Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur(DLJ), DRDO handed over Camouflage Pattern Generation Software Sigma 4.0 (CPGSS4.0) and a full-scale Multispectral Signature Tank Mock-up to CME, Pune (Picture credit: DRDO)

NEW DELHI: According to Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’, “all warfare is based on deception.”In the wake of the Pakistan conflict in May when the enemy forces attempted to target Indian military assets like air defence systems, including Russia-imported S400 Triumf missile system, with their missiles and drones, India’s elite R&D wing Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has transferred two key indigenous technologies to the Army that will help its soldiers and their military equipment evade enemy detection.Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur (DLJ), DRDO, handed over Camouflage Pattern Generation Software Sigma 4.0 (CPGSS4.0) and a full-scale Multispectral Signature Tank Mock-up to the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Engineering (CME) in Pune in the first week of December. “CPGSS4.0 was launched today (Dec 3) by Lt Gen A K Ramesh, SM, Comdt CME in the presence of V S Shenoi, Director, DLJ and will be available for use by tri-services,” DRDO recently posted on X. “A full scale multispectral signature tank mock-up will be use (sic) for training the service personnel in camouflaging and deception technology,” it stated.CPGS 4.0 is an advanced software developed to create highly effective, multi-spectral camouflage patterns for military equipment, helping soldiers blend into diverse terrains by countering detection across visible light, infrared (IR), and radar sensors, thereby significantly boosting battlefield deception and survival training for the Indian Army. Whereas a multispectral signature tank mock-up is a full-scale, realistic decoy of a battle tank, designed not just to look like a tank in visible light, but to mimic its physical and electromagnetic properties (heat, radar reflection) across various sensor spectrums, allowing soldiers to test and train with advanced camouflage materials to hide tanks from modern threats like thermal, infrared and radar detection.Developing multispectral deception capabilities is the need of the hour as traditional camouflage measures have become less effective in modern warfare. These advanced systems are designed to enhance the Army’s capabilities in camouflage and deception, which are key for survival on modern battlefields where surveillance and sensor technologies are fast advancing.The integration of sophisticated software with a realistic mock-up helps tackle challenges posed by modern detection systems, including thermal imaging, UAV reconnaissance and radar technologies. With the introduction of these technologies, the Army now has the capacity to indulge in concealment methods more effectively, thereby enhancing operational survivability.

Mumbai: The Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi will contest 62 of the 227 seats in BMC polls as part of the Congress-led alliance, the two parties announced on Sunday. Congress, meanwhile, continued discussing seat-sharing with NCP (SP) until late Sunday.Congress is reportedly keen to contest 150 seats, leaving only 15 for NCP (SP) and other smaller alliance partners. Congress sources said they might reduce their demand for a few seats to accommodate NCP (SP).With Tuesday being the last day for filing nominations, Congress tried to conclude discussions by Sunday to enable its shortlisted candidates to file their papers. But the party and NCP (SP) continued to disagree on seat-sharing numbers.Through the selection of its candidates and the alliance, Congress aims to consolidate Muslim and Dalit voters. It believes the VBA alliance will be more helpful than other partners in Mumbai, hence the allocation of substantial seats to Ambedkar’s party.In the past two decades, Congress has attempted to forge alliances with VBA in parliamentary and state assembly elections, but these efforts did not materialise due to what the party described as Ambedkar’s “unrealistic” demands. VBA contested the recent assembly election independently, and although it did not win a single seat, it demonstrated its presence in many areas. In Mumbai too, in a few assembly segments, its candidates secured substantial votes, mainly in Chembur, Mankhurd, Mulund, and Anushakti Nagar.After finalising the Mumbai alliance with VBA, Congress said it expected local leaders to work out similar seat-sharing arrangements with the party for civic elections in the remaining 28 cities in the state.The announcement was made by Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal and VBA state vice-president Dhairyavardhan Pundkar. Sapkal recalled that the two parties had allied in the 1998-99 elections and are coming together now “to start a new chapter, which is not a numbers game but a meeting of ideas.”Pundkar said that both parties had come together to stop the divisive and destructive politics of BJP. He noted that Sapkal took the first step towards the alliance and maintained a positive approach from the beginning.

HYDERABAD: A journey that now tests the patience of train travellers between Hyderabad and Vijayawada could soon become a swift, near-flight time dash. South Central Railway (SCR) is planning a major upgrade of tracks along the Golden Diagonal (GD) corridor to support speeds of up to 160 kmph, potentially cutting travel time to under three hours.If cleared, the semi high-speed corridor — currently operational only on select routes such as Delhi-Agra and Delhi-Meerut — will be the first-of-its-kind in South India. Railway officials expect the upgraded infrastructure to be ready within two years of the proposal receiving approval.

SCR sources said the speed enhancement would bring down journey time from the present four to five hours taken by most superfast express trains. Key stretches identified for the upgrade include Secunderabad-Kazipet, Kazipet-Vijayawada, Duvvada-Vijayawada and Vijayawada-Gudur — corridors that already host premium services such as Vande Bharat trains.Officials confirmed that a detailed proposal has been sent to the Centre seeking permission to upgrade high density routes from the current 130 kmph to 160 kmph. “Works are being taken up on the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), GD and other high density routes to enhance speeds from the existing 130 kmph to 160 kmph, particularly on corridors that already operate premium services such as Vande Bharat and Duronto express trains,” said a senior SCR official.Frequent flyers point out that air travel between Hyderabad and Vijayawada already takes nearly three hours door-to-door — about an hour to reach Hyderabad airport, one hour in the air, and another 40 minutes to an hour to reach Vijayawada city.“In comparison, Vande Bharat and Duronto trains take around four hours from Secunderabad, while other express services take close to five hours,” said K Vishwanath Rao, a regular traveller on the route.With the proposed speed upgrade, rail travel time between the two cities is expected to drop to around three hours, making trains a faster and more convenient option for journeys within a 350-km radius. The move is also expected to reduce at least an hour off existing rail travel times across key corridors.“Upgrading tracks to higher speeds would not only reduce journey times but also help operate more trains efficiently. Our zone has several GD and GQ sections. Earlier, it took nearly two years to upgrade tracks from 110 kmph to 130 kmph. It could take around two years for upgrading the tracks to 160 kmph, once the works are grounded,” the senior official said.SCR had earlier upgraded several high density routes during 2022-23 to permit speeds of up to 130 kmph, enabling faster operations of Vande Bharat, Rajdhani and Duronto services. At present, 1,834 km — about 28% of SCR’s 6,560 route km — is cleared for 130 kmph operations.The new plan aims to push the envelope further by upgrading around 2,500 km of crucial stretches to handle speeds of up to 160 kmph, sources said.

Pakistani cricketer Imad Wasim has yet again hit the headlines because of his personal life. On Sunday, December 28, the former Pakistan all-rounder confirmed on social media that he has filed for divorce from his wife Sannia Ashfaq after years of “unresolved conflicts.”

Imad Wasim Officially Files for Divorce, Requests Privacy

Imad asked everyone to respect his privacy during this difficult time. He also requested people not to use old photos or create false stories. Even the Pakistani cricketer made it clear that his ex-wife should no longer be referred to as his spouse while warning against spreading false news.

Read Also: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi ditch national duty for BBL as Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka tour officially announced

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Taking to his social media handle, Wasim released an official statement that reads, “After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce. I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos. Please also refrain from referring to her as my spouse going forward.”

The former Pakistani star further noted. “I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary.”

“I Remain Their Father”: Imad Wasim

Even after the separation, Imad said that he will always remain their father. The all-rounder has assured that he will continue to take full and responsible care of his children. Notably, Imad and Sannia have three children together, including a daughter and two sons.

He concluded the message by saying, “Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly. Thank you for your understanding and respect.”

Imad Wasim’s Instagram post. pic.twitter.com/Zvro5D7qK9

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) December 28, 2025

Marriage Timeline and Rumors Preceding the Split

Imad Wasim was born in Wales and moved to Pakistan as a child with his parent, and he later built his cricket career. On the other hand, Sannia Ashfaq is of British-Pakistani origin. The two met in London and got married in August 2019 in a private ceremony in Islamabad.

The problems reportedly started surfacing in their marriage last year. The situation became more intense after Sannia shared a cryptic post on Instagram, hinting at Imad’s alleged relationship with social media influencer Naila Raja, making things worse.

Read Also: Imad Wasim’s wife breaks silence on husband’s love affair

These rumors spread quickly online, making it even worse for the couple to make it work. However, Naila Raja later denied all such claims and called them false and baseless. And now they head for the divorce, citing the “repeated unresolved conflicts” between them.

BPL Performance Amid Personal Issues

Wasim is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League 2025-26 (BPL 2026-27) for the Dhaka Capitals. He is in great form, as his tight spell of 3/16 led Dhaka Capitals to the five-wicket victory over Rajshahi Warriors in the third match of the Bangladesh Premier League at Sylhet.

Imad represented Pakistan in 55 ODIs and 75 T20Is, scoring over 980 runs and over 500 runs, respectively. The left-arm spinner also has 44 ODI and 73 T20I wickets to his name in the international arena. He last played for the Men in Green in 2024.

Thane: A deadlock over nearly 10 seats in Thane city has apparently kept Mahayuti’s seat-sharing negotiations between BJP and Shiv Sena inconclusive till late Sunday evening, party insiders said. It is learnt that the BJP was offered 40 seats, a number that triggered discontent among party workers, who are demanding an additional 10 seats from various pockets of Thane city. The proposal has been forwarded to senior Mahayuti leaders, with a final decision expected late Sunday and an announcement on Monday, if resolved.Confirming the discussions, BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar said the party was contesting as part of the alliance and was hopeful of securing more seats based on its electoral strength. “Talks are scheduled late Sunday and we expect to finalise the seat-sharing by Monday,” he said.Meanwhile, the alliance unease has spilled over to the ground level, with leaders from both parties wary of possible rebellion by workers. A section of BJP workers is reportedly considering supporting independent candidates to contest from an erstwhile Shiv Sena stronghold in one of the Majiwada–Manpada electoral wards. On Saturday, a large banner proclaiming Thane as a BJP bastion was also put up in deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s assembly constituency.Sena workers, on the other hand, have begun mobilising support in BJP-dominated areas such as Naupada and Vartak Nagar electoral wards. Party functionaries said the welfare initiatives started during Shinde’s tenure increased the popularity of the Sena in Thane and could easily translate into victory. Leaders said they were aware that disappointed aspirants from both sides could contest independently, risking vote division.Amid the Sena-BJP uncertainty, former NCP corporators Najeeb Mulla and Suhas Desai filed their nominations on Saturday. Sena MP Naresh Mhaske clarified the NCP earlier decided to go solo and was not part of the current alliance negotiations. Separately, the Maha Vikas Aghadi said it was also working on its seat-sharing formula and is likely to announce it by Monday.

Josh Tongue of England celebrates (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin praised Josh Tongue after the England pacer’s Player of the Match performance in the Melbourne Test, drawing from his own memories of playing county cricket alongside him. “I remember when I played county cricket in 2017 in Worcestershire, Josh Tongue had stress fracture issues,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “He is able to produce those wicket-taking balls. Brydon Carse is a bit of an enforcer. If they are able to hold their lines for longer periods of time, they can create a good team. Also, the batting must have a bit of a thought. England can’t get themselves ahead and leave the game behind.”

Ashwin also pointed out England’s recurring batting issues and the lack of control in key moments. “For instance, how Harry Brook bottled the game against India. In Perth, there was a small passage of play. They go for that brute force without any thought process. England have an upside if they can correct their bowling. They need to start producing a spinner from somewhere to hold an end up,” he added. Tongue backed up Ashwin’s assessment with a match-winning display at the MCG. He finished with seven wickets in the Test, including a five-wicket haul of 5/45 in the first innings and 2/44 in the second, earning him the Player of the Match award. Speaking after the game, Tongue described the moment as unforgettable. “It’s what dreams are made of. Obviously waking up on Boxing Day, a few nerves but yeah, to get a fifer and get my name on the honours board, it’s a very special feeling,” he said. Reflecting on his injury-hit journey, Tongue admitted how close he came to walking away from the game after rupturing his right pectoral muscle in 2023 and later suffering a hamstring injury. “100%. I was in a tough situation with my body and stuff. I was potentially retiring, but I’m glad that I put in the hard work to get myself back playing cricket and now playing for England, it’s all that I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.

SRINAGAR: Authorities placed Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of National Conference, opposition PDP legislator Waheed Parra, party functionary Iltija Mufti and others under house detention Sunday, stopping a student-backed protest against J&K’s current reservation policy and exposing sharp political fault lines within NC.The confrontation follows months of debate over changes to J&K reservation rules. Originally framed in 2004, the rules were amended by Union government in 2024 to grant Pahari-speaking population a 10% quota under scheduled tribe category, changes implemented the same year by LG administration. More than 15 new castes were also added to reservation list.Several political parties, including Peoples Conference, Mehdi and student activists, said the revised policy has sharply reduced open merit share in jobs and professional college admissions to below 40%.After a protest on Dec 23 last year outside CM Omar Abdullah’s home, Mehdi, Parra, Iltija and students were invited for talks. Omar assured a review of the framework, leading to formation of a cabinet sub-committee. After months of deliberations, its recommendations were sent to LG’s office early this month and remain pending.Mehdi had warned last month that if the issue was not resolved, he would sit with students in protest. Sunday’s detentions halted that plan but intensified pressure on the NC-led government navigating authority split with the LG amid renewed calls for statehood.NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah defended the detentions, accusing functionaries behind the protest of seeking disorder. “They do not want to see J&K move on the path of development. They want chaos, and we will not allow that,” he said. NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar claimed “many of them, I am told, requested for house arrest”.At the same time, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the party remains committed to rationalising reservation quotas. The cabinet sub-committee’s report has been finalised and sent to the LG, he said. “At this point, the matter is no longer in the hands of elected government but we will pursue it.”Mehdi said police informed him Sunday morning he could not step out of his home before a planned demonstration with students in Srinagar. “We also received reports late last night that students have been arrested and their families intimidated by police,” he said.Law and order is under LG Manoj Sinha, but Mehdi demanded NC-led government clarify whether it played any role in the detentions. He asked government to specify a date by which a reservation file pending approval with the LG would be cleared, or join him in protest. Mehdi also urged government to lead a push for a discussion in Parliament on restoring special status for J&K, citing a resolution passed by the assembly in its first session last year.Police placed Parra under house arrest late Saturday. Iltija, daughter of PDP chief and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, said she too was confined. “The insecurity and paranoia of the security agencies knows no bounds. This is the ‘normalcy’ in Naya Kashmir. An entire contingent of female police personnel is deputed at the gate to physically stop me,” she said. J&K police and LG’s office issued no statements.

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has taken the murder case of Tripura student Angel Chakma “very seriously”, a release from the chief minister’s office said on Sunday.Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that such incidents are “completely unacceptable” in the state, and the government will “deal strictly with anti-social elements”. “Those involved in such crimes will not be spared”“So far, five accused have been arrested in connection with the murder of Angel Chakma, a student and resident of Nandanagar in Unakoti district of Tripura. Among them, two accused are minors and have been sent to a juvenile reform home. Police are continuously conducting raids to arrest one absconding accused, on whom a reward of ₹25,000 has been announced. A police team has also been sent to Nepal in search of the absconding accused,” according to CMO.Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed the police to ensure the arrest of the absconding accused at the earliest. “He said that the accused will soon be in police custody”The chief minister further warned that those who “play with law and order should not expect any leniency” from the government, and “such anti-social elements will not be spared at any cost.”“He reaffirmed that the state government is committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen living in Uttarakhand”, as per the CMO.The chief minister also expressed condolences over the death of the student from Tripura.Meanwhile, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday said that he spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami regarding the tragic death of a student who was brutally assaulted by a group of miscreants in Dehradun on December 9.In a post on X, CM Saha said, “Spoke with Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand @pushkardhami Ji, regarding the tragic incident involving our student Angel Chakma, a resident of Nandanagar, Debram Thakur Para, who was brutally assaulted by a group of miscreants in Dehradun on 9th December and later he expires at Graphic Era Hospital.”The chief minister said that during his conversation with Pushkar Singh Dhami, he was informed that five accused have already been arrested in connection with the case. He added that further investigation is underway and assured that justice would be delivered.