Fiscal discipline has cut cost of capital to build businesses, jobs: World Bank’s Neelkanth Mishra

India is poised for structural change as fiscal discipline lowers capital costs and technology expands opportunities for entrepreneurs, World Bank executive Neelkanth Mishra said. Active companies have grown by a third in three years, while manufacturing needs scale and stronger domestic demand. He urged preparing skilled workers for ageing nations, building on lower inflation and digital infrastructure.

8 kg washing machines for medium-sized families: 10 models to consider

Eight-kilogram washing machines offer medium-sized families a practical balance of capacity, convenience and energy efficiency, handling everyday clothes, towels and bedsheets without frequent cycles. Models span top-load, front-load and semi-automatic designs, with features including 5-star energy ratings, inverter motors, steam cleaning, heaters and smart controls. The right choice depends on budget, laundry habits and desired fabric-care features.

Trump considering firing White House Cabinet Secretary Meghan Bauer: Report

Cabinet Secretary Meghan Bauer is expected to leave her White House post as Donald Trump reshapes his administration after midterm losses, amid reports of frustration with her performance. A White House official said she would remain in a new, unspecified role, while Stephen Miller may take on Cabinet-coordination duties. Her departure would add to senior women’s exits.

Parivarik ManuRanjan review: Too run-of-the-mill to leave an impact

Parivarik ManuRanjan earns 2.5 stars: its romance and comedy are weakened by a familiar screenplay that rarely surprises. Pankaj Tripathi brings dry wit as Ranjan, a dutiful bachelor whose house-help hire, Helen (Aditi Rao Hydari), adds sweetness, but their romance lacks depth; repetitive small-town antics and an unnecessary song further blunt the film’s overall charm.

Delhi govt plans 5-acre 'world-class' Chhath ghat at ITO featuring sculptures, fountains and a plaza

Delhi plans a five-acre “world-class” Chhath ghat near ITO on the Yamuna, featuring stepped ghats, a promenade, murals, sculptures, fountains, lighting and shaded walkways, with 75% green space and environmental sustainability central to the design. A consultant will prepare a detailed report; the Rs 15-lakh development is due within a year, before next Chhath.

Manchester United appoint Mauricio Pochettino as new head coach

Manchester United have appointed Mauricio Pochettino after Michael Carrick’s dismissal, turning to the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager to rescue a side 18th and in the relegation zone. United collected eight points from 10 matches after Carrick’s promising previous campaign collapsed. Pochettino leaves the USMNT, bringing Premier League experience and an immediate test against Liverpool.

Climate-safe workplaces must extend beyond air-conditioned offices

India’s workplaces must treat extreme heat as a safety threat, not a comfort problem: cooling alone cannot protect workers during power failures. Resilient buildings need shade, reflective surfaces, ventilation and efficient cooling, alongside water, rest breaks and heat-aware schedules. With most workers informal and workplaces already built, retrofits, site heat plans and enforceable standards are essential.

Louvre Abu Dhabi’s ‘Art Here’ 2026 opens with works of six contemporary

Louvre Abu Dhabi’s sixth Art Here exhibition brings together six artists, including three Indians, for “Confluences,” exploring how overlapping histories, cultures and ecologies shape the present. For the first time, Indian artists join Gulf Cooperation Council participants, presenting installations on migration, memory and cross-cultural ties across the Indian Ocean. It runs through February 28, 2027.

Court asks police to expedite sanction to take cognisance of chargesheet against IAF officer

A Delhi court may take cognisance of charges against IAF Wing Commander Manorath Singh Sabharwal once prosecution sanctions are secured, ordering police to expedite approval and produce him on December 5. The chargesheet alleges he shared war plans, troop movements, aircraft deployments and secret drone-unit details with a Pakistani operative, potentially endangering national security. Government sanction is legally required before proceedings.

India’s framework for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict

India has proposed a three-part framework to reduce harm in the Russia-Ukraine war: mutual restraint on attacks against energy and infrastructure, safe passage for Black Sea grain and energy shipments, and protection for vessels and crews. The plan avoids territorial and security disputes, reflecting New Delhi’s balancing diplomacy, but faces significant verification and trust challenges.

Akhilesh Yadav claims BJP conspiring to register outsiders as voters in Uttar Pradesh

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of conspiring to import voters from other states and register them in Uttar Pradesh, linking the plan to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s claim that 1.27 crore Hindu voters are missing. Yadav said BJP meetings focused on voter-roll discrepancies, urged booth-level vigilance, and predicted polls could be announced January 6, 2027.

MP man dies after crude bomb hidden inside rasgulla explodes in his mouth, 2 held

A 35-year-old man died in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district after a bomb disguised as a rasgulla exploded in his mouth; police arrested two men. Rajendra Barautiya was allegedly offered the sweet by a villager and died hours later. The device was intended to kill wild boars, while police investigate its origin and whether the incident was deliberate.

Know Your Neighbourhood: How a French general gave Hyderabad’s Gunfoundry its name

Hyderabad’s Gunfoundry neighbourhood is named for an arsenal built by French officer Monsieur Raymond, who served the Nizam. Sources differ on whether it opened in 1786 or 1795, while surviving brick walls, arches and underground kilns reveal its weapons-making past. Raymond, also known as Musa Ram or Musa Rahim, died in 1798; the site is a protected monument.

Why India, the Gulf and Southeast Asia will write different AI-at-work playbooks

Companies need shared AI principles but local workforce plans: India faces skills gaps and back-office disruption; Gulf employers must preserve national talent pathways; Singapore needs specialists, while the Philippines requires mass retraining as outsourcing jobs shrink. Honest communication, redesigned roles and training partnerships can help workers adapt; success depends on career paths, not technology alone.

Challenges for India in a changing West Asian order

Eisenkot’s opposition agreement on senior Knesset appointments signals a breakthrough against Netanyahu’s dominance, but coalition-building remains uncertain amid disputes over Arab support, ultra-Orthodox conscription, Gaza and religion. Invited to form a government, he has 28 days, extendable by 14. India must protect its defence partnership with Israel while balancing Palestinian, Iranian and Gulf interests.

Connected and agentic workplace: New cybersecurity challenge

Cybersecurity risk increasingly moves across employees, data, applications and AI, requiring Indian organisations to secure workflows, not just systems. Proofpoint reports 93% of Indian CISOs identify human risk as their biggest vulnerability, while 92% consider GenAI a security risk. Breaches and insider threats reinforce the need for visibility and safeguards that enable safe AI use.

At least 23 killed, several injured in road accident in Assam’s Golaghat: Police

At least 10 people are feared dead and 22 critically injured after a passenger vehicle carrying more than 35, including students, collided head-on with a trailer in Assam’s Golaghat district Friday, police said. The vehicle, travelling from Bokakhat, crashed around 2:30 p.m. Casualties await doctors’ confirmation; injured people were taken to hospitals as officials investigate.

Suniel Shetty: I want Athiya and Ahan to find their own paths, even if they fail

Suniel Shetty wants Athiya and Ahan to build independent lives, take risks and learn from failure, knowing their family bond will endure. He admires their clarity and confidence, including Ahan’s discipline and calm, and believes parents should let children find their way. Hosting Bharat Ke Super Founders, he is learning about business and urges youth to use power responsibly.

Who is holding the soul of your organisation?

India’s CSR funding reached ₹40,794 crore, alongside philanthropy, even as FCRA registrations shrink, making boards essential to steward capital and protect missions. Boards must evolve from founder-centered circles into guardians that challenge drift, represent beneficiaries, and keep donors from shaping priorities. A five-year strategy, candid CEO-chair dialogue, and long-term accountability can help institutions outlast founders.

DU cancels PhD registration of scholar accused of assaulting professor

Delhi University cancelled PhD scholar Shubham Singh’s registration and barred him from campus, admissions and examinations for three years after an inquiry into his alleged assault on law professor Anupam Jha. CCTV and medical records informed the findings, which cited prior misconduct; Singh did not respond. The alleged assault occurred at North Campus on August 17.

At least 12 people die in bus-truck collision in Assam''s Kaziranga

At least 12 people, including two women, died Friday when a minibus collided head-on with a container truck near Kaziranga National Park, and police warned the toll could rise as injured passengers were taken to hospitals. Several passengers were college students; the bus reportedly carried over 35 people, and officers suspect speeding caused the crash.

At COP31, India must make climate finance more than a negotiating point

At COP31, India should steer climate-finance negotiations beyond headline pledges toward affordable, accessible capital that helps developing countries expand energy access and cut emissions. Though Baku set a $300 billion goal by 2035 and a $1.3 trillion ambition, costly debt and concessional-funding gaps remain. India should seek loan terms, grants, risk-sharing and project-preparation support.

Gujarat BJP MLA’s nephew arrested, released on bail in hit-and-run case that killed 1

BJP legislator’s nephew Raghavendra Kushwaha was arrested after allegedly fleeing a Range Rover crash in Ahmedabad that killed 35-year-old passenger Harshadkumar Purbia, who was riding an app-based motorcycle taxi. Police traced the vehicle using CCTV footage and found Kushwaha at home the next morning; he was released on bail because the charges carry less than seven years’ imprisonment.

Mumbai consumer panel dismisses complaint against Ola over 2-day delay in returning customer's keys

Mumbai’s consumer commission dismissed a complaint against Ola over a two-day delay in returning a passenger’s forgotten car keys, ruling that coordination time in a large city alone does not prove deficient service. The passenger criticized generic support emails, but the driver returned the keys voluntarily, without charge. The panel found no evidence of denied assistance or unfair conduct.

Trump casts doubt on Jimmy Lai’s release, says China bears ‘great animosity’ for Hong Kong tycoon

Trump says freeing Jimmy Lai will be difficult, as Xi Jinping has refused and Beijing harbors hostility toward him, before an APEC summit meeting. British-Hong Kong activist Lai, 78, is serving 20 years for convictions tied to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Trump once called his release easy; his family warns his health is worsening in detention.

IIT Kharagpur alumnus wins prestigious UK engineering prize for work on self-driving vehicle safety

An IIT Kharagpur alumnus has won the UK’s highest mechanical engineering honour for making autonomous transport technologies safer. Professor Siddartha Khastgir received the 2026 James Clayton Prize for advancing safety standards across road, aviation and maritime autonomy, including six international standards, among them the first for self-driving vehicles. He graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 2011.

4 Nagas killed in ambush in Manipur's Ukhrul as fresh violence grips state

Four Naga community members were killed Friday when armed men ambushed their vehicles on NH-202 in Ukhrul as they travelled toward Imphal, police said, suspecting Kuki militants. The victims were from Shangshak and Tashar villages. The attack adds to Naga-Kuki clashes amid Manipur’s wider conflict, which has killed nearly 370 and displaced 66,000 since May 2023.

Anu Malik on music today: Virality is not what makes a song timeless

Composer Anu Malik says AI can assist music-making but cannot replace originality, warning composers not to let technology dictate their process amid experimentation and pressure for viral hits. He argues lasting songs depend on lyrics and emotional connection, while AI recreates existing styles. Returning to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, he praises emerging singers and musicians.

Two killed, three injured as speeding 18-wheeler trailer hits several vehicles on Jaipur-Delhi highwayy

Two people died and three were injured, including the trailer driver, when a speeding 18-wheeler hit five vehicles and ran over a pedestrian on Jaipur’s Jaipur-Delhi highway Friday afternoon. Police said the trailer lost control while descending from a flyover toward a service lane, with preliminary findings pointing to overspeeding. Officers are examining CCTV footage to reconstruct the crash.

Union minister reviews grassroots welfare schemes in Arunachal villages

Union minister Anupriya Patel inspected welfare services and drinking-water projects in Rengo and Lileng villages, Siang district, urging officials to ensure benefits reach every eligible household. She assessed anganwadi nutrition and healthcare services, checked household tap connections, and reviewed a 20,000-litre Jal Jeevan Mission project. Siang reports 100% household tap coverage; Patel reviewed scheme progress in Boleng.