MUMBAI: Adani Group, India’s fifth-largest conglomerate by market value, intends to bid for nearly a dozen airports slated for privatisation as part of its Rs 1-lakh-crore investment plan for aviation infrastructure over the next five years. Earlier this year, govt announced plans to lease out 11 airports, including those in Amritsar and Varanasi.“Out of the Rs 1-lakh-crore, some part is earmarked and provisioned for the next round of airport bidding,” Jeet Adani, director at Adani Group, who oversees the country’s largest private airport network, told TOI. The investment, which will be funded through a mix of debt and equity, will also be deployed to build new terminals and upgrade aircraft-handling facilities and passenger amenities across its airports.

The group entered the airport sector in 2019 after winning six airports in govt’s privatisation drive. Two years later, it acquired the Mumbai airport from GVK Group, expanding its footprint. It is set to operationalise the Navi Mumbai airport next week, its first greenfield airport project.Jeet (28), the younger son of group chairman Gautam Adani, is also preparing the airport business for a potential listing by 2030 through a demerger. The group has previously listed businesses such as power transmission and renewable energy through similar demergers, bypassing the traditional IPO route.Before a listing, however, the airport unit must meet key milestones, including turning cash positive. Housed under flagship Adani Enterprises, the unit is ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) positive. In FY25, it made an operating profit of Rs 3,480 crore. “Once the capex cycle slows and revenues start flowing from the Navi Mumbai airport, city side development such as retail, food and beverage, hotels, and from ongoing expansion, the business will become cash positive and will not need support from the parent,” said Jeet.For now, the group’s airport ambitions remain firmly domestic. Jeet said the group will focus on India for five years, following the cancellation of an airport contract in Kenya last year amid criticism over transparency. This story had continued from a page 35 story in the newspaper. For your reading convenience we have added it below.Adani Grp eyes 12 airports in 1L cr infra planThe Adani Group intends to bid for nearly a dozen airports slated for privatisation as part of its Rs 1 lakh-crore investment plan for aviation infrastructure over the next five years, group director Jeet Adani said. Govt announced plans to lease out 11 airports, including those in Amritsar and Varanasi, earlier this year.

US President Donald Trump speaks during an event on prescription drug prices in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington (Picture credit: AP)

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced agreements with nine major pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices in the United States, marking a significant push to align domestic costs with those paid in other rich countries. The companies include Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Merck, Novartis and Sanofi.Under the deals, the drugmakers will rein in prices for medicines sold through Medicaid, charging rates comparable to what they levy in other wealthy nations. New drugs launched by these companies will also follow “most-favored-nation” pricing across all markets, including commercial insurance, cash-pay customers, Medicare and Medicaid, according to news agency AP.Trump said the agreements would end a system in which US patients paid far more than the rest of the world. “We were subsidising the entire world. We’re not doing it anymore,” he said at a White House press conference, according to Reuters. US prescription drug prices are often nearly three times higher than those in other developed countries.The companies also agreed to list pharmacy-ready medicines on a new direct-to-consumer platform, TrumpRx, set to launch in January, allowing patients to buy drugs directly from manufacturers. As per Reuters, some firms will offer discounts of up to 70% on select medicines, although analysts noted that Medicaid already receives steep rebates.Bristol Myers Squibb said it would provide its blockbuster blood thinner Eliquis free to Medicaid, a move described by health economist William Padula as “a thoughtful health equity move,” as per AP. Several companies also pledged to donate active pharmaceutical ingredients to a national reserve for use during emergencies.Markets reacted positively, with shares of most participating drugmakers rising, Reuters said, as the agreements also grant a three-year exemption from threatened pharmaceutical tariffs in return for commitments to invest in US manufacturing. Trump said he had warned companies of possible tariffs to push them to “do the right thing,” AP reported.According to CNBC, the administration has now secured pricing agreements with 14 of the 17 drugmakers it approached earlier this year, with negotiations continuing with the remaining firms.

BENGALURU: Parents in Thyagarajanagar claimed that 35-year-old former gym trainer Ranjan M, also known as Ranjith, had recently targeted several children in the locality. According to them, he tried to hit a girl with his bike, pulled the hair of a boy riding a bicycle, and even followed another girl the next day, striking her with his elbow. “We have collected footage and handed it over to the police,” said one parent.The most serious incident occurred on December 14, when a five-year-old boy visiting his maternal uncle’s house in Doddamavalli near Lalbagh was kicked by Ranjan while playing badminton with other children on Old Post Office Road. The boy sustained an injury above his eyebrow along with scratches on his hands and feet and was taken to a hospital for treatment.The child’s mother filed a police complaint the same day, alleging that the assault was intentional. CCTV footage, she said, corroborated the incident.A senior police officer confirmed that Ranjan appears to be mentally unstable and is undergoing psychiatric treatment. “During interrogation, he confessed to having assaulted several children, claiming that he felt distracted and agitated by the children shouting and playing on the road,” the officer said. Ranjan, who is unmarried and resides locally, has no previous criminal record. He was arrested but later released on station bail. His parents have reportedly taken him to Madurai for further treatment. Police said they are continuing to collect his medical records and assessing the situation to prevent further incidents, urging parents to remain vigilant.

The killing of Nuno Loureiro, a leading nuclear fusion scientist and director of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, has shocked the global scientific community and fuelled a wave of online speculation about possible motives. Loureiro, 47, was shot and killed at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, on December 15, 2025. Police have confirmed the death as a homicide and say the investigation remains ongoing, with no suspects or motive publicly identified. In the absence of official details, social media has rapidly filled the information vacuum with theories linking his death to the high-stakes global race for fusion energy.

Wave of online speculation after the scientist’s death

Soon after news of Loureiro’s death emerged, social media platforms were flooded with speculative and often contradictory claims attempting to explain the killing in the absence of official details. Some users framed him as the “first casualty of the fusion wars,” arguing that his work on nuclear fusion threatened entrenched energy industries, particularly fossil fuel companies, by accelerating the path toward a cleaner, long-term alternative. Others extended this narrative to include renewable energy sectors, claiming that large-scale fusion could eventually disrupt existing wind and solar investment models. A separate strain of speculation focused on geopolitics. These posts suggested that foreign governments competing in the global race for next-generation energy technologies, including nuclear fusion, may have viewed Loureiro’s research as strategically significant. In these narratives, fusion was portrayed not just as a scientific goal but as a future source of economic and geopolitical power. Some posts went further by alleging state-level interference or industrial espionage. Other viral posts asserted that Loureiro was close to a major scientific breakthrough that could have rapidly accelerated the commercial viability of fusion energy. Authorities have repeatedly stated that there is no evidence at this stage connecting Loureiro’s research, industry interests, or geopolitical competition to his killing. Law enforcement officials have not identified a motive, named suspects, or suggested that his professional work played any role in the homicide. As a result, all such theories remain unverified online speculation rather than conclusions supported by facts.

Why fusion research draws intense attention

Fusion energy is often portrayed as a future solution to climate change and global energy security, offering power without carbon emissions and minimal long-lived radioactive waste. While progress has been significant, experts stress that fusion remains a long-term scientific challenge involving international collaboration across universities, national laboratories and private companies. No single scientist or institution can determine the pace or outcome of fusion development.

Who was Nuno Loureiro

Loureiro was an internationally respected plasma physicist who spent more than a decade at MIT working on some of the most difficult problems in nuclear fusion. As director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, he led research into turbulence and magnetic reconnection in plasmas, key challenges for making fusion reactors stable and efficient. Colleagues widely regarded him as a rare combination of deep theoretical thinker and gifted teacher.

What police have said so far

Law enforcement officials have confirmed that Loureiro died from a gunshot wound and that the case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been made, and police have not released details about potential suspects or motives. Investigators have urged caution as the inquiry continues and have warned against drawing conclusions without verified evidence.Beyond the speculation, Loureiro’s death is being mourned as a major loss to science and education. Students and colleagues remember him for his generosity, mentorship and ability to make complex physics accessible. For many young Portuguese scientists, he was a powerful role model who showed that it was possible to rise from familiar classrooms to the forefront of global research.

New Zealand‘s opening batters have scripted some monumental stands in Test cricket history, laying foundations for historic victories and drawn battles. The latest entry came on December 18, 2025, when Devon Conway and captain Tom Latham smashed a colossal 323-run partnership against West Indies at Mount Maunganui, propelling New Zealand to 334-1 on day one of the third Test. This effort not only ranks as the second-highest opening stand for the Black Caps but also underscores the modern duo’s dominance, eclipsing several iconic partnerships over 50 years old.​

Top 5 historic opening stands for New Zealand in Test

1. Terry Jarvis & Glenn Turner – 387 runs vs West Indies, Georgetown, 1972

This remains the gold standard for New Zealand openers, forged during the fourth Test of their gruelling tour of the Caribbean at Bourda, Guyana. West Indies declared at 365/7 after batting first, but Jarvis (182 off 555 balls) and Turner (259 off 759 balls) batted nearly nine hours to surpass that total, erasing the deficit in a match that ended in a draw after just ten wickets fell across five days. The stand, New Zealand’s highest partnership overall at the time, showcased unflinching patience on a wearing pitch, with Turner continuing to 259 as Jarvis anchored solidly against a potent pace attack led by Andy Roberts.​

2. Devon Conway & Tom Latham – 323 runs vs West Indies, Mount Maunganui, 2025

In a clinical display under Bay Oval’s sunny skies, Conway (178*) and Latham (137) dismantled West Indies’ bowless attack on the opening day of the third Test. Latham fell just before stumps to a rash shot, but the pair’s methodical accumulation—blending crisp drives and nurdles—exposed the visitors’ lack of penetration, marking only the eighth 300-plus stand for New Zealand in Tests. As captain, Latham’s composure complemented Conway’s fluency, signalling New Zealand’s intent to dominate the series and cementing their status as the premier opening pair of the modern era.​

Also READ: Fans go gaga as Devon Conway hammers a double century against West Indies on Day 2 of the 3rd Test

3. Stewie Dempster & Jackie Mills – 276 runs vs England, Wellington, 1930

New Zealand’s second Test ever produced a landmark on a perfect Basin Reserve day, as Dempster (136) and Mills built the then-highest opening stand globally, third overall in Test history. Batting first after winning the toss, they redeemed Kiwi cricket’s reputation against a strong MCC side, with Dempster becoming the first New Zealander to score a Test century in the process. The partnership propelled New Zealand to 385 all out, though England responded stoutly; it stood as the home record for 89 years until recent assaults.​

4. Tom Latham & Jeet Raval – 254 runs vs Bangladesh, Hamilton, 2019

During the first Test at Seddon Park, Latham and Jeet Raval ground Bangladesh into submission on a slow pitch, erasing their first-innings lead and pushing New Zealand to 333/2 before Raval departed at 254. Latham (his 264* later in the innings set a personal best) dominated lengths with pulls and drives, while Raval’s resilience—surviving 75 balls for his first runs—frustrated the spinners. This stand, New Zealand’s highest home opening partnership for decades, paved the way for a series-clinching win, highlighting Latham’s consistency as an opener.​​

5. Mark Richardson & Lou Vincent – 231 runs vs India, Mohali, 2003

On a flat Punjab Cricket Association Stadium deck, Richardson and Vincent blunted India’s spin-heavy attack in the second Test, punishing loose deliveries to surpass New Zealand’s previous record against India. Their gritty strokeplay amid turning conditions set a platform for Ross Taylor‘s later counterattack, though the match drew. Vincent’s aggression complemented Richardson’s dogged defense, proving Kiwi openers could thrive subcontinentally and holding as a benchmark until Latham-Raval’s exploits.​

These partnerships reflect New Zealand’s evolution from defensive survival to assertive dominance, with Conway-Latham’s fresh exploit breathing new life into the list. As Test cricket adapts to shorter formats’ pressures, such stands remain vital for setting up victories, especially with Black Caps chasing World Test Championship glory.

Also READ: Fans react as Devon Conway and Tom Latham’s triple-century opening stand for New Zealand dismantles West Indies bowling attack on Day 1 of Mount Maunganui Test

It’s finally that time of the year! Winters in North India come with a distinct mood altogether. The atmosphere is cold, the quilt is all the more cozy, and the food table transforms into a procession of all sorts of delicacies: gajar ka halwa, butter chicken, sizzling pakode, revdi, and gajak. The catch is that while the “pure joy of winters” may unfold with innocence in the mouth, it may become a reality show of sorts in the heart, especially when the mercury goes down, and the blood pressure starts rising naturally.Now, here are the four most loved winter delicacies of all time that are a treat for taste buds but bane for our hearts and arteries. Dr Manan Aggarwal, a respected doctor warns about the dangers of our favourite deserts and crispy delights.

Carrot Halwa: Healthy name, Heavy game

The story begins every time with, “its just carrot, it shouldn’t be tha complicated! because carrot is actually the sidekick. The main stars are actually full cream, khoya, ghee, and sugar that transform that innocent-looking dish into a calorie and fat bomb.In fact, since everyone is less active during the winter months and their blood is a bit thicker, this regular indulgence in something like this can cause sugar, triglycerides, and weight to shoot up. Because the heart has to work so much harder to maintain blood flow during a cold climate, this heart, already working overtime, shouldn’t receive a steel bowlful of this on a daily basis.

Butter chicken & rogan josh: Comfort for the tongue, pressure on the arteries

There’s something about a cold night, some hot naan, and an indulgent, creamy gravy that makes everybody feel like they are in heaven! But the same elements that make the gravy so indulgent are what make it so bad for our heart. This cream, this saturated fat, this butter, it all increases the bad cholesterol in the body, fueling the chunks that clog heart vessels that are already narrowed down due to the cold.This doesn’t translate to a life imprisonment diet of boiled food. This is a guideline on how to reserve the rich gravy dishes for the real indulgences and not for every second day. Smaller helpings, lower use of cream, emphasis on tandoori or BBQ meals, and a minimum of fifty percent alongside rotis and sabzi can sustain the taste buds as well as the heart.

Samosa, Kachori, and Pakode: The Crispy treat with a price tag

Every chai wala’s table in winter features one common guest – something fried. The initial bite of a hot samosa or pakoda during a foggy night can never be compared to anything else. However, the catch with these delights is that they are often fried with very hot oil, which makes them chock-full of unhealthy fats and oxidants. These unhealthy fats increase LDL levels, which increases inflammation, leading to increased coagulation levels, which can be very harmful as “winter itself” is pushing blood to become thicker and “stickier”.Nor will it be the same when, instead of platefuls of fried snacks for dinner, you get to enjoy them as weekend snacks. Roasted chanas, moderate peanuts, corn chaat, and air-fried snacks can be had on other days.

Revdi and gajak: Big on taste, bad for heart

Revdi and gajak are festive, nostalgic, and innocent because they are so small. “Bas do-chaar hi toh liye,” goes the typical remark. But the “two-four” bits are actually sesame or peanuts held together with sugar or jaggery, and lots of added fat too. This translates into a quick burst of calories and sugars with every mouthful. With minimal physical activity and increased sedentary time, such constant snacking silently contributes to increased weight, sugars, and triglycerides – all the wrong signals for the heart.The key is not to banish them, but to ritualize them: perhaps two little pieces after lunch on special days, and not a constant background snack throughout the evening. Keep them stored in a small dabba, and not in an open, overflowing thali that begs to be mindlessly grazed from.