NEW DELHI: Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, Goa, are being transported to Goa by the state police on Wednesday following their arrest at Delhi’s IGI Airport immigration. The brothers were deported to India from Thailand, ending a 10-day international search after the deadly fire at their nightclub that claimed 25 lives.A Delhi court had earlier granted the Goa Police a two-day transit remand to facilitate their transfer. The Luthra brothers will be produced before a judicial magistrate in Mapusa, Goa, as the investigation into the incident continues.The duo fled India on Dec 7, hours after a fire at their nightclub claimed 25 lives. They had been staying at the Indigo Hotel in Phuket and were deported to India on Tuesday under escort by Thai authorities.At Bangkok airport, the brothers were masked and surrounded by immigration officials, seated at the rear of the aircraft under security. They were produced at Delhi’s Patiala House Court around 6.45 pm, where Goa police requested three days’ custody. The JMFC granted two-day transit remand. After medical examination, they were taken back to the airport to be flown to Goa, expected to arrive around 11 am on Wednesday, according to DySP Nilesh Rane.Their passports had been suspended by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after a lookout notice, prompting the issuance of emergency travel documents by the Indian embassy in Thailand. The Luthra brothers had been detained by Thai authorities for staying illegally in the country, and a special team traveled to Phuket to facilitate their deportation.Goa police have registered an FIR against the duo under various sections of the BNS, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Local courts had rejected their anticipatory transit bail last week.So far, several associates linked to the nightclub have been arrested, including Gurgaon resident Ajay Gupta, Delhi-based Rajiv Modak and Priyanshu Thakur, and UP natives Rajveer Singhania, Vivek Singh, and Bharat Kohli. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire broke out around 11.45 pm on Dec 6, when over 150 tourists were attending an event, after electric firecrackers struck the wooden ceiling of the club.

Director Aditya Dhar’s spy actioner ‘Dhurandhar’ starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna in lead roles, has created box office history yet again, registering the biggest second week ever for a Hindi film.According to early estimates, the first instalment of the two-part franchise collected around Rs 30 crore net on Day 12, matching its second Monday figures. With this, the film recorded the biggest second Tuesday collection for any Hindi release to date.

‘Dhurandhar’ to surpass week 1 collections

The strong Tuesday push has taken the film’s second-week net total to Rs 204 crore, making ‘Dhurandhar’ the only Hindi film to cross the Rs 200 crore net mark in its second week. Notably, the milestone was achieved in just five days of its Week 2 run, thus cementing its place as one of the biggest box office performers in recent times.Keeping consistent momentum at the ticket counters, trade watchers believe the film could end its second week ahead of its first-week numbers. ‘Dhurandhar’ had earned Rs 207.25 crore net in its opening week, a figure it is now close to surpassing on Wednesday with still one more day to go before it wraps up the second week.

‘Dhurandhar’ all-India gross collections

After 12 days in theatres, the film has amassed an estimated Rs 411.25 crore India net. On the gross front, the film has surged to approximately Rs 493.5 crore, and is widely expected to cross the Rs 500 crore mark in India on Wednesday.

‘Dhurandhar’ worldwide box office

The film that crossed the Rs 100 crore mark at the international box office, now boasts of a total collection of Rs 130 crore. This in turn has pushed the worldwide box office collection to an estimated Rs 623.5 crore.

‘Dhurandhar’ sets new records

‘Dhurandhar’ continues to show an upward trend at the domestic box office. Following a series of record-breaking daily collections in its second week, the film delivered the biggest second Tuesday by a margin that is nearly double that of previous releases.‘Dhurandhar’ also broke the record previously held by ‘Pushpa 2 – The Rule’, starring Allu Arjun, which had collected Rs 196 crore net in its second week. The film managed to surpass this record in just five days.

The Trump administration has expanded its travel ban to include five additional countries while imposing new restrictions on others.The administration’s June announcement had already banned visitors from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.The new expansion adds Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the list of banned countries. Additionally, travel has been fully restricted for individuals with Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents.Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela were already facing heightened restrictions under the previous ban.The administration has also implemented partial restrictions for 15 more countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.“It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks, threaten our national security and public safety, incite hate crimes, or otherwise exploit the immigration laws for malevolent purposes,” stated the White House.“The United States must exercise extreme vigilance during the visa-issuance and immigration processes to identify, prior to their admission or entry into the United States, foreign nationals who intend to harm Americans or our national interests,” it added,These changes are part of the administration’s broader efforts to strengthen US entry standards for travel and immigration.

Jammu: Security forces on Tuesday intensified their operation to trace three terrorists holed up in a dense forest near a village in Jammu’s Udhampur district, a day after a policeman was killed in a gunfight in the area.Amjad Ali Khan, a special operations group (SOG) constable, lost his life on Monday night during the encounter that broke out in Soan village in Majalta area earlier in the evening. In a post on X, J&K Police said Amjad “made the supreme sacrifice, whilst combatting Pakistani terrorists”.Speaking to media persons in Udhampur on Tuesday, Jammu zone IGP Bhim Sen Tuti said after the initial firing, the terrorists escaped into a dense forest area. “However, all possible escape routes have been sealed and a tight security cordon has been established, with additional forces rushed to the spot. The operation is in progress,” he said.According to sources, one terrorist is believed to have been injured, but there was no official confirmation.The gun battle started after a search operation was launched on Monday evening on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists. “The intelligence input was accurate and during the exchange of fire, the presence of three terrorists was confirmed,” the IGP said.During the encounter, SOG jawan Amjad, a resident of Poonch, was injured. “We tried to get him out, but due to blood loss, unfortunately we lost him,” Tuti said.A wreath-laying ceremony for the slain cop was held at district police lines on Tuesday, which was attended by DGP Nalin Prabhat, IGP Tuti and other senior officers of J&K Police and CRPF and district administration. “Heroes Never Die!” J&K Police said in their tribute on X.Officials said the search operation continues, and the cordon has been further strengthened, with additional forces rushed to the spot. “A joint team of SOG, along with the Army and the CRPF, is on the job with sniffer dogs,” said an official.Traditionally, Pakistani terrorists have used areas like Basatgarh-Dudu area in Udhampur district, which have hilly terrain intersected with rivers and streams, to cross over to Doda and Kishtwar and further move to Kashmir Valley after entering from the International Border (IB) in Jammu’s Kathua district. The area has witnessed several encounters and terror incidents in the past.On Nov 28, the forces had launched a joint search operation in the upper reaches of Basantgarh after three suspected terrorists reportedly appeared at a Bakerwal’s house and demanded food at gunpoint, according to some reports.On Oct 7, a similar operation was carried out in the Dharni top area of Basantgarh after some locals reported movement of three suspected terrorists.Prior to this, on June 26, a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist was killed by security forces, while his three associates remained trapped in an encounter in a forest area of Bihali, Basantgarh, in Udhampur.On April 24, an Army Havaldar, Jhantu Ali Sheikh from 6th Para of Special Forces (SF), was killed in an encounter in Dudu-Basantgarh area.

Steve Cahillane to become CEO of KRaft Heinz, which currently in process of splitting (AP file photo)

US-origin food MNC Kraft Heinz has tapped Steve Cahillane as the new CEO, effective January 1, 2026, as the company prepares for its division into two separate entities.He will subsequently lead the Global Taste Elevation Co., which will manage prominent brands including Kraft Mac & Cheese, Philadelphia cream cheese and Heinz, following the company’s split anticipated in the latter half of next year.“Like millions of people around the world, I have a deeply personal connection to the Kraft Heinz brands, dating back to my childhood,” Cahillane said in a statement. “I’ve devoted my entire career to building brands, and the opportunity to do the same with Kraft Heinz’s iconic portfolio is a dream come true.”The second entity, North American Grocery Co, will oversee brands such as Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. A CEO for this division has not yet been announced.The current CEO, Carlos Abrams-Rivera, who began his tenure in January 2024, will transition to an advisory role until March 2026.The separation announcement came in September, ten years after the merger that created one of the world’s largest food manufacturers. The company states this division will enhance operational efficiency and resource allocation.The company has faced challenges as consumer preferences shift towards less processed foods, moving away from products like Velveeta cheese and Kool-Aid. Additional costs have emerged from efforts to remove artificial ingredients.The corporation has also encountered difficulties in differentiating its products from lower-priced store alternatives.Cahillane previously managed a similar division at Kellogg Co. in 2023. He led Kellanova, which owned brands like Cheez-Its, Pringles and Pop-Tarts, until Mars Inc. acquired it. Ferrero later purchased WK Kellogg Co., the cereal division.His prior experience includes executive positions at The Nature’s Bounty Co., Coca-Cola Co. and AB InBev.Board Chairman Miguel Patricio endorsed Cahillane’s appointment: “His track record and experience in the industry are unparalleled and will be invaluable as we embark on this next chapter,” he stated.The company’s shares remained stable during Tuesday’s midday trading.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday conferred with Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, during his first bilateral visit to the country.Speaking after receiving the award, PM Modi said it was a matter of pride to be honoured by “a very ancient and prosperous civilisation”. He said he accepted the award on behalf of all Indians and described it as a recognition of the many Indians who have contributed to strengthening India–Ethiopia ties.PM Modi also said, “On this occasion, I also express heartfelt gratitude to my friend PM Abiy Ahmed Ali. Last month, when we met during the G20 Summit in South Africa, with great love and right, you had urged me to visit Ethiopia. How could I have turned down this invitation from my friend, my brother? So, at the first chance, I decided to come to Ethiopia.”During the visit, India and Ethiopia agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership. PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, where the two leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues.“We are elevating India and Ethiopia relations to a strategic partnership. This step will provide new energy, new momentum and new depth to our ties,” Prime Minister Modi said during the delegation-level talks.PM Modi said the talks focused on cooperation in areas including economy, innovation, technology, defence, health, capacity-building and multilateral forums. On Wednesday, PM Modi is scheduled to address a joint session of Ethiopia’s Parliament, where he will speak about India’s democratic journey and the value of the India–Ethiopia partnership for the Global South.PM Modi arrived in Ethiopia from Jordan, where he held talks with King Abdullah II and signed several agreements to boost bilateral cooperation. He will next travel to Oman on the final leg of his three-nation tour.

In a significant overhaul of retirement withdrawal norms, exiting the National Pension System (NPS) has become more flexible for non-government subscribers. Under amended rules notified by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), eligible NPS members can now withdraw up to 80 per cent of their retirement corpus as a lump sum at the time of exit, reported Economic Times.The revised rules apply to subscribers under the All Citizen Model and Corporate NPS, bringing major relief to non-government sector employees who were earlier required to allocate a larger share of their savings to annuity purchases.

Mandatory annuity requirement cut to 20 per cent

As per the amended PFRDA (Exits and Withdrawals under the NPS) Regulations, 2025, notified on December 16, the compulsory annuity purchase requirement for non-government subscribers has been reduced to a minimum of 20 per cent of the accumulated pension wealth in specified cases.Annuities provide regular pension income after retirement, while the remaining portion of the corpus can be withdrawn as a lump sum or through systematic unit withdrawal.Earlier, non-government NPS subscribers had to use at least 40 per cent of their retirement corpus to buy an annuity on exit.The revised annuity requirement applies to normal exits at the age of 60, exits after completing the minimum subscription period, and exits between the ages of 60 and 85.For subscribers whose accumulated pension wealth crosses certain monetary thresholds, at least 20 per cent of the corpus must be set aside for annuity purchase, while up to 80 per cent becomes available for withdrawal.

How the corpus thresholds work

The amended regulations lay down different withdrawal rules based on the size of the retirement corpus:

Greater control over retirement savings

By lowering the mandatory annuity component from 40 per cent to 20 per cent, the PFRDA has given non-government NPS subscribers greater control over how they use their retirement savings. The move increases liquidity at exit and allows retirees more flexibility in planning post-retirement income, while still ensuring a minimum assured pension through annuity purchase.

Warren Buffett’s lessons don’t just extend to markets and investment – they are often regarded as pearls of wisdom for dealing with life’s ups and downs. (AP file photo)

Warren Buffett is known for many things – he is one of the richest persons in the world, a master of investment, the ‘Oracle of Omaha’, Zen master and more. When it comes to business acumen and mastering the stock markets, Buffett’s mantras are cited as near-gospel by investors.As the 95-year-old approaches his retirement as Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO later this year, his remarkable investment acumen has garnered widespread recognition. His achievements have established him amongst history’s most accomplished investors, accumulating wealth estimated at $150 billion.But Buffett’s lessons don’t just extend to markets and investment – they are often regarded as pearls of wisdom for dealing with life’s ups and downs.According to a CNN report, Buffett’s teachings incorporate diverse philosophical traditions, drawing from Zen Buddhism, Confucian thought, Stoic philosophy and New Testament teachings. These principles provide guidance for navigating both financial markets and personal difficulties.

Warren Buffett’s Zen-like principles

Although not religious himself, Buffett’s career reflects substantial engagement with spiritual principles. Religious scholars and practitioners studying Buffett’s approach recognise him not only as a business leader but also as someone who embodies Zen-like wisdom in his methods and teachings, says CNN.Warren Buffett’s spiritual influence has extended globally over the years. His followers attend Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meetings to see the individual whom a financial expert described as “the God of investing.”Buffett himself serves as the primary source of his spiritual wisdom, having developed his own philosophical perspective. Both investors and non-investors study his sayings and teachings, including statements like “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” He also notes that wealth “lets you be in more interesting environments, but it can’t change how many people love you or how healthy you are.“Such philosophical observations from Buffett have led Leo Babauta, who practises Zen Buddhism, to recognise Buffett’s alignment with Zen principles.“He’s one of the richest men in the world, and yet I really don’t feel like he has made that a central part of who he is,” Babauta, author of “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential…in Business and in Life,” tells CNN.“He’s surrounded by people who are focused on making money, and he sees how people are deluded (by that). That’s one of the central ideas of Zen: We’re all living these illusions of what’s going to make us happy.”In Buffett’s perspective, excellence in investing and personal integrity are inseparable. He suggests that one can always be in a bull market by adhering to three spiritual guidelines, which he articulates in his own words: ‘Envy and greed go hand in hand’The Ten Commandments include the directive against coveting, whilst envy features amongst the seven deadly sins. According to Buffett, amongst the seven deadly sins, envy stands alone as the only one devoid of pleasure. He has said, “Being envious of someone else is pretty stupid. Wishing them badly, or wishing you did as well as they did — all it does is ruin your day. Doesn’t hurt them at all, and there’s zero upside to it. If you’re going to pick a sin, go with something like lust or gluttony. That way at least you’ll have something to remember the weekend for.”This mindset has implications for investment strategies. Babauta’s analysis of Buffett’s investment approach reveals a conservative methodology rooted in Zen principles. Buffett acknowledges his own boundaries, particularly regarding technology investments, due to his limited understanding of the sector.“You would never find him chasing after cryptocurrency or the latest AI thing,” Babauta says according to CNN. “He looks for things that are fundamentally sound and that kind of discipline can only happen if he didn’t need to chase after things because of his contentment. That contentment, in his case, led to a lot of discipline.”‘More blessed to give than to receive’In June 2006, Buffett announced a big philanthropic commitment through a series of letters, pledging most of his wealth to foundations and charitable organisations. This philanthropic spirit continued in his recent shareholder letter, where he discussed plans to accelerate his charitable giving, allocating approximately a billion dollars to four family foundations.According to the CNN report, Buffett exemplifies the New Testament principle of giving over receiving, setting him apart amongst America’s wealthy. This characteristic inspired Robert L. Bloch, whose father established H&R Block, to compile “The Warren Buffett Book of Investing Wisdom: 350 Quotes from the World’s Most Successful Investor”. Speaking to CNN, Bloch identifies Buffett’s gratitude and generosity as essential spiritual values.Buffett demonstrates genuine concern for underprivileged and ordinary citizens, expressing a desire to contribute to society’s welfare, as Bloch notes. “That’s very spiritual. Not many billionaires are like that.”His charitable nature aligns with ancient Greco-Roman Stoic principles. Philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius advocated that virtuous living was essential for happiness, whilst viewing material attachments as obstacles to self-control. As documented by Ryan Holiday, author of popular books on Stoicism, Aurelius, whilst serving as Roman emperor, liquidated palace possessions to reduce empire debt and support Roman citizens.According to Bloomberg Opinion columnist Beth Kowitt, Buffett credits his success to luck. “He is very clear that a lot of his success comes from being born a white male American in the year 1930. I think he believes that his wealth is a product of the system. It’s not all. He doesn’t buy into his own hype. And I think that is really different from what we see from a new cohort of Silicon Valley CEOs who seem to feel that they’ve contributed so much more to society than they’ll get back,” she tells Bloomberg. “This is a little bit of the secret of his success. It’s kind of helped him avoid hubris and the mistakes that come with it. And I think, you cannot recreate Warren Buffett’s luck, but you can certainly try to recreate this mentality,” she says.

Keeping the faith

People in the US have faced significant challenges recently. A Politico survey reveals nearly 50% of citizens struggle with essential expenses like food and healthcare. Various polls indicate that over half of Americans believe the country’s peak has passed.Nevertheless, Buffett maintains optimism in America. This optimistic outlook mirrors the Christian virtue of faith, despite his non-religious stance. According to Christianity’s central figure, faith possesses transformative power. Another New Testament author defines it as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we do not see.”Warren Buffett stands as America’s foremost optimist. During challenging economic periods and political turmoil, he has maintained his positive outlook with statements like, “For 240 years, it’s been a terrible mistake to bet against America, and now is no time to start.” And: “We always live in an uncertain world. What is certain is that the United States will go forward over time.”This unwavering confidence motivated Bloch to explore Buffett’s statements in detail.“You got to have faith that it’s going to get better and we will come out of this,” Bloch explains to CNN, referring to the current political and economic climate in the US. “Look at 1776, 1820, and the Great Depression. America just got bigger and better throughout history.”This steadfast belief appears to be the source of Buffett’s consistent positive attitude. His wholesome Midwestern outlook is captured in his retirement letter: “Kindness is costless, but also priceless.”Unlike many billionaires who display domineering attitudes, Buffett maintains courtesy even towards critical voices at shareholder meetings and avoids associations with questionable individuals. As he stated, “You can’t make a good deal with a bad person.”He frequently discusses an unexpected topic in the competitive investment world: love.His perspective on love is clear: “The only way to get love is to be lovable” as money cannot purchase genuine affection. He believes in the reciprocal nature of love, stating, “The more you give love away, the more you get.”This approach, rather than his successful investments in Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo and Kraft Heinz, might be considered his most significant contribution. He has earned widespread respect in America not solely for his financial success but for his consistent consideration of others.His investment in human relationships may prove to be his most valuable achievement.