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Kolkata: A day after minority community members in Bangladesh met the family of Dipu Das, the Hindu man who was lynched at Mymensingh, donations from India and countries across the world started pouring in for the impoverished family, now pushed to the brink after Das’s death. Among the benefactors are strangers from countries, including India, the US and Singapore.By Monday, minority community members in Bangladesh opened a bank account for the Dases after receiving queries from netizens on social media about how to provide financial help to the family. Donations started coming in by evening. “We have shared the bank account number on our social media handles with a plea to help the family. We are not keeping track of donations now. However, we heard that lakhs have already been donated from people across the world,” said Kushal Baran Chakraborty, a Sanskrit professor at Chittagong University. Chakraborty, along with other representatives from Bangladesh, met the family.
Chakraborty said he found the members emotionally shattered. “The family does not have the financial strength to survive even a week. Dipu was the sole earning member of the family. He worked in a garment manufacturing company and earned a meagre amount. But happy with his performance, his company promoted him. This enraged some colleagues. He was accused of spreading provocative messages on social media while he did not even have a smartphone,” said Chakraborty.Das’s family, which stays in a makeshift house behind a warehouse under Tarakandi Police Station in Mymensingh, was reportedly stopped from bringing his body home. “He got married a couple of years ago and has a small child. It will not be possible for the family to survive. We decided to open a bank account for the family first,” Chakraborty said.After the professor posted the interactions with the family members on Facebook, his social media handle was flooded with comments, condemning Dipu’s killing. On Monday morning, he posted a plea on Facebook, seeking financial assistance for the family. “Soon after, people started to send money to the account and shared the screenshots of the payment. We were overwhelmed,” said Chakraborty.
India Women produced a clinical performance in all departments to register a dominant seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the second T20I at Visakhapatnam. After winning the toss and opting to field, India dictated terms right from the powerplay. Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. The Indian bowlers combined discipline with sharp fielding to keep the visitors under pressure. In response, India’s batters made light work of the chase with aggressive intent. The result pushed India to a 2–0 lead in the five-match series, underlining their control.
Sri Lanka never truly recovered after losing Vishmi Gunaratne in the very first over, setting the tone for a difficult innings. Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided brief resistance with a brisk 31 off 24 balls, striking three fours and two sixes, but her dismissal stalled the momentum. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama attempted to rebuild, with Harshitha top-scoring with a composed 33, yet the scoring rate remained under check. India’s bowling unit operated with clarity, particularly through the middle overs, where Sneh Rana delivered a superb spell of 1/11 to choke the run flow.
Shree Charani supported well, claiming two important wickets and maintaining pressure. Vaishnavi Sharma enjoyed a memorable outing, picking up her maiden international wicket and finishing with two scalps despite being targeted. Sharp run-outs and alert fielding further dented Sri Lanka’s innings, as they lost their last five wickets for just 24 runs. The visitors eventually limped to 128/9, a total that felt well below par on a batting-friendly surface.
India’s reply was headlined by a breathtaking display of fearless batting from Shafali Verma, who dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling attack with an unbeaten 69 off just 34 balls. Even after Smriti Mandhana fell early, Shafali ensured there was no slowdown, attacking from the outset and capitalizing on anything loose.
Her partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues effectively ended the contest inside the first half of the innings, as the duo raced to 87 in just 7.4 overs. Jemimah played the perfect supporting role, scoring a fluent 26 off 15 deliveries with crisp strokeplay. Shafali reached her fifty in just 27 balls, striking 11 boundaries and maintaining relentless pressure. Harmanpreet Kaur added stability before departing late, with the result already sealed. India cruised to the target in just 11.5 overs, finishing with 49 balls to spare and asserting their dominance. The emphatic chase reflected the gulf between the sides and reinforced India’s authority in the series.
Shafali – 69* (34).
Jemimah – 26 (15).INDIA BEAT SRI LANKA IN THE 2ND T20I AND LEADING THE SERIES 2-0. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/cCrGxvO5QK
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 23, 2025
Second ODI, second win at home – and Shafali Verma lit up the chase with fearless flair. Turns out, #Vizag isn’t just scenic… it’s a winning habit . Congrats #TeamIndia!@BCCIWomen pic.twitter.com/hMpk1J66Iy
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) December 23, 2025
Shafali Verma, the X factor. She’s gained a lot of confidence from final’s performance.
Big T20I World Cup coming in June. 💪
— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) December 23, 2025
78m six. Hello, Shafali Verma. 👌🏽 pic.twitter.com/At2thn7h4X
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) December 23, 2025
Shafali Verma continuing her sublime run of form
50 off just 27 balls with 9 boundaries #INDvSL
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) December 23, 2025
Shafali is showing the temperament of that final in today’s match.. I love when she does that..i hope you continue this way 🔥
— Archer (@poserarcher) December 23, 2025
FINALLY, Vaishnavi has her maiden international wicket and the very fielder who denied this moment for her two days ago, comes good today!
Some scripts write themselves! Must be a slight weight lifted for Charani too. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/iq5lx3C94v
— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻💻 (@lav_narayanan) December 23, 2025
Shafali Verma is our lady version of Sehwag. She takes the attack to the opposition, a complete gamechanger, fearless.
We can proudly say she is our go to trumpcard in crunch situation as she has proved it in the mega event as well. Keep firing girl🔥 pic.twitter.com/TFEPcjM14y
— Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) December 23, 2025
Shafali Verma is breathing the fire. 😍🌟 27-ball fifty in a 129-run chase!
Unreal power. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mGGNyF1Bs3
— Pratika’s Poetry (@RRoyal_Reaper) December 23, 2025
Dominating victory for Team India in the 2nd #INDvSL T20I 🔥#ShafaliVerma #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/n0yJtwkgnN
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) December 23, 2025
Also READ: IND-W vs SL-W, 2nd T20I: Here’s why Deepti Sharma is not playing today’s match
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
Ilia Topuria is known to fans for his rise in the UFC and his recent title success. But away from the octagon, a serious personal issue is unfolding. His ongoing divorce has now moved into a more serious phase after his ex-wife took legal action in Spain.Just days before Christmas, the private family matter entered the public eye. Giorgina Uzcategui, Ilia Topuria’s ex-wife, formally approached the police after claiming she received threats and abusive messages online linked to the divorce.
On December 22, 2024, Giorgina Uzcategui appeared at Spain’s National Police headquarters in Madrid. According to journalist Ani Moro from ¡HOLA!, she filed an official complaint over online threats and harassment she says began during the divorce proceedings with Ilia Topuria.The complaint reportedly included screenshots and records of messages. After her statement, the case was forwarded to the Civil Guard, which handles matters in the area where she lives. Authorities have not shared details of the messages, and no criminal charges or protective orders have been made public so far.Giorgina Uzcategui has stayed quiet since the separation became public. In earlier remarks through her team, she said the divorce is a private family issue, especially because a child is involved. The couple shares a daughter born in 2024. Ilia Topuria also has a son from a previous relationship.Her silence, she explained, was not avoidance. It was a choice made to protect her child and respect the legal process. Filing the police complaint marked the first time authorities were formally involved in the matter.Ilia Topuria has not directly addressed the complaint. However, earlier this month, he confirmed that personal and legal problems played a role in his temporary break from competition. He did not name Giorgina Uzcategui but admitted the situation was serious.A few days after the police filing, Giorgina Uzcategui’s legal team released a short public statement. Her lawyer, Cristina Corell Cortina, described the divorce as a “strictly private legal process” involving a minor.The statement asked media and the public to avoid speculation. It rejected what it called harmful interpretations spreading online. The lawyer did not answer Ilia Topuria’s claims point by point and avoided emotional language.Instead, the message focused on restraint. “Respect for the courts and for the child comes first,” the statement said. The legal team also confirmed that no further public comments would be made outside formal legal channels.Because a minor is involved, Spanish law limits what can be shared publicly. Court hearings, rulings, and possible next steps remain confidential. At present, the police filing is regarded as a procedural step rather than as a final result.As Ilia Topuria’s fighting future draws attention, this situation continues quietly in the background, handled through lawyers and authorities rather than public arguments.Also Read: Khabib Nurmagomedov And Patimat Nurmagomedova Combined Net Worth In 2025: Undefeated UFC Career, Earnings, Private Love Story, Family And More
The Competition Commission of India on Tuesday approved US-based private equity firm Blackstone’s proposal to acquire up to 9.99 per cent stake in Federal Bank through warrants, clearing the way for the global investor’s entry into the private sector lender.In a release, the fair trade regulator said the proposed transaction involves Asia II Topco XIII Pte Ltd, an arm of Blackstone, acquiring warrants that carry the right to subscribe to equity shares of Federal Bank, PTI reported.“The proposed combination envisages acquisition of certain warrants by Asia II Topco XIII Pte Ltd (acquirer), each carrying a right to subscribe to one fully paid-up equity share of Federal Bank Ltd (target),” the regulator said.Upon full exercise of the warrants, the acquirer will hold 9.99 per cent of the paid-up share capital of Federal Bank on a fully diluted basis, according to the CCI. Blackstone will also have the right to nominate a director on the bank’s board as long as it holds at least a 5 per cent stake.Federal Bank is a private sector commercial lender offering a range of banking products and services, including deposits, loans and payment solutions.In a separate approval, the CCI also cleared Tata Steel Ltd’s proposal to acquire sole control of Tata BlueScope Steel by purchasing the remaining 50 per cent equity stake held by BlueScope Steel Asia Holdings Pty Ltd.“Commission approves Tata Steel Limited’s proposed acquisition of sole control in Tata BlueScope Steel Pvt. Ltd. by purchasing the remaining 50 per cent equity shareholding currently held by BlueScope Steel Asia Holdings Pty Ltd,” the watchdog said in a post on X.Tata BlueScope Steel is currently a 50:50 joint venture between BlueScope Steel Ltd of Australia and Tata Steel Downstream Products Ltd. Tata Steel is engaged in iron ore mining and steel production, while Tata Steel Downstream Products operates in the coated steel segment, offering surface-coated steel products and related solutions.Transactions crossing specified thresholds require clearance from the competition regulator, which is mandated to prevent unfair business practices and ensure fair competition in the market.
Pakistan government on Tuesday sold its national airline, PIA, for Rs 135 billion to a consortium led by Arif Habib investment firm on Tuesday. The sale, organised through a bidding process in Islamabad, marks the largest transaction in Pakistan’s history. It aims to revive the once-prestigious carrier that had been struggling due to years of mismanagement, as reported by PTI.There were three companies bidding for this auction, namely Arif Habib, Lucky Cement, and Airblue. Arif Habib won this auction after an aggressive bidding process against Lucky Cement. The successful auction cost of Rs 135 billion was much higher than the government’s reference price of Rs 100 billion. Airblue has quoted the lowest amount, Rs 26.5 billion.The sale will involve 75% of the shares of PIA at this stage, and the successful bidder will have 90 days to purchase the rest 25%. A greater portion of the money accruing from the sale of the national carrier, 92.5%, will be invested in the airline, while the remaining 7.5% will be paid to the government.The deal requires Arif Habib to invest an additional Rs 80 billion in PIA over the next five years. This comes after the government took over the airline’s massive debt of Rs 654 billion last year to make the sale more attractive.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the transparent nature of the sale. “It will be the largest transaction ever in Pakistan’s history,” he stated during a federal cabinet meeting.The entire bidding process was broadcast live on local TV channels. This successful sale came after a failed attempt last year when the airline didn’t attract the desired price.PIA’s privatization marks the end of an era for what was once a prominent airline. Years of poor management had severely impacted its service quality and reputation, ultimately forcing the government to sell it to private investors.
NEW DELHI: New Zealand have announced their squads for the upcoming limited-overs tour of India as they keep a close eye on preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The tour will feature three One-Day Internationals followed by a five-match T20I series, starting January 11.
With the World Cup set to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7, the selectors have used this tour as a key planning step.The five-match T20I series is seen as especially important for the Black Caps. Playing in Indian conditions will help players adjust to slower pitches and quality spin, something they do not face regularly at home. The team management believes this experience will be crucial ahead of the global event.Mitchell Santner will lead the T20I side as he continues his comeback from injury. For the ODI series, Michael Bracewell has been named captain.Several senior players have been recalled for the tour, while a few young faces have also been rewarded for strong recent performances. Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson have all been included after impressing in domestic and A-team cricket. Michael Rae, who recently made his Test debut against the West Indies, also finds a place in the squads.Kyle Jamieson returns in both ODI and T20I squads after recovering from injury. Mark Chapman and Matt Henry are also back in the T20I setup, strengthening the bowling and batting units.At the same time, some key players have been rested or ruled out to manage workloads. Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke and Blair Tickner will miss the tour due to injury concerns or workload management. New Zealand are balancing their schedule carefully as they also prepare for the World Test Championship cycle.NZ T20I Squad v India: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish SodhiNZ ODI Squad v India: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young
After nearly four years of underperformance, India’s information technology stocks are entering 2026 with expectations shaped more by realism than hype, as investors assess whether artificial intelligence can finally revive growth after a prolonged slowdown.The Nifty IT index is trading close to a four-year low, a sharp reversal from the pandemic-era boom that once made software exporters market favourites, according to an ET report. In 2021, the index surged nearly 60% on the back of emergency digital spending, cloud migration and strong deal pipelines. That momentum faded quickly as global inflation, aggressive interest-rate hikes and recession fears forced clients to rein in discretionary technology budgets, pushing the index down more than 26% in 2022.Although IT stocks recovered in 2023 and 2024 with gains of about 24% and 22%, the rebound lacked conviction. Markets were grappling with macro uncertainty and the early, unclear impact of artificial intelligence. In 2025 so far, the index is down more than 10%, marking its second-worst annual performance of the past decade.For investors who entered the sector after the 2021 peak, returns have been disappointing. Even as defence, public sector banks and auto stocks climbed to new highs, IT names continued to lag, reflecting both cyclical pressures and deeper structural shifts.
On the cyclical side, demand from key markets has remained cautious. The US and Europe, which together generate the bulk of Indian IT revenues, have seen large enterprises delay major technology transformation programmes amid concerns over inflation, interest rates, geopolitics and trade policies. Discretionary spending — critical for large digital and modernisation deals — has stayed under pressure despite healthy corporate profits.Structural factors have added another layer of challenge. Years of automation, cloud migration and now AI adoption have sharply improved productivity at Indian IT firms. While this supports margins, it has also reduced the manpower required for similar workloads, limiting near-term revenue growth. Companies are doing more with fewer people — a positive for clients but a headwind for top-line expansion.As the sector looks ahead to 2026, the central question for investors is whether Indian IT can adapt to an AI-driven world and regain a sustainable growth trajectory. Most analysts believe it can, though not overnight.Sumit Pokharna of Kotak Securities argues that enterprise AI adoption will be a long journey. He expects it to unfold over seven to eight years, with humans and AI agents working together. Connecting AI systems to complex enterprise platforms, testing them across industries and ensuring reliability will require significant effort, he says — a process that plays to the strengths of Indian IT companies experienced in managing large, complex systems.Timing, however, has been a challenge. Indian IT firms were slower than global technology giants to position themselves as AI leaders. Early AI-driven efficiency gains created a deflationary effect, allowing work to be done faster and cheaper, which weighed on revenues when clients were already focused on cost cutting.
That dynamic is now beginning to shift. Across the sector, companies are increasing investments in AI tools, platforms and talent. AI is being deployed internally to lift productivity, embedded into service offerings and used to help clients move from pilot projects to full-scale deployments.Nomura notes that nearly all Indian IT services companies are stepping up AI investments, focusing on internal applications, client solutions and ecosystem partnerships. Clients are gradually moving beyond proof-of-concept projects to standalone AI implementations – a transition seen as critical for meaningful monetisation.Early signs of traction are emerging. Tata Consultancy Services has said it has already reached about Rs 12,500 crore in annualised AI-related revenue, calling AI a “civilizational change” for enterprises. The company is working with most of its top clients on AI projects, with deal activity rising quarter after quarter. Other large players are also reporting AI-led productivity gains and improved win rates in competitive bids.Even so, discretionary spending has yet to show a clear rebound. Kotak Securities points out that large transformation deals remain fiercely competitive, often involving global peers, which continues to pressure pricing.
The outlook for 2026 appears more balanced than in recent years. In the most recent quarter, large-cap IT companies reported positive sequential constant-currency growth, surprising investors after several muted quarters. Growth ranged from about 0.3% at Wipro to 2.4% at LTIMindtree and HCL Tech.Order bookings have also been robust, with median year-on-year growth of around 26%, indicating that deal pipelines remain intact despite macro caution. Enterprise AI is increasingly moving from experimentation to monetisation. Infosys has reported productivity gains of 40–50% in select workflows through its services.AI platforms, while HCL Tech has said its advanced AI revenue has crossed $100 million, accounting for nearly 3% of its revenue base across 47 client accounts.Nomura forecasts revenue growth of about 4.5% for large IT firms in FY27, with mid-sized companies expected to grow faster. HSBC believes growth of 4–6% is achievable if global confidence improves and tariff-related uncertainties ease.Margins could also find some support. Productivity gains from AI, better utilisation and tight cost control are expected to offset wage hikes and investment spending. Nomura expects modest margin expansion in FY27, while HSBC highlights strong cash-flow generation as a key sector strength. Many IT companies generate free cash flow close to net profit, enabling steady dividend payouts of 3–4%, offering downside protection to investors.Geographically, the US remains the largest market, contributing more than half of industry revenues. Europe is gradually improving, while Japan is viewed as a long-term opportunity given its low outsourcing penetration. Analysts see deeper acceptance of Indian IT services in Japan as a potential growth driver over time.Most analysts stop short of predicting a sharp turnaround in 2026. Instead, there is growing consensus that the worst may be over. Double-digit growth like the pandemic years is unlikely to return, but stability and gradual improvement appear more realistic.Abhishek Jain of Arihant Capital Markets says the sector is adapting and innovating, with near-term expectations remaining neutral but prospects improving as AI-led deals from the US and Europe begin to flow through. Jefferies, however, remains underweight on the sector, citing weak headline growth and relatively high valuations even after the correction.
NEW DELHI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that the the idea of ‘Nation First’ goes beyond slogans and requires an honest understanding of our history, identification of systemic gaps, and building future capabilities.“Modernisation must be rooted in civilisational confidence, not blind imitation. My Idea of Nation First meaningfully enriches national discourse,” he said.The Union minister was speaking at the launch of the book ‘My Idea of Nation First: Redefining Unalloyed Nationalism’ in New Delhi.The event was also attended by BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi and retired lieutenant general VG Khandare.The author, Uday Mahurkar, said his book did not glorify or vilify personalities but evaluated ideas and decisions from the perspective of national interest.“A strong nation engages openly with its past. My Idea of Nation First offers an unalloyed definition of nationalism—rooted in truth, cultural continuity, and responsibility—helping readers understand India’s unity and civilisational strength beyond distortions,” he said.
Ulhasnagar: The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) has taken strong action against alleged substandard road construction after cracks were found on two key under-construction roads in the city. Acting on complaints and a joint inspection report, the UMC has instructed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to get the damaged portions of the roads demolished and reconstructed at the contractor’s cost and also get filled some cracks.The affected roads include the stretch from Netaji Chowk to Kailash Colony and another from New English School to Lal Chakki. These roads are being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 52 crore and are considered important connectivity routes within Ulhasnagar. Cracks were reportedly noticed at multiple locations, raising serious concerns about the quality of construction.Following UMC’s directions, the MMRDA issued a notice to the contractor, Nikhil Construction Group Pvt Ltd, stating that a third-party quality inspection would be conducted through a reputed technical institute such as VJTI. The notice also clarified that all costs related to testing, reporting, and further investigation would be borne by the contractor. Until a satisfactory quality assessment report is submitted and all rectification works are completed, payments to the contractor have been withheld.The road construction work has been underway for over two years and has repeatedly drawn criticism for slow progress and poor workmanship. Social activists from the Ulhasnagar Citizens Forum had raised several complaints regarding the quality of the work, prompting the civic administration to intervene.Sources said that after receiving the complaints, UMC Commissioner Manisha Awhale directed a joint inspection of the project. The inspection team included officials from the public works department, representatives of the contractor, and other concerned agencies. During the inspection, cracks were found at several locations, including Netaji Chowk, Bhatiya Chowk, Kurla Camp Chowk, near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue entrance, and Kailash Colony.Based on the findings, the UMC instructed that minor cracks be filled immediately, while severely damaged sections—where repairs were deemed ineffective—be demolished and reconstructed entirely. Acting on these recommendations, project management consultant Pentacle Consultants issued a formal directive to the contractor to comply with the instructions.Satyajit Burman, a social activist who highlighted the issue, told TOI, that the road contract was awarded in April 2023 with a completion timeline of 18 months. “Even after two-and-a-half years, the work is progressing at a very slow pace and the quality is unacceptable,” he said.Further action will depend on the outcome of the third-party quality inspection, officials said
