they went to overtime. Jokic took over in the extra session, scoring Denver's first six points as they handed the Pelicans a seventh straight defeat.



Los Angeles, United States Denver's NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic shook off a slow start to post a 27-point triple-double Sunday as the Nuggets rallied to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-129 in overtime. Jokic, who claimed his third MVP in four years last season, added 13 rebounds and 10 assists. But the Serb star, who was held to six points in the first half, bemoaned another slow start for Denver -- who trailed by as many as 17 in the third quarter. They took a 111-109 lead on Julian Strawther's layup with 4:37 left in regulation. CJ McCollum put New Orleans back in front 119-117 with 53.2 seconds left in the fourth, but Denver guard Jamal Murray drilled a step-back basket with nine seconds to go to tie it at 119-119, and when McCollum missed a three-pointer they went to overtime. Jokic took over in the extra session, scoring Denver's first six points as they handed the Pelicans a seventh straight defeat. "Seems like we just like it that way," Jokic said of the late heroics needed by the Nuggets, but added: "We should be more hungry." Murray also scored 27 points for Denver, and Russell Westbrook added 21 off the bench. Jordan Hawkins led New Orleans' scoring with 25 points and McCollum had 24. Elsewhere, the Indiana Pacers posted their fourth straight win in impressive style, powering away in the second half to beat the Kings 122-95 in Sacramento. Pascal Siakam delivered a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds and the Pacers put up 70 points in the second half of a dominant victory in which seven Indiana players scored in double figures. Also read: Premier League: Toppers Liverpool thrash Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 Myles Turner scored 15 points, star guard Tyrese Haliburton and reserve Ben Sheppard added 14 apiece and T.J. McConnell contributed 12 points and 10 assists off the bench. "We brought it from start to finish," Sheppard said. "The energy we brought, both the bench and the starters, it was a great team win." Point guard De'Aaron Fox scored 23 points to lead the Kings, and Domantas Sabonis added 17 points and 21 rebounds, but Kings fans were booing as the team fell to a fourth straight defeat. "Tough night for us," Kings coach Mike Brown said. "There are going to be nights when you don't have it offensively, but we can't give up 70 points in a half." The Houston Rockets erased a 16-point first-half deficit to beat the Raptors 114-110 in Toronto. Dillon Brooks scored 27 points and Jalen Green added 22 for Houston, who held the Raptors to five-of-15 shooting in the fourth quarter to finally seal the game. Alperen Sengun scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Houston, who out-scored Toronto 33-26 in the third quarter to take a one-point lead into the fourth. The Rockets pushed the advantage to as many as 11, but the Raptors cut the deficit to three on Ochai Agbaji's dunk with 22.7 seconds remaining. Toronto would get no closer, however, with Brooks finally sealing it with a free throw. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NBA: Nikola Jokic helps Denver Nuggets rally for overtime win vs New Orleans Pelicans

London, United Kingdom
Liverpool swept four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah's masterclass inspired a memorable 6-3 rout of Tottenham, while Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday. Salah delivered a sublime performance featuring two goals and a pair of assists as Arne Slot's side ran riot in north London. The 32-year-old is now Liverpool's fourth top scorer ever with 229 goals.
Salah's brace took him past Billy Liddell, with only Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285) and Gordon Hodgson (241) ahead of him. The rampant Reds have won 21 of their 25 matches in all competitions under Slot and have a game in hand on Chelsea to strengthen their lead in the title race.
This was a remarkable display of Liverpool's firepower as Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister scored to put them in command. Dominik Szoboszlai grabbed Liverpool's third and Egypt star Salah took over after the break before Diaz netted again.
"For 60 minutes we did everything we had to do, we were comfortable and good with the ball. The main thing is we worked very hard," Slot said. "But you have to be on top of your game for the whole game and we didn't do that."
Punished for Ange Postecoglou's insistence on sticking to his high defensive line, it was the first time since 1997 that Tottenham had conceded six goals in a home league game.
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James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored for Tottenham, but an eighth league defeat this season leaves them languishing in 11th place as the pressure mounts on Postecoglou. "If you want to discount the fact we're missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back and that hasn't coincided with how we're doing... I don't know what to say anymore," Postecoglou said of his critics.
United boss Ruben Amorim, who once again left Marcus Rashford out of his squad, is set for a miserable Christmas following the worst result of his brief reign. Languishing in 13th place, United have suffered four defeats in nine matches in all competitions since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.
United's second successive loss after their League Cup exit at Tottenham on Thursday underlined Amorim's belief that their road back to the top will be long and arduous.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Salah's brace took him past Billy Liddell, with only Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285) and Gordon Hodgson (241) ahead of him. The rampant Reds have won 21 of their 25 matches in all competitions under Slot and have a game in hand on Chelsea to strengthen their lead in the title race.



London, United Kingdom Liverpool swept four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah's masterclass inspired a memorable 6-3 rout of Tottenham, while Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday. Salah delivered a sublime performance featuring two goals and a pair of assists as Arne Slot's side ran riot in north London. The 32-year-old is now Liverpool's fourth top scorer ever with 229 goals. Salah's brace took him past Billy Liddell, with only Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285) and Gordon Hodgson (241) ahead of him. The rampant Reds have won 21 of their 25 matches in all competitions under Slot and have a game in hand on Chelsea to strengthen their lead in the title race. This was a remarkable display of Liverpool's firepower as Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister scored to put them in command. Dominik Szoboszlai grabbed Liverpool's third and Egypt star Salah took over after the break before Diaz netted again. "For 60 minutes we did everything we had to do, we were comfortable and good with the ball. The main thing is we worked very hard," Slot said. "But you have to be on top of your game for the whole game and we didn't do that." Punished for Ange Postecoglou's insistence on sticking to his high defensive line, it was the first time since 1997 that Tottenham had conceded six goals in a home league game. Also read: La Liga: Kylian Mbappe on target as Real Madrid down Sevilla 4-2 James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke scored for Tottenham, but an eighth league defeat this season leaves them languishing in 11th place as the pressure mounts on Postecoglou. "If you want to discount the fact we're missing a goalkeeper, two centre-backs and a left-back and that hasn't coincided with how we're doing... I don't know what to say anymore," Postecoglou said of his critics. United boss Ruben Amorim, who once again left Marcus Rashford out of his squad, is set for a miserable Christmas following the worst result of his brief reign. Languishing in 13th place, United have suffered four defeats in nine matches in all competitions since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag. United's second successive loss after their League Cup exit at Tottenham on Thursday underlined Amorim's belief that their road back to the top will be long and arduous. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Premier League: Toppers Liverpool thrash Tottenham Hotspur 6-3

Hyderabad
The Hyderabad Police on Sunday booked a case against six members of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC) for allegedly vandalising actor Pushpa 2 actor Allu Arjun’s home. The vandalism occurred at the actor's residence on Sunday due to outrage over a woman's death during the premiere of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad last week. The film features Allu Arjun. 
As per the DCP, West Zone, strict action has been initiated to bring the accused to justice. The DCP also gave an account of the incident that occurred outside Arjun’s residence. The DCP stated, “Today at around 4.45 pm, some persons holding placards in their hands suddenly rushed to the residence of actor Allu Arjun in Jubilee Hills and started sloganeering and one of them mounted the compound and started throwing tomatoes."
“When the security staff objected and persuaded them to escape the wall, they got into an altercation. They climbed down the wall, manhandled the security staff and damaged some flower pots kept along the ramp. On receiving the information, Jubilee Hills Police reached the place and took the 6 persons into custody. They all claim to be part of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC)," the official added.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/allu-arjuns-residence-pelted-with-stones-amid-pushpa-2-stampede-controversy-786005">Also read: Allu Arjun's residence pelted with stones amid Pushpa 2 stampede controversy</a>
Allu Arjun and his family did not file any complaints against the vandals. The protestors pelted stones at the actor's residence on Sunday and staged a protest. They held placards, raised slogans against Arjun and demanded justice for the woman who died in the stampede outside Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre.
Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Aravind, spoke to the media, and condemned the attack and said that such incidents should not be encouraged.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/is-allu-arjuns-pushpa-2-releasing-on-ott-soon-makars-issues-clarification-785771" target="_blank">Is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 releasing on OTT? Makers issue clarification</a>
Allu Aravind said, “Everyone has seen what happened at our house today. But it is time for us to act accordingly. Now is not the right time for us to react to anything." He further said that the police have arrested the vandalisers and have filed a case against them. “The police are ready to take away anyone else who comes here to create a ruckus. No one should encourage incidents like these," he said. “But I will not react just because the media is here. Now is the time to practice restraint. The law will take its own course," he concluded.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/allu-arjun-on-criticism-after-pushpa-2-stampede-says-baseless-claims-have-been-made-785861" target="_blank">Allu Arjun responds to criticism after Pushpa 2 stampede, says 'baseless claims have been made...'</a>
Pushpa 2 stampede case
On Dec 4, the actor surprised his fans during the special screening of Pushpa 2 premiere. However, the night took a tragic turn when the situation got out of hand, leading to a stampede-like situation. A woman named Revathi died during the stampede, and her son, Sri Teja, got critically injured. 
On Dec 13, Allu was arrested in connection with the case of the death of the woman. He was released on bail a day later.

The vandalism occurred at the actor's residence on Sunday due to outrage over a woman's death during the premiere of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad last week. The film features Allu Arjun. 



Hyderabad The Hyderabad Police on Sunday booked a case against six members of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC) for allegedly vandalising actor Pushpa 2 actor Allu Arjun’s home. The vandalism occurred at the actor's residence on Sunday due to outrage over a woman's death during the premiere of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad last week. The film features Allu Arjun. As per the DCP, West Zone, strict action has been initiated to bring the accused to justice. The DCP also gave an account of the incident that occurred outside Arjun’s residence. The DCP stated, “Today at around 4.45 pm, some persons holding placards in their hands suddenly rushed to the residence of actor Allu Arjun in Jubilee Hills and started sloganeering and one of them mounted the compound and started throwing tomatoes." “When the security staff objected and persuaded them to escape the wall, they got into an altercation. They climbed down the wall, manhandled the security staff and damaged some flower pots kept along the ramp. On receiving the information, Jubilee Hills Police reached the place and took the 6 persons into custody. They all claim to be part of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC)," the official added. Also read: Allu Arjun's residence pelted with stones amid Pushpa 2 stampede controversy Allu Arjun and his family did not file any complaints against the vandals. The protestors pelted stones at the actor's residence on Sunday and staged a protest. They held placards, raised slogans against Arjun and demanded justice for the woman who died in the stampede outside Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre. Allu Arjun’s father, Allu Aravind, spoke to the media, and condemned the attack and said that such incidents should not be encouraged. Also read: Is Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 releasing on OTT? Makers issue clarification Allu Aravind said, “Everyone has seen what happened at our house today. But it is time for us to act accordingly. Now is not the right time for us to react to anything." He further said that the police have arrested the vandalisers and have filed a case against them. “The police are ready to take away anyone else who comes here to create a ruckus. No one should encourage incidents like these," he said. “But I will not react just because the media is here. Now is the time to practice restraint. The law will take its own course," he concluded. Also read: Allu Arjun responds to criticism after Pushpa 2 stampede, says 'baseless claims have been made...' Pushpa 2 stampede case On Dec 4, the actor surprised his fans during the special screening of Pushpa 2 premiere. However, the night took a tragic turn when the situation got out of hand, leading to a stampede-like situation. A woman named Revathi died during the stampede, and her son, Sri Teja, got critically injured. On Dec 13, Allu was arrested in connection with the case of the death of the woman. He was released on bail a day later.

Allu Arjun's home vandalised in Hyderabad, case registered against six

Johannesburg
Rising star Saim Ayub hit his second century of the series -– and his third in five innings –- as Pakistan completed a series cleansweep over South Africa in the third one-day international at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
Left-handed opening batsman Ayub made a sparkling 101 off 94 balls in a Pakistan total of 308 for nine.
Heinrich Klaasen thrashed 81 off 43 balls for South Africa -– but the hosts were beaten by 36 runs chasing an adjusted target of 308. The match was reduced to 47 overs a side because of rain.
Ayub, 22, hit 113 not out in the second one-day game against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last month and 109 in the series opener against South Africa in Paarl last week.
In between his one-day appearances he made an unbeaten 98 in the second Twenty20 international against South Africa in Centurion.
Ayub was named player of the match and player of the series. 
"It's important because we won but it is for all the team, not just me," he said. "The senior players helped me a lot."
In contrast to Ayub's form, his opening partner Abdullah Shafique was out for his third successive duck after Pakistan were sent in to bat.
But Ayub was seldom troubled as he played shots all around the wicket in partnerships of 114 with Babar Azam (52) and 93 with captain Mohammad Rizwan (53).
Ayub fell to debutant Corbin Bosch, caught behind attempting an audacious flick to leg, after hitting 13 fours and two sixes. 
Bosch, the son of the late Test and one-day international player Tertius Bosch, received a call-up after injuries hit South Africa's fast bowling resources.
For the third successive match, Klaasen was the only South African to make a half-century. He kept South Africa ahead of the required run rate until he was sixth man out, caught on the square leg boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi with the total on 194 in the 29th over.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-joe-root-returns-to-england-squad-ben-stokes-misses-out-due-to-hamstring-issue-785969">Champions Trophy 2025: Joe Root returns to England squad; Ben Stokes misses out due to hamstring issue</a>
Ayub followed up his century by taking one for 34 in 10 overs with his mixture of off-spin and carrom balls, claiming the key wicket of David Miller and producing the most economical figures by any bowler in the match.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 308-9 in 47 overs (Saim Ayub 101, Mohammad Rizwan 53, Babar Azam 52, Salman Agha 48; K. Rabada 3-56) v South Africa 271 in 42 overs (H. Klaasen 81, C. Bosch 40 not out)
Result: Pakistan won by 36 runs (DLS method)
Series: Pakistan won the three-match series 3-0
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Heinrich Klaasen thrashed 81 off 43 balls for South Africa -– but the hosts were beaten by 36 runs chasing an adjusted target of 308. The match was reduced to 47 overs a side because of rain.



Johannesburg Rising star Saim Ayub hit his second century of the series -– and his third in five innings –- as Pakistan completed a series cleansweep over South Africa in the third one-day international at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday. Left-handed opening batsman Ayub made a sparkling 101 off 94 balls in a Pakistan total of 308 for nine. Heinrich Klaasen thrashed 81 off 43 balls for South Africa -– but the hosts were beaten by 36 runs chasing an adjusted target of 308. The match was reduced to 47 overs a side because of rain. Ayub, 22, hit 113 not out in the second one-day game against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last month and 109 in the series opener against South Africa in Paarl last week. In between his one-day appearances he made an unbeaten 98 in the second Twenty20 international against South Africa in Centurion. Ayub was named player of the match and player of the series. "It's important because we won but it is for all the team, not just me," he said. "The senior players helped me a lot." In contrast to Ayub's form, his opening partner Abdullah Shafique was out for his third successive duck after Pakistan were sent in to bat. But Ayub was seldom troubled as he played shots all around the wicket in partnerships of 114 with Babar Azam (52) and 93 with captain Mohammad Rizwan (53). Ayub fell to debutant Corbin Bosch, caught behind attempting an audacious flick to leg, after hitting 13 fours and two sixes. Bosch, the son of the late Test and one-day international player Tertius Bosch, received a call-up after injuries hit South Africa's fast bowling resources. For the third successive match, Klaasen was the only South African to make a half-century. He kept South Africa ahead of the required run rate until he was sixth man out, caught on the square leg boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi with the total on 194 in the 29th over. Also read: Champions Trophy 2025: Joe Root returns to England squad; Ben Stokes misses out due to hamstring issue Ayub followed up his century by taking one for 34 in 10 overs with his mixture of off-spin and carrom balls, claiming the key wicket of David Miller and producing the most economical figures by any bowler in the match. Brief scores: Pakistan 308-9 in 47 overs (Saim Ayub 101, Mohammad Rizwan 53, Babar Azam 52, Salman Agha 48; K. Rabada 3-56) v South Africa 271 in 42 overs (H. Klaasen 81, C. Bosch 40 not out) Result: Pakistan won by 36 runs (DLS method) Series: Pakistan won the three-match series 3-0 Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

In-form Saim Ayub shines as Pakistan whitewash South Africa ahead of Champions Trophy

Kuwait
India and Kuwait, issued unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in "all forms and manifestations" including cross-border terrorism, while calling for disruption of terror financing networks and safe havens.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait, both sides discussed ways to promote cooperation on counter-terrorism operations, cybersecurity and prevention of radicalisation.
"The two sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and called for disrupting of terrorism financing networks and safe havens and dismantling of terror infrastructure. Expressing appreciation of their ongoing bilateral cooperation in the area of security, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, information and intelligence sharing, developing and exchanging experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and strengthening cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking, and other transnational crimes," the joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Both sides discussed ways to prevent the usage of cyberspace for terrorism.
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modis-historic-visit-to-kuwait-a-new-era-for-stronger-ties-between-india-kuwait-relations-785961">Also read: Indian PM Modi conferred with Kuwait's highest honour, The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer</a>
"The two sides discussed ways and means to promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention of the use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalisation, and for disturbing social harmony. The Indian side praised the results of the fourth high-level conference on "Enhancing International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism and Building Resilient Mechanisms for Border Security - The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process," which was hosted by the State of Kuwait on November 4-5, 2024," as per the statement.
Indian and Kuwait sides identified health as a new area of cooperation, and the two sides appreciated their bilateral cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Both sides acknowledged health cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral ties and expressed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration in this important sector. Both sides appreciated the bilateral cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discussed the possibility of setting up Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in Kuwait. They also expressed their intent to strengthen cooperation in the field of medical products regulation in the ongoing discussions on an MoU between the drug regulatory authorities," the statement read.
The Indian side welcomed Kuwait as a new entrant in the SCO during its presidency, and also appreciated the "excellent coordination" between the two sides in the UN and other multilateral forums."
Watch | PM Modi's Kuwait Visit: Indian PM Modi Meets Emir Of Kuwait, Thanks Indian Diaspora
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The two sides appreciated the excellent coordination between both sides in the UN and other multilateral fora. The Indian side welcomed Kuwait's entry as a 'dialogue partner' in SCO during India's Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023. The Indian side also appreciated Kuwait's active role in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). The Kuwaiti side highlighted the importance of making the necessary efforts to explore the possibility of transforming the ACD into a regional organization," the statement said. 
PM Modi congratulated Kuwaiti Amir on the assumption of their presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council and affirmed confidence that it will further strengthen the India-GCC cooperation.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Amir on Kuwait's assumption of the Presidency of GCC this year and expressed confidence that the growing India-GCC cooperation will be further strengthened under his visionary leadership. Both sides welcomed the outcomes of the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in Riyadh on September 9," the MEA said.
The Kuwaiti side assured support to deepen Kuwait-GCC cooperation, in areas including health, trade, and security.
"The Kuwaiti side as the current Chair of GCC assured full support for deepening of the India-GCC cooperation under the recently adopted Joint Action Plan in areas including health, trade, security, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, culture, amongst others. Both sides also stressed the importance of early conclusion of the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement," the statement said.
Both leaders stressed the importance of United Nations reforms, especially in the context of the expansion of the Security Council.
"In the context of the UN reforms, both leaders emphasized the importance of an effective multilateral system, centered on a UN reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. The two sides stressed the need for the UN reforms, including of the Security Council through expansion in both categories of membership, to make it more representative, credible and effective," the statement said.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait, both sides discussed ways to promote cooperation on counter-terrorism operations, cybersecurity and prevention of radicalisation.



Kuwait India and Kuwait, issued unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in "all forms and manifestations" including cross-border terrorism, while calling for disruption of terror financing networks and safe havens. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait, both sides discussed ways to promote cooperation on counter-terrorism operations, cybersecurity and prevention of radicalisation. "The two sides unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and called for disrupting of terrorism financing networks and safe havens and dismantling of terror infrastructure. Expressing appreciation of their ongoing bilateral cooperation in the area of security, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, information and intelligence sharing, developing and exchanging experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and strengthening cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking, and other transnational crimes," the joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said. Both sides discussed ways to prevent the usage of cyberspace for terrorism. Also read: Indian PM Modi conferred with Kuwait's highest honour, The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer "The two sides discussed ways and means to promote cooperation in cybersecurity, including prevention of the use of cyberspace for terrorism, radicalisation, and for disturbing social harmony. The Indian side praised the results of the fourth high-level conference on "Enhancing International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism and Building Resilient Mechanisms for Border Security - The Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process," which was hosted by the State of Kuwait on November 4-5, 2024," as per the statement. Indian and Kuwait sides identified health as a new area of cooperation, and the two sides appreciated their bilateral cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Both sides acknowledged health cooperation as one of the important pillars of bilateral ties and expressed their commitment to further strengthen collaboration in this important sector. Both sides appreciated the bilateral cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discussed the possibility of setting up Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in Kuwait. They also expressed their intent to strengthen cooperation in the field of medical products regulation in the ongoing discussions on an MoU between the drug regulatory authorities," the statement read. The Indian side welcomed Kuwait as a new entrant in the SCO during its presidency, and also appreciated the "excellent coordination" between the two sides in the UN and other multilateral forums." Watch | PM Modi's Kuwait Visit: Indian PM Modi Meets Emir Of Kuwait, Thanks Indian Diaspora × The two sides appreciated the excellent coordination between both sides in the UN and other multilateral fora. The Indian side welcomed Kuwait's entry as a 'dialogue partner' in SCO during India's Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023. The Indian side also appreciated Kuwait's active role in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). The Kuwaiti side highlighted the importance of making the necessary efforts to explore the possibility of transforming the ACD into a regional organization," the statement said. PM Modi congratulated Kuwaiti Amir on the assumption of their presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council and affirmed confidence that it will further strengthen the India-GCC cooperation. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Amir on Kuwait's assumption of the Presidency of GCC this year and expressed confidence that the growing India-GCC cooperation will be further strengthened under his visionary leadership. Both sides welcomed the outcomes of the inaugural India-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue at the level of Foreign Ministers held in Riyadh on September 9," the MEA said. The Kuwaiti side assured support to deepen Kuwait-GCC cooperation, in areas including health, trade, and security. "The Kuwaiti side as the current Chair of GCC assured full support for deepening of the India-GCC cooperation under the recently adopted Joint Action Plan in areas including health, trade, security, agriculture and food security, transportation, energy, culture, amongst others. Both sides also stressed the importance of early conclusion of the India-GCC Free Trade Agreement," the statement said. Both leaders stressed the importance of United Nations reforms, especially in the context of the expansion of the Security Council. "In the context of the UN reforms, both leaders emphasized the importance of an effective multilateral system, centered on a UN reflective of contemporary realities, as a key factor in tackling global challenges. The two sides stressed the need for the UN reforms, including of the Security Council through expansion in both categories of membership, to make it more representative, credible and effective," the statement said. 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India, Kuwait condemn terrorism in 'all forms', call for disruption of terror financing networks

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