Author: Vividh Bharathi

Doubles coach Tan Kim returns for second stint with Indian badminton team

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has appointed Malaysian doubles specialist Tan Kim Her to work with the national team for the second time.

Instrumental in pairing Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy during his first stint with India, Tan will focus on developing strong doubles partnerships and bench strength ahead of the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Speaking about his return to the Indian set-up, Tan said, “I am very happy to be back in India and get a chance to work with Satwik-Chirag and also the young and talented group of doubles players who have the potential to follow on the path of Satwik-Chirag. I am looking forward to creating a bigger group of doubles combinations who can win tournaments at the world stage.”

After working with Japanese men’s doubles pairs since 2019, Tan returns to India to build on his proven success. Tan has already arrived in India and has begun his second spell with the team, joining the players in Hyderabad.

“We had been looking for quality foreign coaches who could work with our current top players and also guide our next-generation players as we prepare for the 2028 Olympics. Finding the right coach took time but we were determined to bring in those who can continue the development of our badminton stars and also work with a bigger group of players and help build a strong pipeline of talent for the future,” said BAI secretary general Sanjay Mishra.

–IANS

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SLB’s ‘Heeramandi’ only Indian show on Google’s global list of most searched shows

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Indian auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s OTT debut series ‘Heeramandi – The Diamond Bazaar’ has emerged as the only Indian show on Google’s most searched shows globally in 2024.

While many international shows made their place in the top positions of Google trends, it’s remarkable to see Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s grand Netflix period drama ‘Heeramandi’ securing the fourth position on the list. Moreover, while international conversations like the US elections, and climate events created major buzz, ‘Heeramandi’ has managed to make its place in this list.

The show features majestic visuals, captivating music, compelling narrative, and outstanding performances, and is infused with SLB’s signature opulent storytelling.

The series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, Sanjeeda Sheikh along with Taha Shah Badussha.

Taha, who essays the role of Nawab Tajdar Baloch in the series, had earlier shared that he auditioned for 15 months to land a part in the show.

Speaking about his audition, he earlier shared in a statement, “Having dreamt of working with the greats, Sanjay Leela Bhansali sat right at the top of my list. It took me fifteen months of relentless auditions for his show, and finally, the opportunity arrived—a mere 3-day role, but I was grateful that I would get a chance to receive his guidance. Meeting him was surreal, and it was then that he surprised me, suggesting a screen test for a more significant character, Tajdar’s best friend”.

The OTT series explores the cultural reality of Heeramandi, a dazzling district, through the stories of courtesans and their patrons set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s.

It stands as a true masterpiece, marking Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s remarkable debut in the digital realm and a significant milestone in his illustrious career.

‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is an eight-part series streaming on Netflix. The show is set to return with second season.

–IANS

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Japan to raise taxes for defence budget expansion: Media

Tokyo, Dec 11 (IANS) The Japanese government is finalising plans to increase corporate and income tax rates to fund its plan to nearly double defence spending to 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), local media cited sources as saying on Wednesday.

The government is targeting April 2026 for a 4 per cent hike in corporate tax rates, while the income tax rate is expected to rise by 1 per cent starting January 2027, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting Kyodo News.

Additionally, tobacco taxes will likely be raised incrementally from April 2026.

Japan plans to outlay a total of 43 trillion yen (about $284 billion) on national defence over the five years through fiscal 2027, and the government aims to collect an additional 1 trillion yen annually through tax increases, according to the report.

The government and ruling parties are drafting comprehensive tax reform plans for fiscal 2025, beginning next April. The finalised schedule for the tax increases is expected to be outlined in a draft to be completed by the end of December, the report added.

The expansion of Japan’s military budget has raised concerns domestically and internationally.

The country has set a goal outlined in its 2022 National Security Strategy of bringing defence spending to 2 per cent of the GDP in fiscal 2027, after long maintaining an informal cap of around 1 per cent, or about 5 trillion yen, under its war-renouncing Constitution.

–IANS

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Bangladesh court rejects bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das once again

Dhaka, Dec 11 (IANS) A Bangladesh court on Wednesday rejected the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu priest and spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote also associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), who has been arrested and jailed by the local authorities on charges of sedition.

Local media reported that Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Saiful Islam, who is on vacation, passed the order on Wednesday citing that the plea was rejected because Das did not have a lawyer’s letter of attorney on his behalf.

The petition, which will be heard on January 2 next year now, states that Das – a monk who is suffering from various diseases including diabetes and respiratory problems – has been arrested in a false and fabricated case.

It also mentions that his lawyer Subhashish Sharma could not attend the hearing on December 3 due to security reasons.

“Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Public Prosecutor PP Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan said that the state party informed the court that lawyer Rabindra Ghosh, who had applied for Chinmoy’s anticipatory bail hearing, had not given any power of attorney to fight the case on his behalf. Apart from this, Chinmoy’s lawyer Subhashish Sharma was also not present. Subhashish did not give anything in writing to Rabindra Ghosh to fight the case. Later, the court rejected the application made by lawyer Rabindra Ghosh,” reported the country’s leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo.

It was revealed that the bail hearing of two other accused in the case was also scheduled for Wednesday but could not take place due to the lawyer’s absence.

India has been reiterating that it hopes that the trial will be “fair and transparent” as the arrested Hindus have legal rights that should be respected.

New Delhi has also urged the interim government’s authorities in Dhaka to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression while highlighting that the arrest of Das follows multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

“The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for the protection of minorities,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said last month.

On Monday, during his visit to Dhaka, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had conveyed India’s concerns, especially those related to the safety and welfare of minorities, during his meetings with the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus and the Foreign Affairs Advisor, Touhid Hossain.

“We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction,” Misri told reporters in Dhaka on December 9 following his meeting with Hossain.

–IANS

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Biden calls Trump’s tariff approach ‘major mistake’

Washington, Dec 11 (IANS) US President Joe Biden called President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff approach “a major mistake.”

“He seems determined to impose steep universal tariffs on all imported goods brought to this country on the mistaken belief that foreign countries will bear the cost of those tariffs rather than the American consumer,” Biden said in a speech at the Washington-based think tank Brookings Institution.

“Who do you think pays for this? I believe this approach is a major mistake. I believe we have proven that approach is a mistake over the past four years,” said Biden.

In the speech, the outgoing US President reflected on the economy he inherited from Trump and his administration’s work following the COVID-19 pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

He also criticised Trump’s economic plan, warning that it means “another tax cut for the very wealthy.”

“(By) all accounts, the incoming administration is determined to return the country to another round of trickle-down economics and another tax cut for the very wealthy that will not be paid for or, if paid for, is going to have a real cost,” Biden said.

At a Wall Street Journal CEO Council event on Tuesday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also expressed concerns about Trump’s proposal to impose widespread import tariffs, warning that it could hinder progress in reducing inflation and lead to higher costs for both consumers and businesses.

In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump said he would fulfil a campaign promise to levy tariffs on imports from the United States’ major trading partners, saying that tariffs “cost Americans nothing.”

–IANS

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Brunei sultan urges united efforts from energy companies to face future challenges

Bandar Seri Begawan, Dec 11 (IANS) Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has chaired board meetings of the country’s key energy companies, urging united efforts to face future challenges, local media reported.

The 413th Board of Directors Meeting of Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) and the 191st Board of Directors Meeting of Brunei Shell Marketing Sdn Bhd (BSM) took place at the Brunei Prime Minister’s Office building on Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the official media Pelita Brunei.

The Sultan chaired the meetings and emphasised the need for strong leadership, along with technical expertise, unwavering commitment, and a united effort across the Brunei Shell Joint Venture and BGC to face future challenges, according to the report.

At the meeting, the participants discussed critical areas such as operational performance, safety, finance, and human resource development, as well as setting the strategic direction of BSP and BSM for the coming years.

Brunei is an important oil and gas producer in Southeast Asia.

–IANS

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BJP leader lodges cheating complaint against wife in Bihar

Patna, Dec 11 (IANS) A leader of the BJP’s Youth Wing in Bihar has filed a complaint with the police against his wife and in-laws, accusing them of cheating him.

“I married a woman from Ganga Babu Chowk on April 19. First, the marriage was solemnised at a court and later at the Ikorchala temple as per Hindu customs,” complainant Rakesh Gupta told the Town police station in Kishanganj after which an FIR was lodged.

He presented the marriage certificate with the court’s seal as evidence of their legal union. After the wedding, a grand ‘Bahu Bhoj’ (welcome event) was hosted at a restaurant in the city on May 10, police said.

“However, after marriage, the in-laws refused to allow the bride to stay at my house. When I confronted them, they ignored me,” Gupta said in the complaint.

He said that the bride’s family took Rs 30 to Rs 35 lakh and land from him, after which she “disappeared”.

“When I sought information from my wife’s family about her whereabouts, they told me that she had gone missing,” he said.

However, the bride’s mother provided a different version of events.

She denied that her daughter was ever married to Gupta, stating that it was only an engagement.

She also explained that on December 6, they had gone to Siliguri for medical treatment, and upon their return, the daughter was missing from home. The bride’s mother also denied accepting any money or land from Rakesh Gupta.

The police have initiated an investigation, and the case remains under scrutiny as both parties present differing accounts of the events.

The case of alleged cheating involving Rakesh Gupta took a shocking turn after evidence of his wife’s second marriage surfaced.

Gupta, who had accused his in-laws of fraud, was shocked when he saw a picture of his wife in a wedding dress sitting with another man, confirming her second marriage.

This revelation prompted Gupta to visit the bride’s house, where he created a ruckus and threatened to take legal action against his wife and her parents.

Gupta also claimed that a youth from Bengal was reportedly duped by the same family nine months ago.

Kishanganj SDPO Gautam Kumar acknowledged the seriousness of the case and confirmed that an investigation is underway.

“The matter will be investigated. The Hindu Marriage Act allows only one marriage. If rules have been violated, action will be taken against those found guilty,” Kumar said.

–IANS

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With over two lakh visitors, Nagaland’s iconic Hornbill festival registers popularity

Kohima, Dec 11 (IANS) The number of tourists in Nagaland’s iconic Hornbill festival has witnessed over 33 per cent more footfall than last year’s, with over 2.05 lakh people from various parts of India and abroad visiting the silver jubilee edition of the carnival.

An official of Nagaland’s Tourism and Art and Culture department on Wednesday said 2.05 lakh people visited the picturesque Naga heritage village Kisama between December 1 and 10, where the 10-day event concluded on Tuesday.

Of the 2.05 lakh people, 2527 were foreign tourists, 54036 were from various parts of the country and the remaining were from different parts of the state. Last year 1,54,057 visitors visited Kisama,12 km from the state capital Kohima.

The officials said that in the silver jubilee edition of the Hornbill Festival this year, Japan, the U.S., the U.K. (Wales) and Peru were the country partners while Sikkim and Telangana were the partner states.

More than 50 cultural troupes from different parts of Nagaland and all the eight northeastern states displayed their traditional and diverse cultures.

Thanking the participants and all the stakeholders, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in a post on the X said: The Hornbill Festival is a vibrant celebration of Nagaland’s culture. I thank all Partners, guests, and participants, who helped make the 25th Edition truly special. I hope you take a piece of our culture with you and be our ambassadors.”

Nagaland Tourism Minister and Festival Host Temjen Imna Along said the festival resonated unity and zeal of the people of the state and beyond.

Along said the Hornbill Festival has evolved beyond cultural, tribal, and festive celebrations into a platform for networking and growth.

He also acknowledged all state machinery, partner countries and states, visitors, and other stakeholders who were instrumental in bringing the vision of the festival to splendid light.

With a population of two million (tribals constitute 86.5 per cent), Nagaland has 17 tribes and all the tribes have their own festivals.

Each of Nagaland’s recognised tribes participated in the festival showcasing their unique customs, attire, and traditions.

The festival, being held since December 1999, is also a tribute to the great Hornbill, a bird revered by the Naga people for its alertness and grandeur.

Besides daily performances by a large number of cultural troupes from all the eight northeastern states, other highlights of the iconic Hornbill Festival included sales of local products, handloom and handicrafts, artworks, horticulture, traditional stone pulling ceremony, film festival, photo fest, heritage walk, kids’ carnival, International Hornbill Naga Wrestling, indigenous games and sports festival, etc.

Local cuisine, food festival, Naga King chilli and pineapple eating competitions, World War-II rally, adventure outdoor activities, mountain biking, Dzukou Valley Day Hikes, Bamboo Carnival, and Night Carnival were the other important attractions of the annual gala celebration.

–IANS

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Karisma Kapoor gets PM Modi’s autograph for her children

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, who is known for ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Coolie No.1’, ‘Raja Hindustani’ and others, recently met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi with her family, and received a signed autograph from the PM for her children.

On Wednesday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared the pictures from the Kapoor family’s meeting with the PM. The family, which is considered the first film dynasty of Hindi cinema, met with PM Modi ahead of the centenary of the family’s patriarch Raj Kapoor, who is widely considered one of the most influential filmmakers and actors in Indian cinema.

Sharing the pictures, Karisma wrote the same caption as her sister Kareena Kapoor Khan. She wrote, “We are deeply humbled and honored to have been invited by the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to commemorate the extraordinary life and legacy of our grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor. Thank you Shri Modi ji for such a special afternoon. Your warmth, attention, and support in celebrating this milestone meant the world to us”.

“As we celebrate 100 glorious years of Dadaji’s artistry, vision, and contribution to Indian cinema, we honour the timeless impact of his legacy, which continues to inspire us and generations to come. We are proud to showcase his iconic films and remember the impact he had on Indian cinema with the ‘Raj Kapoor 100 Film Festival’. Dec 13-15, 2024 | 10 films | 40 cities | 135 cinemas. #100YearsOfRajKapoor “, she added.

December 14, 2024 marks the centenary of Raj Kapoor. He was born in Peshawar (present day Pakistan), and was the eldest son of actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards.

His films ‘Awaara’ and ‘Boot Polish’ competed for the Palme d’Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951 and 1955’s editions respectively.

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 for his contributions to the arts. India’s highest award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, was bestowed to him in 1988 by the Government of India.

Earlier, the International Film Festival of India, organised jointly by the National Film Development Corporation of India (under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) and the state Government of Goa, in Goa, honoured Raj Kapoor ahead of his centenary, and invited Ranbir as the speaker to share anecdotes about his grandfather.

–IANS

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F1: Fernando Alonso ‘still dreaming’ of third world championship

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) The 43-year old Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso is still dreaming of his third World Championship, having last won the title in 2006.

“I still dream. Why not? I know 2026 is probably my only chance because 2025 is extremely difficult, but I am still dreaming. F1 is for dreamers, probably, because anything can happen. Let’s see,” Alonso was quoted as saying by BBC.

Alonso’s expectations will be high as Adrian Newey has committed his long-term future away with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team in 2025. Newey’s move to the British car manufacturer was announced in September.

During his time in Formula One, which has earned him the accolade of one of the greatest F1 designers in history, Newey has been a part of Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull teams, Newey’s designed cars have won 13 drivers’ championships and 13 constructors’ crowns.

Alonso claimed Newey’s arrival was ‘destiny’ after the duo had come close to working together a number of times in the past.

“Expectations will be high because it is a new car, change of regulations, car made by Adrian. Probably – or at least to start – it will be my last season in F1. Because my contract finishes at the end of 2026. It is the time of delivering and the time of truth. High expectations.”

“Destiny. It seems like destiny always I was missing the opportunity. But he came now at the end of my career and I will still enjoy as much as I can, try to learn from him.

“We have this mutual respect. We exchanged some messages and spoke from time to time and it seems like we connected always. We never worked together but we were always in the same frequency when we talked in the past. I am looking forward. And for Aston Martin it is a big thing,” added Alonso.

Newey will join a team that has already made significant strides in recent years, with the recruitment of top engineers, a state-of-the-art new factory, and a works engine partnership with Honda from 2026.

Expectations suggest that Aston Martin has the potential to field one of the fastest cars in the 2026 season, putting Alonso in a solid position to fight for his third World Championship.

“All my career I have been driving cars that were maybe not the best in that moment, even my two World Championships. In 2005, the McLaren was the fastest car but their reliability was bad so we compensated with that and won the championship.

“And then in 2006, they were very similar but the Ferrari and Michael [Schumacher] had a little bit too many DNFs, especially in Japan at the end of the year, and I won the championship.

“I keep delivering and motivated and I am not [feeling like I am] driving in circles because every year I still have the hope that will be the season I could have a fast car,” concluded Alonso.

–IANS

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