Thane: Passengers aboard a TMT bus had a narrow escape late Saturday night after the vehicle’s engine suddenly caught fire, officials said on Sunday.The incident occurred around 11.30 pm when passersby spotted smoke billowing from the engine located at the rear of the TMT bus travelling along Pokhran Road No. 2 on the Vartak Nagar–Thane Station (W) route. They alerted the bus driver and conductor, who immediately halted the vehicle and safely evacuated all passengers.The staff then attempted to douse the flames while notifying emergency services. Fire and rescue teams arrived shortly afterward and quickly brought the blaze under control.The exact number of passengers on board is yet to be confirmed, but no injuries were reported, said Yasin Tadvi, in charge of the Thane Regional Disaster Management Cell. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Manchester United players (Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP)
Joshua Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in nearly a year, while Mason Mount secured the winning goal as Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday.Ruben Amorim’s team initially fell behind when Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a first-half penalty at Selhurst Park. However, Zirkzee and Mount’s second-half goals helped United secure their first victory in four matches.United overcame their slow start with Zirkzee’s first Premier League goal since his strike against Everton in December 2024. The Dutch striker had experienced a 24-game goalless streak in the league, raising questions about his £36 million transfer from Bologna in 2024.Zirkzee, aged 24, had not found the net in his previous eight appearances since April. Mount, who has faced injury setbacks since joining from Chelsea, celebrated only his second goal of the season.This victory marked United’s first win since October, providing relief for Amorim after their recent loss to 10-man Everton at Old Trafford. The win was particularly significant as it ended Palace’s unbeaten home record in the Premier League, which had stood since February 15.“There are no excuses” for United’s struggling start to the season, Amorim had stated earlier in the week.Casemiro nearly gave United an early lead within the first minute when a long throw created confusion in Palace’s defense, but Dean Henderson saved his close-range shot.Mateta missed an opportunity at the other end, failing to score after getting past Leny Yoro with only goalkeeper Senne Lammens to beat. Lammens then made saves from Daichi Kamada’s low shot and helped defend against Yeremy Pino’s attempt.Palace took the lead in the 36th minute through a penalty. Yoro fouled Mateta, who initially scored but had his goal disallowed for a double-touch violation.A new rule implemented this season allows successful penalties with accidental double-touches to be retaken. This rule clarification followed Julian Alvarez’s disallowed penalty for Atletico Madrid against Real Madrid last season.Mateta successfully converted his second attempt past Lammens. Zirkzee, who had been quiet in the first half, equalized in the 54th minute with a remarkable shot from a difficult angle after receiving Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick.Shortly after scoring, Zirkzee almost contributed to an own goal when he deflected the ball toward his own net, but it was cleared to safety.Mount put United ahead in the 63rd minute, scoring from a free-kick assist by Fernandes. His low shot went under the Palace wall and past Henderson from 20 yards out.
India B (Manipur) clinched a spectacular victory over Colombia with a score of 8–5 in a thrilling final to lift the coveted title at the 15th Manipur Polo International Tournament. The championship match, held on Saturday at the Imphal Polo Ground, drew the curtains over the week-long sporting spectacle. The tournament, organised by the Manipur horse riding and polo association, was held from November 22 to 29 and was one of the major draws of the ongoing 10-day Sangai Festival 2025, which concludes today.The venue, the Imphal polo ground, also known as Mapal Kangjeibung, is widely known as one of the oldest polo grounds in the world, adding heritage value to the event.Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla attended the high-octane finale along with his wife Jyoti Grover Bhalla. They participated in the closing ceremony as well. The final match commenced with a ceremonial throw-in of the polo ball by the governor, signalling the official start of play. During the closing ceremony, he also released the official souvenir of the tournament.The presence of international teams further elevated the competition of this year’s championship, reinforcing Manipur’s deep and historic connection with equestrian sports. The state is often celebrated as the birthplace of modern-day polo and the tournament is testimony to Manipur’s longstanding association with the sport.Governor Bhalla presented medals to both the champions and runners-up. The winning team, India B (Manipur), was awarded a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, while team Colombia took home a prize money of Rs 1.5 lakh. After the prizes were distributed, Bhalla formally declared the tournament closed.The final match also saw the presence of the President of the Manipur Pony Society, alongside other members of the public.
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British Airways is preparing to expand its India operations to tap into the country’s fast-growing aviation market and rising outbound travel demand, a senior airline executive said, citing the country’s “incredible potential”.The carrier, which has been flying to India for more than a century, currently operates 56 weekly flights from Indian cities to London — three daily services from Mumbai, two from Delhi, and one each from Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.Subject to regulatory approvals, British Airways plans to add a third daily Delhi–London flight next year.“We are always looking to continue to expand our services as demand grows stronger. We continue to keep our network schedule under constant review to ensure we provide connectivity and choice for our customers,” British Airways Chief Operating Officer Rene de Groot told PTI.“As demand strengthens, we remain focused on expanding our services and elevating the travel experience,” he added.
India is BA’s second-largest market
India is now British Airways’ second-biggest market after the US, with the airline maintaining crew bases in all five Indian cities it serves. De Groot said local hiring remains central to the airline’s service proposition.“In India, we continue to create employment opportunities, and support regional economies — all while promoting the best of Britain,” he said.British Airways also runs CallBA, its India contact centre located in Gurugram, which employs around 2,000 staff offering round-the-clock assistance to customers across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific.“From a people perspective, we have invested heavily in India and steadily expanded our colleague presence here, with CallBA and our five Indian cabin crew bases growing in size,” De Groot noted.
Network expansion and partnerships
The airline maintains a codeshare partnership with IndiGo and, through its wider collaboration with Qatar Airways, serves 13 Indian destinations with a total of 148 weekly flights — including direct British Airways services from London and Qatar Airways connections via Doha.Earlier this year, the airline launched a Meet and Assist service for travellers needing extra support while flying from India to the UK.De Groot said the rapid expansion of Indian carriers is a positive sign for the market.“We view the dynamic growth of Indian carriers like IndiGo and Air India as a positive development for the aviation industry and for India’s emergence as a global aviation hub,” he also told PTI.“India is our second-largest market, and the rising demand, coupled with the expansion of carriers like IndiGo amongst others, reflects the incredible potential of this market.”
Strong India–UK travel corridor
The UK remains a preferred destination for Indian travellers — particularly for tourism and education — aided by the India–UK Free Trade Agreement. About 500,000 Indians visit the UK each year, and the Indian diaspora continues to be a strong driver of travel demand.
Brazening it out, Pakistan on Sunday dismissed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s concerns over the country’s recent 27th constitutional amendment, urging him to avoid remarks that reflect “political bias and misinformation.”“Like all parliamentary democracies, all legislation as well as any amendment to the constitution remain the exclusive domain of the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan. While Pakistan gives due importance to the work of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is regrettable that Pakistan’s views and ground realities were not reflected in the statement issued,” the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
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The FO added that Pakistan remains “fully committed to protecting, promoting and upholding human rights, human dignity, basic freedoms and the rule of law as enshrined in the constitution”.“It is regrettable that Pakistan’s views and ground realities were not reflected in the remarks. We urge the High Commissioner to respect the sovereign decisions of Pakistan’s parliament and avoid commentary that reflects political bias and misinformation,” it stated.In a statement on Friday, Türk criticised Islamabad for adopting the amendment without “broad consultation” with legal experts and civil society, warning that the “hastily adopted” changes could undermine judicial independence and raise questions about military accountability.The 27th amendment has stirred intense political debate within the neighbouring nation. On November 12, a joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and National Assembly approved the bill, prompting the opposition to warn that the government was sounding “the death knell for the Supreme Court”.Also Read | 27th amendment: Where’s Pak headed — a govt-compliant court, an army-compliant govt?The amendment alters Article 243 by abolishing the post of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) and replacing it with a new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). It also proposes establishing a Federal Constitutional Court and reducing certain powers of the Supreme Court.The first CDF will be Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army chief who was “promoted” to the five-star Field Marshal rank following the conflict with India in May.According to Dawn, the Pakistan government is yet to notify the appointment of the CDF, even as the office of the CJCSC formally ended on Thursday.(With PTI inputs)
THANE: Passengers aboard a TMT bus had a narrow escape late Saturday night after the vehicle’s engine suddenly caught fire, officials said on Sunday.The incident occurred around 11:30 pm when passersby spotted smoke billowing from the engine located at the rear of the TMT bus (MH 04 HY 1757) travelling along Pokhran Road No. 2 on the Vartak Nagar–Thane Station (West) route. They alerted the bus driver and conductor, who immediately halted the vehicle and safely evacuated all passengers.The staff then attempted to douse the flames while notifying emergency services. Fire and rescue teams arrived shortly afterward and quickly brought the blaze under control.The exact number of passengers on board is yet to be confirmed, but no injuries were reported, said Yasin Tadvi, in charge of the Thane Regional Disaster Management Cell. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Deepika Padukone’s sister Anisha set to marry Rohan Acharya, Bimal Roy’s great-grandson and brother of Karan Deol’s wife. Private couple awaits official announcement; Deepika, Ranveer follow him on social media. Rohan runs Dubai travel biz with dad. Mom Chimoo launched events firm with Aamir Khan gig.
Anisha Padukone, the younger sister of Deepika Padukone, is preparing to walk down the aisle with her longtime partner Rohan Acharya. Rohan comes from a renowned film family as the great-grandson of iconic filmmaker Bimal Roy and the brother of Drisha Acharya, who is married to Karan Deol, son of actor Sunny Deol.
Wedding announcement awaited
According to Deccan Chronicle, the Acharya family shared that although the Padukones have not made any formal announcement yet, one is expected in the near future. Anisha and Rohan share a long-standing bond but have always maintained a low profile, keeping their relationship away from media attention. Interestingly, both Deepika and Ranveer Singh happen to follow Rohan on Instagram. As the excitement fills the air, the reports claim that Ranveer Singh might have played cupid for the two. Singh and Acharya’s parents have reportedly known each other for a long time. Moreover, the soon-to-be-wed couple instantly had a spark after meeting each other.
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Deccan Chronicle report stated that, “Ranveer Singh could well have played cupid,” the source said. “Ranveer’s parents and Sumit Acharya are very close. It’s a wonderful family, and Anisha and Rohan naturally clicked as they met over several gatherings.”
Anisha Padukone and Rohan Acharya’s profiles
Anisha Padukone is a professional golfer and also heads the Live Love Laugh Foundation, an initiative started by her sister Deepika Padukone. Rohan. On the other hand, Acharya is an entrepreneur based in Dubai. He is the son of Chimoo and Sumit Acharya, and collaborates with his father in managing the family’s travel enterprise. Anisha stays in Bengaluru with her parents, Prakash and Ujjala Padukone.
Rohan Acharya’s mother Chimoo Acharya
Rohan’s mother, Chimoo Acharya, who previously served as the marketing head of a well-known firm, ventured into entrepreneurship in 2002 when she launched her events company, with a grand concert headlined by Bollywood star Aamir Khan.
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on November 26 expressed surprise that a committee it appointed in July has not yet decided any of the air pollution grievances of residents in areas adjoining the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. It directed that a hearing be held on December 2. The committee is to act under the guidance of the deputy chief minister, on Wednesday said the HC division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe, and take appropriate decisions on the grievances raised. The HC, however, kept all contentions of the residents as well as BMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) open for further hearing.In a July 8 order, the HC constituted the committee after “considering the prejudice being caused to the citizens who are residents of the adjoining areas of the Kanjurmarg dumping ground.” The HC earlier observed the issue raised by NGO Vanshakti and Mangesh Sangle in public interest litigation (PIL) and a petition by Kannamwar Co-op. Hsg. Society Association Ltd was “of seminal importance” and touched “the basic human rights of citizens.“The Kannamwar residents’ grievance, submitted by their counsel Abhijeet Rane before the HC, was that though a committee of the Maharashtra administration was constituted under the urban development minister, consisting of a secretary-level officer, the deputy chief minister, the BMC commissioner, and the district collector, no meeting was held.In a June order, the HC, in an interim order, said the state and municipal corporation, including some of the adjoining municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, need to give serious thought to the consequences of municipal dumping grounds being located in the city areas, particularly when they are surrounded by large human habitation. The HC also suggested that it was vital to have a robust mechanism to identify appropriate areas, with up-to-date modern amenities, that would protect ecology and maintain a pollution-free atmosphere.In July, the HC reiterated the importance of a proper mechanism to allocate areas for dumping grounds and sought from the committee a “blueprint of the robust steps such committee would intend to take to resolve the woes of the large segment of society adversely affected by the dumping activities.” The HC suggested that BMC and other civic bodies from the MMR area should join in the deliberations with the panel, which was to also involve the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of Maharashtra, whose concern would be on ecology and environmental issues.The HC reiterated this week that the issues are required to be considered on an “urgent basis” and posted the matter to December 11 for a compliance report.By a May 2, 2025 order, the HC, in a 2013 PIL by Vanshakti, declared nearly 120 hectares of Kanjurmarg dumping ground as protected forest and sought its restoration as forest land. In August, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court on a challenge raised by the state.
After participating in all 14 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), South Africa’s veteran batter Faf du Plessis has this time decided to opt out of the tournament. He will be not be registering for the IPL 2026 auction, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 17.
Why Faf du Plessis has pulled himself out of IPL 2026 auction?
In an official statement on his social media handles, du Plessis confirmed he has decided not to register for the IPL 2026 auction and will instead play the 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He described the move as a chance to experience a different league, conditions, and environment, calling it an “exciting step” for his late-career phase. The 41-year-old has previously featured briefly in the PSL, and now plans a full-season stint there.
Du Plessis said that after playing in every season of the IPL, he felt it was the right time to step back from the tournament this year and reflect on what the league has meant to him. He thanked franchises, teammates, coaches and fans, calling the IPL a “massive part” of his journey and stressing that India holds a “special place” in his heart, while adding that “this isn’t goodbye” and he hopes to be seen in the league again in future.
The decision also comes on the back of a modest IPL 2025 with Delhi Capitals (DC), where he scored 202 runs in nine matches at an average around 22 and was not retained ahead of the 2026 mini-auction. With age, recent returns and team strategies all weighing in, he chose not to test the auction market this year, avoiding the possibility of going unsold while redirecting his focus fully to PSL opportunities.
Faf du Plessis (PC: X.com)
Overall, Du Plessis has amassed 4,773 runs in 154 IPL matches, boasting an average of 35.10 and a strike rate of 135.79, with 39 fifties but no centuries – his highest score being 96. The Proteas star delivered standout seasons like 730 runs in 2023 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (average 56.15, SR 153.68, 8 fifties) and 633 in 2021 for Chennai Super Kings (average 45.21, SR 138.21, 6 fifties). He contributed 2,721 runs for CSK across multiple stints, including IPL titles in 2012 and 2021, before leading RCB’s batting from 2022-2024 with 1,636 runs (730 in 2023 his peak). Released by Delhi Capitals post-2025, du Plessis holds no IPL bowling wickets (0/16 best) but excels in fielding with 85 catches.
