Pakistan’s chief of defence forces field marshal Syed Asim Munir, was on Monday conferred with Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian honour, the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellence, during his official visit to the Kingdom.The award was granted under a Royal Decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Announcing the honour, the Pakistan Army said the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s highest national decoration.“Under a Royal Decree issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s highest national honour was also conferred upon the Field Marshal,” the army said, as reported by news agency PTI. According to the army, the Saudi leadership conveyed its appreciation for Field Marshal Munir’s professionalism and strategic outlook, and acknowledged his role in strengthening the longstanding and close ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.Field marshal Munir expressed gratitude to King Salman and the Saudi leadership for the honour, describing it as a reflection of the enduring bonds between the two countries. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the security, stability and prosperity of the Kingdom.During his visit, Munir also met Saudi Arabia’s minister of defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest, including regional security, defence and military cooperation, strategic collaboration and evolving geopolitical challenges.In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Sash, the Kingdom’s highest civilian honour, by King Salman bin Abdulaziz during his official visit.

Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda‘s romantic drama ‘Saiyaara’ stormed into 2025 as a certified superhit. Raking in over Rs 500 crore worldwide and crossing Rs 300 crore in India alone, according to Sacnilk, this heartfelt tale of love and destiny has captivated audiences, proving that new talent can reign supreme at the box office.

OTT triumph and TV premiere

‘Saiyaara’ didn’t just shine in theaters; its OTT streaming release won over viewers everywhere. Mohit Suri‘s romantic hit made its TV debut on Sony Max yesterday, December 20, 2025. Excitement exploded on X (formerly Twitter) as fans shared a clips unveiling the making of that unforgettable beach sequence.

Aneet Padda’s beach shoot ordeal

Remembering the shooting on the beach, Aneet said, “Our feet were burning. Before every take, they’d pour water on the sand, but it would disappear in 2 minutes. Then there was a drone shot, so we had to run. What happened was, I was just running when suddenly I think I tripped and fell. I was writhing there like a fish out of water. And then Ahaan had to pick me up, and his feet were burning too. We were both fighting for our lives. That drone shot was so beautiful—we weren’t running around laughing and playing, we were running while crying our eyes out.”

Ahaan Panday’s first day memory

Ahaan recalled the first day shoot on the beach and said, “First day when we went on the set, we removed our shoes and placed our foot on the sand and it was very very hot. In the second I ran and we kept running but it was too hot.”

Stellar cast and credits

Apart from Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, the film also features actors Geeta Agrawal Sharma, Rajesh Kumar, Varun Badola, Shaad Randhawa, Alam Khan and others in key roles. The movie received positive response from both fans and critics at the time of its release. Produced by Akshaye Widhani, the music for the film is composed by Faheem Abdullah, Tanishk Bagchi, Bohemia and others.

The Indian Women’s cricket team returned to action for the first time since their historic ODI World Cup triumph, and they did so with a resounding statement. On a humid Sunday evening at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the focus wasn’t just on the team’s victory, but on a monumental individual milestone. Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain and batting mainstay, once again proved why she is considered one of the most elite players in modern cricket by etching her name into the history books.

Smriti Mandhana becomes fastest to reach 4000 runs in T20Is

During India’s chase of 122, Mandhana walked out with her usual grace. Needing just 18 runs to reach a career-defining landmark, she played a steady knock of 25 runs off 25 balls. In doing so, she became the first Indian cricketer—and only the second woman globally—to surpass 4,000 runs in T20 Internationals.

She joined New Zealand legend Suzie Bates (4,716 runs) as the only two women to breach this barrier, further distancing herself from teammates like Harmanpreet Kaur (3,669 runs). What makes this feat even more remarkable is the efficiency of her scoring. Mandhana reached the 4,000-run milestone in just 3,227 balls, making her the fastest in history to achieve this speacial feat (surpassing Bates, who took 3,675 balls). By reaching this target nearly 450 balls faster than the previous record holder, Mandhana has solidified her reputation as the most efficient run-scorer in the history of women’s T20Is.

Also READ: IND-W vs SL-W 2025, T20I series | Broadcast, Live Streaming details | When and where to watch in India, USA, Canada and Sri Lanka

India registers a dominating win in Vizag

While Mandhana provided the historic moment, the match was a clinical display of team effort. India opted to bowl first, and the bowlers immediately put the squeeze on the Sri Lankan lineup. Young pacer Kranti Gaud provided the massive breakthrough by dismissing Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu early.

Deepti Sharma led the spin attack with a masterful spell, finishing with figures of 1/20, including a maiden over. Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma also impressed, showing great composure to finish with an economical 0/16 in her 4 overs. Despite a fighting 39 from Vishmi Gunaratne, Sri Lanka was restricted to a sub-par total of 121/6 in their 20 overs.

The chase was never in doubt, thanks to a “Player of the Match” performance by Jemimah Rodrigues. After the early fall of Shafali Verma, Mandhana and Rodrigues stitched together a vital 54-run partnership. Following Mandhana’s dismissal in the 9th over, Jemimah shifted gears effortlessly. She remained unbeaten on 69 off 44 balls*, including 10 elegant boundaries as India won the match by 8 wickets.

Also READ: Jemimah Rodrigues, bowlers propel India to comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in 1st T20I

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

NEW DELHI: India ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill will return to the domestic spotlight after a rare setback in his international career, with the Indian star named in Punjab’s 18-member squad for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy beginning December 24. Gill’s inclusion headlines a power-packed Punjab side that also features Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh, as the team looks to mount a strong title challenge in India’s premier 50-over competition.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Gill’s presence carries added significance after he was left out of India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand. For Gill, the Vijay Hazare Trophy now presents an opportunity to reset, rediscover rhythm, and remind selectors of his class in the white-ball format.

Punjab open their campaign against Maharashtra on December 24 and will play all seven league matches in Jaipur. The side, which exited at the quarter-final stage last season, boasts a formidable batting core with Prabhsimran Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Naman Dhir, Ramandeep Singh, Sanvir Singh and Harpreet Brar complementing Gill and Abhishek at the top and middle order.Abhishek Sharma’s inclusion adds further intrigue, with the aggressive all-rounder expected to play a key role in Punjab’s run-scoring ambitions. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, Punjab’s leading wicket-taker in the 2024–25 edition, will spearhead the bowling attack once again, supported by Gurnoor Brar and Krish Bhagat. His ability to strike early and close out innings makes him central to Punjab’s hopes.However, the availability of Gill, Abhishek and Arshdeep remains uncertain beyond the league stage, with India scheduled to play three ODIs against New Zealand from January 11, followed by a five-match T20I series starting January 21.Punjab find themselves in a competitive group alongside Mumbai, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim, with league fixtures concluding on January 8. Punjab’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad

Yogi Adityanath and Akhilesh Yadav (Images/Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday took a veiled dig at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a state Assembly session, saying “desh ke andar do namune hain” (There are two specimens in the country).The remarks came amid a heated debate in the Assembly over the alleged illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrup, prompting strong protests from the SP and noisy demonstrations inside and outside the House.

Speaking during the winter session, Adityanath said, “ ‘Desh ke andar do namune hain’. One sits in Delhi and the other in Lucknow. When there is any discussion in the country, they immediately flee the country, and I think the same thing is happening with your ‘Babua’. He will also leave the country again for a trip to England, and you people will keep shouting here.”The remarks came in response to opposition questions on deaths allegedly caused by codeine syrup, though UP CM did not name them explicitly.He categorically denied any fatalities due to the syrup in Uttar Pradesh: “No deaths have occurred in Uttar Pradesh due to codeine cough syrup. Secondly, action will be taken in this case under the NDPS Act. The Uttar Pradesh government has won this case in court.” Yogi added that the biggest wholesaler first apprehended by the STF had been licensed during the Samajwadi Party’s tenure in 2016.Giving an update on enforcement, the chief minister said, “The government has registered 79 cases, named 225 accused and arrested 78 people. Raids have been conducted on 134 firms. No accused in this case will escape, and preparations will also be made for bulldozer action when the time comes.” He also suggested that a deeper investigation may reveal links to the Samajwadi Party.“I think if you delve deeper into this matter, you’ll find that ultimately, some leader or individual associated with the Samajwadi Party is involved. The High Court has ruled that this entire case should be prosecuted under the NDPS Act. The Uttar Pradesh government has fought this battle and won.” he stated.The remarks drew strong reactions from Akhilesh Yadav. He criticised the public spat between leaders and the use of personal attacks in political discourse.In a post on X, Samajwadi chief wrote: “Self-Acceptance! No one expected the Delhi-Lucknow feud to escalate to this point. People holding constitutional positions should at least maintain some public decorum and not cross the bounds of propriety. BJP folks should not bring their party’s internal squabbles out to the crossroads.”Earlier, Akhilesh had alleged that the codeine racket originated from the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency. “A state’s chief minister lies, and those standing with him also lie. You can’t imagine that an illegal cough syrup business is operating from the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency… it’s worth thousands of crores. This is an international issue,” he said. Yadav called for strict bulldozer-style action against all “mafias,” irrespective of political affiliation.

What were the protests about?

Earlier today, Samajwadi Party members held demonstrations outside the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The protest came amid outrage over the alleged illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrup and what the party described as government inaction.SP legislators, including both MLAs and council members, staged a sit-in near the main gate of Vidhan Bhavan, holding placards with anti-government slogans and demanding strict action against those involved in the syrup racket.During the protest, SP members raised slogans against UP CM, alleging that people from his own caste and close associates were involved in the illegal trade. The party accused the government of prioritizing profits over public health and youth welfare. A statement from the Samajwadi Party media cell on X read: “Chief Minister Adityanath is running the business of poisonous and intoxicating cough syrup. People from his own caste and his close associates are involved in the illegal trade. Is their greed for money so intense that the deaths of children and addiction among youth have no effect on them? What kind of yogis are these who have gone to such extremes for money? How do they call themselves honest with what face? Is this their yoga, this their saintliness, and this their so-called honesty?”SP legislators also raised other issues during the protest, including alleged manipulation of voter lists, curtailment of reservation rights, and collapse of health services. The Uttar Pradesh police said a Special Investigation Team is probing the illegal network involved in storage and distribution of regulated codeine-based cough syrups, including financial transactions and cross-border links to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Your job is not to constantly fiddle with the portfolio, but to give your chosen businesses enough time and space to prove themselves. (AI image)

The biggest rewards in equities come to those who endure the dull years and survive the scary ones.One of the most common questions we get is, “How long should I hold this stock?” People expect a neat answer like “three years” or “five years”, the way you might answer about a fixed deposit. Unfortunately, that’s not how equity works. With stocks, the real question is not “how many years”, but “how many cycles”.If you look at any long-term compounding business, its share price does not move in a straight line. Over ten or fifteen years, it might go from Rs 10 to Rs 300, multiplying your money several times over. But within that journey, there will be stretches where nothing happens for two or three years, and sharp falls of 30-40 per cent that arrive without warning. If you only look at the price chart from a distance, it looks like steady progress. If you live through it day by day, it feels like chaos.Take a good-quality stock like Titan as an example. Suppose you had bought it around 2010, when it traded at roughly Rs 170. Between 2013 and 2016, it went sideways, starting around Rs 300, going up to around Rs 450 and coming back to Rs 300. Similar things happened between 2019 to 2020 and many investors who bought near Rs 1,300 in 2019 lost patience and sold with tiny gains or small losses by the end of 2020 after witnessing it crash to below Rs 850 in 2020. But if you zoom out and see what happened by 2025, when the stock traded around Rs 3,900, the picture changes completely. Over that full period of 15 years, the annualised return was roughly 23 per cent. That’s the reward for sitting through what looked like “dead” years and scary corrections.This is why we often say that time in the market matters far more than timing the market. If you keep jumping in and out, trying to catch the perfect bottom and top, you rarely give compounding a chance to work. The big moves in stocks often come in short, unpredictable bursts. If you spend a decade trying to outsmart every twist and turn, you will likely miss a few of those bursts—and missing just a handful of the best days or months can destroy your long-term return.On Value Research, we’ve shown this with index data as well. Take a broad market index from 2010 to 2025. If you stayed invested throughout, your annual return might be about 12 per cent. But if you were out of the market on just the 10 best days—because you panicked during volatility or tried to time every correction—that return drops to roughly 8.7 per cent. Miss a few more strong days and you might end up barely beating a fixed deposit. The market does not pay you for being clever. It pays you for staying invested through noise.When we add a stock to Value Research Stock Advisor (VRSA), we assume a holding period that is measured in years, not quarters. We are not looking for things that will “do well this results season”. We are looking for businesses whose earnings and cash flows are likely to grow steadily over a long stretch. When we eventually recommend an exit, it is almost always because something fundamental has changed in the business or the valuation, not because the price zig-zagged for a few months.That doesn’t mean you should blindly hold everything forever. If the original reason you bought the stock no longer holds, you should reassess. But most investors do the opposite of what works. They hold on stubbornly to bad businesses, hoping to “get back to cost”, and sell good businesses at the first sign of boredom or a small correction. Over time, this habit produces a portfolio of leftovers rather than winners.The simple way to think about “how long” is this: if the business is growing roughly as you expected, the balance sheet is sound, and the valuation is not utterly insane, then the default answer is to hold. You are an owner, not a trader. Your job is not to constantly fiddle with the portfolio, but to give your chosen businesses enough time and space to prove themselves.Of course, the market will keep tempting you. A sharp correction will whisper, “Get out now, you can always buy back lower.” A hot new theme will suggest, “Sell this boring old compounder and chase me instead.” It’s in those moments that your time horizon really shows. At Value Research Stock Advisor, we try to anchor our decisions in written investment rationales. When price volatility hits, we go back and ask, “Has this story fundamentally changed, or is the market just being moody?” That disciplined question is what allows you to stay invested through difficult patches.So, how long should you hold a stock? As long as the business is compounding, the thesis is intact and the price you paid still makes sense in light of future prospects. That might be three years, or it might be twenty. If you can make peace with that uncertainty, and focus on owning good businesses through cycles rather than predicting every twist, you’ll be far ahead of most people who spend their time guessing what will happen next month.(Ashish Menon is a Chartered Accountant and a senior equity analyst in Value Research’s Stock Advisor service.)

2025 proved to be a landmark year for both Vicky Kaushal and Ranveer Singh, with the two actors delivering some of their most talked-about performances. Vicky left a strong impact with his powerful turn as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Laxman Utekar’s ‘Chhaava’, while Ranveer impressed audiences and critics alike with his role as an Indian intelligence operative in Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’.Despite being rooted in different cinematic spaces, the two films shared a strong undercurrent of nationalism and went on to achieve massive commercial success, each crossing the ₹500 crore mark worldwide. When asked if patriotism-based narratives have become a guaranteed box-office formula, Vicky highlighted that such themes demand sincerity rather than strategy.

Speaking to NDTV, the actor said, “I think patriotism can’t be a formula and saying it is a formula is an insult to the emotion. Patriotism is our truth, which we will keep showing through our movies, literature and sports.”He further added, “This is the way we can put our foot in the door and say that we are proud of the diversity, legacy and the truth of our country. I am so proud that I am a little part of this big moment where we are fearlessly representing India on a global map.”‘Chhaava’ is based on the celebrated Marathi novel written by Shivaji Sawant and chronicles the nine-year rule of Sambhaji Maharaj, highlighting his fearless resistance against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Alongside Vicky, the historical drama stars Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai Bhonsale and Akshaye Khanna in the role of Aurangzeb. The film also features Ashutosh Rana, Divya Dutta, Vineet Kumar Singh and Diana Penty in pivotal roles.In contrast, ‘Dhurandhar’ unfolds as a high-octane espionage thriller. Ranveer Singh plays Hamza, an Indian undercover agent who enters the dangerous Lyari underworld in Karachi with the mission to break a powerful terror syndicate from within. The film boasts an ensemble cast that includes Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.

Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur, fondly known by fans as ‘Lord Shardul,’ has embarked on a beautiful new chapter of his life. On December 21, 2025, the cricketer took to social media to announce the arrival of his first child, a baby boy, with his wife Mittali Parulkar. The news came as a delightful surprise to the cricketing fraternity, as the couple had kept the pregnancy private for the duration of the nine months. Shardul’s announcement quickly went viral, drawing immense love and warm wishes from teammates and fans.

Shardul Thakur and his wife Mittali Parulkar welcome baby boy with heartfelt announcement

Shardul and Mittali, who tied the knot in a grand ceremony on February 28, 2023, surprised the world by revealing they had been expecting their first child in complete privacy. The announcement was made via a touching Instagram story that featured a poster declaring, “We are blessed with a Baby Boy!”

Shardul paired this with a deeply emotional message that resonated with his followers: “Hidden beneath parents’ hearts, protected by silence, faith, and endless love. Our little secret is finally here. Welcome, baby boy, the dream we held quietly for 9 beautiful months.” This poetic reveal highlighted the couple’s choice to cherish their journey away from the public eye until the very end.

Mittali, a successful entrepreneur and professional baker from Kolhapur, has been a pillar of support throughout Shardul’s career, and the arrival of their son marks a new peak in their relationship. The cricketing community, including his India and Mumbai teammates, flooded the comments with congratulations for the “Junior Lord.” The timing of the birth is particularly special, as it falls during a period of transition and homecoming for the pacer. By sharing their “little secret” so authentically, the couple has invited fans into a rare, intimate moment of their lives, celebrating a dream that was nurtured with patience and devotion throughout the year 2025.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli shows class by signing net bowler’s iPhone after practice session in Alibaug

Shardul’s homecoming and high stakes for IPL 2026

While Shardul celebrates his new role as a father, his professional life is reaching a significant turning point as he returns to his roots with the Mumbai Indians. Having been traded from Lucknow Super Giants back to his home franchise for the IPL 2026 season, Shardul is set to bolster an MI squad looking for versatility and experience. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene has already expressed high expectations, noting that Shardul’s ability to swing the ball and provide crucial cameos with the bat offers a “different structure” to the team’s lineup.

Shardul, who captains Mumbai in the domestic circuit, has a storied history of performing under pressure, boasting 107 wickets and a reputation for breaking partnerships at critical moments. Despite being out of the national side recently, his leadership in the Ranji Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy proves he remains a fierce competitor. As he prepares to don the Blue and Gold again, the motivation of playing for his newborn son and his home city is expected to drive him toward a standout performance in the upcoming season. The Mumbai Indians‘ warm welcome of “Junior Lord” further cements the emotional connection Shardul shares with the franchise as he seeks to lead them back to championship glory.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Here’s how much price Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford and Arjun Tendulkar were traded for