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Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday, with its UP unit chief Ajay Rai claiming that he died due to «police brutality». Police said 28-year-old Prabhat Pandey, a native of Gorakhpur, was brought dead to the hospital from Congress office. «Prabhat Pandey was brought to the Civil Hospital in Hazratganj in an unconscious condition from the Congress office. The doctors declared him brought dead,» DCP (Central Lucknow) Raveena Tyagi said. «Prima facie, according to doctors, there was no visible injury mark on his body. Apart from this, a post-mortem would be done by a panel and the process would be videographed. Accordingly further legal proceedings would be carried out,» Tyagi added.

INS Nirdeshak, the second ship of the Survey Vessel (large) project, was commissioned into the Indian Navy, in a ceremony presided over by Sanjay Seth, Union Minister of State for Defence, at Naval Dockyard in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command hosted the commissioning ceremony marking the formal induction of the second of the four ships of the Survey Vessel (Large) project under construction at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. The ship is designed to conduct hydrographic surveys, aid in navigation, and support maritime operations. Speaking on the occasion Sanjay Seth said that highly specialised ships — the Survey Vessels — play a vital role in charting the oceans. These are sophisticated niche platforms that allow for a more accurate collation of oceanic data, its precise processing and as a result, highly reliable charts that enhance maritime operations and safety.

As per the report, despite setbacks from the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism and hospitality sector is witnessing a strong resurgence, fueled by domestic tourism. By 2036-37, spending in this sector is projected to rise by 1.2 times, driving the need for an additional 61 lakh workers, comprising 46 lakh males and 15 lakh females.

“The Ministry of Defense of Russia must be ready for any development of events, including a possible military conflict with NATO in Europe in the next decade,” Belousov said. The comments by the Putin minister came as US-President elect Donald Trump has called for a rapid end to the fighting. “We’re trying to get the war stopped, that horrible, horrible war that’s going on in Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine. We’re going to get a little progress, it’s a tough one, it’s a nasty one, it’s nasty," Trump had said.

Cochin Shipyard Limited's wholly-owned subsidiary Udupi-Cochin Shipyard on Wednesday announced the launch of the Series of Six 3800 TDW general cargo vessels being built for Norway's Wilson ASA. The vessel was launched by Martine Aamdal Bottheim, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, along with Wilson ASA Chief Financial Officer Einar Tornes and Cochin Shipyard's Chairman and MD Madhu S Nair, Cochin Shipyard Ltd said. Constructed as environment-friendly diesel-electric vessels for the transport of general cargo in the coastal waters of Europe, these vessels have a length of 89.43 metres, 13.2 metres breadth with a draft of 4.2 metres and have been designed by Conoship International of the Netherlands, it added.

Identity verification startup Bureau has secured $30 million in a fresh equity funding round led by US venture firm Sorenson Capital and PayPal Ventures. Existing investors Commerce Ventures, GMO Venture Partners, Village Global, Quona Capital and XYZ Ventures also participated in the round. While this is primarily a fresh infusion into the company, there is a small secondary component where some of Bureau’s early investors and employees have sold their shares. This round takes the overall funding raised by the company to around $50 million.

Ravichandran Ashwin sparred with his insecurities as a child for far too long and perhaps didn't want to be dragged into a rigmarole of insecurities once again. It is for this reason that an abrupt retirement from international cricket would not seem out of the blue for anyone who has followed the man's journey. It could have happened in Sydney after the fifth Test against Australia but he didn't want to hang around. No one had to tell him that it was time to walk away from the game that consumed nearly three decades of his 38-year-old existence. Ashwin, the straight-shooter, did a cameo presser to let the world know in John Denver style «My bags are packed and I am ready go». He wore many hats as an active international cricketer and it would take just a five-minute conversation with him would be enough to know that he can see through word salad quite easily.

The IMD also forecasts dry weather across the state from December 18 to 22. Isolated places in interior Karnataka may experience shallow fog or mist until December 20.

Donald Trump 47th President. The election was preceded by an entire year of campaigning, and a neck-and-neck competition between the Democrats and the Republicans. As Democrat nominee and US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Trump vied for the White House, India became the talk of the election. With 2.6 million eligible Indian-American voters — according to data from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — the Indian diaspora’s growing political significance was felt in key US swing states. These states, which were won by Trump, accounted for a significant number of Indian-American votes. Data suggested that there was a shift in the attitude of US voters of Indian origin this year. A large number of them shifted from Democratic Party to Republican Party in this election.

Meta Platforms' advertising revenue in the United States next year, as the social media platform improves monetisation of its products, according to research firm Emarketer. Why it's important Instagram's Reels competes with ByteDance's TikTok and YouTube Shorts, as users find short-form videos more engaging, driving marketers to adopt the format at a time when Meta is looking to boost revenue from the product by placing more ads.

Tom Cruise is now a real-life military hero after years of playing military heroes on screen. The 'Top Gun' star was honoured with the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service (DPS) Award during a ceremony in London on Tuesday, which recognized Cruise’s contribution and dedication to the US Navy through his film work. Top Cruise was awarded the US Navy's top civilian honor on Tuesday for “outstanding contributions to the Navy and the Marine Corps” with “Top Gun” and other films, reports news agency AP. He works in the UK. “Top Gun,” the smash hit 1986 movie about Cold War flying aces, made Cruise a star and drove a spike in military enlistment. The Navy even set up recruitment tables in theaters.

Nirmala Sitharaman as she prepares to present the Union Budget 2025. The trade deficit, driven by high import bills and fluctuating export growth, demands targeted interventions to ensure sustainable economic growth. India’s trade deficit in November widened to an all-time high of $37.84 billion from $27.1 billion in, which has put some pressure on the local currency. This year, the Indian Rupee often traded at around record lows against the US dollar.

Reliance Nippon Life Insurance, a subsidiary of debt-ridden Reliance Capital (RCAP), has initiated talks with IndusInd Bank for bancassurance partnership as the IIHL and RCAP deal has reached the final lap. Mauritius-based IndusInd International Holdings Ltd (IIHL), the parent entity of IndusInd Bank, won the bid to acquire RCAP and entities under it. «IIHL and Japan-based Nippon Life have struck a good understanding and they are absolutely clear about promoting the insurance business. This augurs very well for the business and policyholders as IIHL has a very strong capital base and a solid global aspiration in BFSI space,» Reliance Nippon Life Insurance CEO Ashish Vohra told PTI. Hinduja Group company IIHL is expecting to complete the acquisition of RCAP by next month nearly a year after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved its rescue plan.

premium Scotch whisky brand, The Glenwalk, is set to make a major push in Maharashtra with the launch of a new 200ml Nip bottle. Priced at Rs 500, this more accessible format is part of the brand's strategy to quadruple its sales in the region, which already accounts for 68 per cent of its overall sales, the company said in a press release on Wednesday. Fresh off a Gold Medal win at the 2024 IWS Awards, The Glenwalk has garnered recognition for its quality, having also secured top honours at the ProWine 2023 and the 2024 London Spirits Competition. With the 200ml bottle, the brand aims to expand its customer base and further solidify its position in the competitive Indian whisky market. “We are thrilled to introduce the 200 ml Nip bottle to the discerning consumers of Maharashtra,” said Mokksh Sani, Founder of Living Liquidz, Mansionz, and Co-founder of Cartel Bros. “This launch, backed by the expertise of Cartel Bros, is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing premium spirits experiences. We are confident that this new format will resonate with our existing customers and attract new ones.”

Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented in Uttarakhand from January 2025. According to a press statement issued on Wednesday, all preparations have been completed, and Uttarakhand will become the first state to implement the UCC after independence. During a meeting of the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB) held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Chief Minister Dhami stated that the state government has undertaken all necessary preparations to implement the UCC, fulfilling its earlier resolution. The Chief Minister recalled that in the first cabinet meeting of the newly-formed government in March 2022, a decision was made to constitute an expert committee to study and implement the UCC in the state. Following this, a five-member expert committee was formed under the chairmanship of retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai. Based on the committee's recommendations, the Uniform Civil Code Bill 2024 was passed by the State Legislative Assembly on February 7, 2024.

Guardian newspaper confirmed Wednesday that it has sold the Observer, the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, to Tortoise Media for an undisclosed fee. The Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian Media Group, said in a statement that Tortoise Media is purchasing the Observer through a combination of cash and shares. The Observer, which was founded in 1791 and became part of the Guardian Media Group in 1993, is a bastion of liberal values in Britain's media landscape.

Gems and jewellery exports saw a decline of 12.94 per cent to USD 1,986.21 million (Rs 16,763.13 crore) in November on prolonged geopolitical tension, Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said on Wednesday. Gems and jewellery exports in November 2023 stood at USD 2,281.4 million, the GJEPC data added. Cut and polished diamonds export in November declined 39.81 per cent to USD 666.01 million compared to USD 1,106.53 million for the same period last year.

India Budget: As India prepares for Budget 2025, retailers are calling for measures that could transform the sector, including low-interest financing, tax relief, and a faster rollout of the National Retail Policy. The Retailers Association of India (RAI), in its pre-budget memorandum, urged the government to use the Union Budget for FY25-26 as a platform to address structural gaps, boost consumption, and improve ease of doing business. These changes, the RAI stated, would bolster consumer sentiment and support growth in the retail sector. A key demand from retailers is affordable financing. RAI highlighted the need for the government to announce lower interest rates specifically for retail businesses in the budget. “There is a need to provide lower interest rates to the retailers through the special announcement in the budget to assure easier financing for the retail businesses,” RAI stated. The association proposed the creation of a special fund, facilitated by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), to help independent retailers across the nation. This scheme could provide low-cost loans and relaxed regulatory guidelines to millions of small businesses, addressing a critical gap in financing options.

Rohit Sharma is the first to admit that his recent batting form has been below par but he continues to «feel good» about his game, providing him hope for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Rohit, who did not play the series opener in Perth due to the birth of his second child, has managed scores of 3, 6 and 10 on the tour. His return to the middle-order after six years to accommodate KL Rahul at the top has made the task even more challenging for him. Following the drawn Test at the Gabba, Rohit made an honest assessment of his batting Down Under. «I have not batted well. There's no harm in accepting that. But I know what's in my mind, how I'm preparing myself. All those boxes are very much ticked. It's just about spending as much time as possible, which I'm pretty sure I'm just there,» Rohit said in the post match press conference.

G20 Talent Visa. Targeted at scholars, researchers, and professionals from G20 nations, this initiative aims to bolster India's scientific and educational ecosystem. The announcement aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal at the G20 Summit in September, where he emphasized the need to create opportunities for top talent in science and technology. Speaking at the summit, the Prime Minister Modi said, “Similar to how all countries issue different categories of visas, we can establish a ‘G20 Talent Visa’ as a special category. This type of visa could be highly beneficial for our top science and technology talent to explore global opportunities. Their talent and efforts can contribute significantly to our economies.”