An Indian national is set to receive nearly £70,000 in compensation for wrongful dismissal and being subjected to racial discrimination, after a tribunal ruled in his favour against his manager at the KFC outlet in London where he was previously employed.Madhesh Ravichandran, from Tamil Nadu, told the employment tribunal that his Sri Lankan manager discriminated against him, using a derogatory term such as “slave.”In a hearing earlier this week, judge Paul Abbott described Ravichandran’s claim as “well-founded.”“We have found on the facts that the claimant was subjected to less favourable treatment… his holiday request was refused because he was Indian, while (manager) Kajan prioritised requests from Sri Lankan Tamil colleagues, and he was referred to as a ‘slave,’ which is self-evidently less favourable treatment because of his race,” Abbott wrote in his judgment.The caseRavichandran joined KFC’s West Wickham outlet in January 2023, where Kajan became his direct supervisor. Problems, however, began soon after he started.The situation escalated in July when Kajan tried to make Ravichandran work excessive hours, prompting him to resign. The judge accepted that his decision to leave was a direct result of the manager’s “persistent efforts” to make him work “excessive hours.” During follow-up calls, Kajan reportedly became “racially abusive and threatening” toward Ravichandran.“This racial abuse from a manager had the purpose and effect of violating the claimant’s dignity. He was ‘summarily dismissed’ while serving out his notice and was denied his statutory right to one week’s notice,” the tribunal’s judgment read.“The respondent did not show that the claimant had done anything to entitle it to dismiss him without notice. The claimant was, therefore, wrongfully dismissed and is entitled to be paid one week’s pay in lieu of notice,” it stated.Ravichandran was awarded £62,690 in compensation, with additional payments for holiday pay and employment-related particulars bringing the total to around £66,800 (approx. Rs 81 lakh).The tribunal also directed Nexus Foods Limited, which operates the West Wickham KFC outlet, to implement a training programme on workplace discrimination for all employees. The programme should include training for managers on the “appropriate handling” of such grievances and must be completed within six months of the judgment.(With PTI inputs)

India’s exports weathered a turbulent 2025 marked by steep US tariffs, geopolitical disruptions and global trade uncertainty, with exporters adapting by diversifying markets and products –a strategy that officials and industry expect will support steady growth into 2026, PTI reported.Despite a 50% duty imposed by the US on Indian goods during the year, exporters recalibrated quickly, cushioning the impact through market diversification. A senior commerce ministry official summed up the response by saying that “trade is like water, it finds its own course”.India’s merchandise exports, which stood at $276.5 billion in 2020, climbed sharply to $395.5 billion in 2021 and $453.3 billion in 2022 before easing to $389.5 billion in 2023. Momentum returned in 2024 with shipments rising to $443 billion. In 2025, exports touched $407 billion during January–November, reflecting resilience amid repeated shocks.Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said India’s combined exports of goods and services hit a record $825.25 billion in 2024-25, marking over 6% year-on-year growth. The uptrend has continued into the current fiscal, with exports reaching $562 billion during April–November 2025.“Based on current trends, India’s exports are poised to deliver solid growth in 2026 as well,” Agrawal told PTI, adding that three free trade agreements — with the UK, Oman and New Zealand — are set to come into force next year, improving market access for goods and services.While US tariffs hurt shipments in September and October, exports to America rebounded sharply, rising 22.61% to $6.98 billion in November. Exporters, however, remain cautious amid global uncertainty and are watching progress on a proposed India–US bilateral trade agreement and a deal with the European Union.The World Trade Organization has projected global trade growth of 2.4% in 2025 but cut its outlook for 2026 to 0.5%, citing tariff uncertainty, slowing GDP growth and weakening business confidence in developed economies.Against this backdrop, the government said it is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to support exporters. Measures include a Rs 25,060 crore export promotion mission, additional collateral-free credit of up to Rs 20,000 crore, debt repayment moratoriums, extended export credit tenors and leveraging free trade agreements.The NDA government has signed or implemented a series of FTAs over the past five years, including with Mauritius, Australia, the UAE, Oman, the UK, EFTA and New Zealand.Industry experts see structural shifts underpinning the outlook. Rudra Kumar Pandey, Partner at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said electronics exports have emerged as a key driver, rising nearly 39% in November, supported by FDI-led capacity creation and deeper integration into global value chains. Engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and automotive exports are also adding momentum, he said.Geographic diversification is another key trend. While the US and the UAE remain important markets, exports are expanding across Europe, East Asia and South Asia. Shipments to the US grew about 22% in November, while exports to Spain surged nearly 150%, alongside strong growth to China and Bangladesh.Federation of Indian Export Organisations Director General Ajay Sahai said supply-chain realignments, expanding trade partnerships and improvements in ease of doing business position exporters well for 2026. “With continued policy support and market diversification, we remain confident of a strong and stable export outlook in the coming year,” he said.However, Sahai cautioned that challenges remain, including geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, protectionism through carbon measures and non-tariff barriers, currency volatility, high freight costs and tighter global financing conditions, particularly for MSMEs.The rupee remained volatile through 2025, weakening about 5% during the year and trading near 90 to the dollar by end-December, adding another variable to the export outlook as India heads into 2026.

With the Ashes 2025-26 series nearing its conclusion, conversations around legacies and farewells have begun to surface. Former Australian speedster Brett Lee has added fuel to the debate by suggesting that the final Test in Sydney could be the perfect stage for Usman Khawaja to bid goodbye to international cricket. As Australia eye a dominant series finish, Lee believes a home-ground exit would be a ‘special’ ending for the veteran opener.

Brett Lee’s take on a potential farewell for Usman Khawaja

Speaking amid the ongoing Ashes, Lee said that while the decision ultimately rests with Khawaja, the symbolism of signing off at Sydney cannot be ignored. The former pacer highlighted how rare it is for players to have the opportunity to end their careers at a venue that holds personal and national significance.

According to Lee, the prospect of Australia sealing a 4-1 series win at Sydney adds to the romance of the moment. He noted that Khawaja has been one of Australia’s most consistent Test batters in recent years and deserves to choose his own exit, rather than being forced out by circumstances.

“That’ll be up to him, but it’d be a special way for him to go out, wouldn’t it? Home ground, a chance to win 4-1, but we’ll wait and see in a couple of days. Just a couple of weeks ago he was, and has been, one of Australia’s greatest batsmen,” Lee said, as quoted by The Roar.

Form, age and growing competition for Khawaja

Khawaja’s recent numbers have sparked discussion about his future. In 2025, the left-hander has scored 614 runs from 10 Tests at an average of 36.11, including one century and one half-century. While those figures remain respectable, the expectations around Australia’s opening combination remain sky-high.

The emergence of Travis Head as a dependable top-order option has increased competition for places, while Khawaja’s age—he turns 39—has also become part of the wider conversation. After a superb double hundred against Sri Lanka in January, the Queensland batter endured a quieter run before returning with scores of 83 and 40 in Adelaide.

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A role model beyond numbers

The experienced opener missed the second Test of the series due to a back injury but retained his place on return, edging out Josh Inglis. However, modest returns of 29 and a duck in the Melbourne Test once again put his spot under the scanner. Lee was quick to defend Khawaja, stressing that his presence in the side is built on years of contribution rather than short-term form. He underlined that Khawaja was sidelined earlier due to injury, not because of a loss of faith from selectors.

Beyond runs and averages, Lee emphasised Khawaja’s impact as a senior figure in the dressing room. He described the opener as a role model for young cricketers, praising his professionalism, resilience, and journey to the top of Australian cricket. Khawaja’s Test career numbers reinforce that legacy. In 87 Tests, he has amassed 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39, striking 16 centuries and 28 fifties—figures that place him among Australia’s most reliable batters of his era.

“He’s in the team because of what he’s achieved, and he wasn’t left out due to form. He was left out because of his injury (to) his back. I don’t know what’s going on in his life, in terms of his professional cricket life, but all I can say is that he’s been instrumental for Australia. He’s been such a great role model for young kids coming through,” Lee added.

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US President Donald Trump on Sunday took a pointed jibe at the United Nations, saying the global organisation “must start getting active and involved in world peace,” implicitly criticizing it for being largely ineffective, including in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.Trump made the remarks while highlighting the United States’ role in facilitating a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, claiming that the US has effectively acted as the “REAL United Nations.” In a Truth Social post, he congratulated both nations’ leaders for reaching a “rapid and very fair conclusion,” describing the resolution as “FAST & DECISIVE, as all of these situations should be.”In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “I am pleased to announce that the breakout fighting between Thailand and Cambodia will stop momentarily, and they will go back to living in PEACE, as per our recently agreed to original Treaty. I want to congratulate both great leaders on their brilliance in coming to this rapid and very fair conclusion. It was FAST & DECISIVE, as all of these situations should be! The United States of America, as always, was proud to help! With all of the wars and conflicts I have settled and stopped over the last eleven months, EIGHT, perhaps the United States has become the REAL United Nations, which has been of very little assistance or help in any of them, including the disaster currently going on between Russia and Ukraine. The United Nations must start getting active and involved in WORLD PEACE!”Trump’s remarks come after top diplomats from Thailand and Cambodia began two days of talks in China on Sunday, following a ceasefire signed on Saturday to halt weeks of fighting along the contested border that killed more than 100 people and displaced nearly one million.According to the news agency AP, Thai foreign minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn met in China’s Yunnan province, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mediating. The talks aim to ensure a sustained ceasefire and promote lasting peace. The agreement freezes front lines and allows displaced civilians to return home. A 72-hour observation period follows, after which Thailand will repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held since July—a key demand of Cambodia. An earlier July ceasefire brokered by Malaysia, under pressure from Trump, had temporarily eased tensions, but Thailand and Cambodia continued a bitter propaganda war, with minor cross-border clashes escalating into heavy fighting earlier this month.