At the ‘Raja Saab’ song launch in Hyderabad, actress Nidhhi Agerwal experienced an intense moment when an enthusiastic crowd of fans overwhelmed her during her departure. Footage reveals her distress as she attempts to navigate through the throng, leaving many viewers outraged over the excessive adoration and the lack of proper crowd control by the organizers.

The Prabhas starrer ‘The Raja Saab’ has been the talk of the town since the announcement. On Wednesday, the makers hosted an event in Hyderabad to launch the song ‘Sahana Sahana’ from the film. Nidhhi Agerwal, who has featured in the track, attended the event. However, while exiting the venue, the actress faced a situation wherein she was mobbed by the sea of fans. Let’s take a look at what happened.

Nidhhi Agerwal gets mobbed by fans at the ‘Raja Saab’ event

A video of Nidhhi Agerwal getting mobbed by fans while exiting the song launch event has gone viral on the internet. The actress can be seen struggling to move towards her car even in the presence of guards. She looked visibly upset as she finally reached her vehicle. The video was shared by the entertainment portal Gulte. Even after getting inside her car, the actress looked upset and angry. Take a look at the clip here. As of now, the makers or the actress has not issued any statement on the incident.

Internet reacts to Nidhhi Agerwal getting mobbed

As soon as the videos surfaced on the internet, netizens strongly condemned the behavior of the fans. A person wrote, “What nonsense is this there’s absolutely no crowd management. This is mismanagement by organizers.” Another one added, “I feel sorry for her because it seems like everyone wants to touch her.” A comment read, “This Is Disturbing And Unacceptable. Admiration Should Never Turn Into Intimidation. Celebrities Are Human Beings, Not Public Property. A Little Discipline And Basic Civic Sense From The Crowd Could Have Prevented This. Safety And Respect Must Always Come First.” A social media user posted, “If you can choreograph an entry with cameras and banners, you can damn well choreograph a dignified exit. She escaped from a possible stampede.” Last but not least, an X user wrote, “Why is personal space such a hard concept for crowds?”

More about ‘The Raja Saab’

Directed by Maruthi, the film stars Prabhas, Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Riddhi Kumar, Zarina Wahab, Samuthirakani, Vennela Kishore, and Brahmanandam. The movie is set to hit theaters on January 9, 2026.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season came crashing down in the most painful way possible, and Travis Kelce finally put words to the emotion many in the locker room were feeling. After a Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention, the night grew even heavier with the confirmation that Patrick Mahomes had suffered a season-ending ACL injury.Speaking on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast with his brother Jason, Kelce delivered an unfiltered and emotional reaction to watching his longtime quarterback and closest on-field partner go down.

A moment that stunned the Chiefs locker room

Kelce described the moment Mahomes was injured as surreal, admitting it took time to process what had just happened. The veteran tight end said seeing Mahomes fall on a “freakish play” was one of the toughest moments he has experienced in his career.“It was almost like it wasn’t real,” Kelce said, adding that the injury “just sucks” given how much Mahomes puts into the game every single week. Kelce repeatedly emphasized the work ethic and toughness that have defined Mahomes’ rise, calling him the “face of the franchise” and a leader who gives everything for the team.For a Chiefs offense that has revolved around the Mahomes-Kelce connection for nearly a decade, the injury felt symbolic of a season that steadily slipped away.

Travis Kelce backs Patrick Mahomes to rise again

Despite the disappointment, Kelce made it clear he has no doubts about Mahomes’ ability to return at full strength. He described the quarterback as a “fearless warrior” and expressed confidence that Mahomes will attack rehab with the same intensity he brings to the field.Kelce pointed out that Mahomes has battled through adversity throughout his career, and he expects this challenge to be no different. While the timeline for Mahomes’ return stretches into the 2026 season, Kelce believes the setback will only add to his quarterback’s story.The loss to the Chargers marked the Chiefs’ first missed postseason since 2014, a stunning outcome for a franchise that has dominated the AFC for much of the past decade. For Kelce, the emotional weight of the moment extended beyond a single game.Kansas City now faces a difficult final stretch without its quarterback, with games remaining against the Titans, Broncos, and Raiders. More importantly, the franchise heads into the offseason with unfamiliar questions surrounding health, aging stars, and direction.For now, Kelce’s focus remains clear. The season may be lost, but his respect and loyalty to Mahomes and the bond they’ve built remains unshaken.Also Read: Patrick Mahomes’ family wealth: How rich is the Chiefs star’s inner circle?

The abandonment means India continue to lead the five-match T20I series 2-1, while South Africa now have only one opportunity left to draw level. (PTI Photo)

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was abandoned on Wednesday without a single ball being bowled after extremely poor visibility caused by a thick blanket of smog engulfed the Ekana Stadium. The washout has once again triggered debate over the BCCI’s decision to schedule international matches in north Indian cities during the peak winter months. Although the official reason cited was “excessive fog”, conditions inside the stadium told a different story, with smog severely restricting visibility. Air quality levels in Lucknow remained in the hazardous category throughout the day, with the AQI crossing 400, raising fresh concerns over player safety and welfare.

The match was scheduled to begin at 7 pm, but repeated inspections made it increasingly clear that conditions were unlikely to improve as the night progressed. Players eventually abandoned their warm-up by 7:30 pm and returned to their dressing rooms, while spectators who had turned up despite the cold slowly began leaving the stadium. After a sixth inspection, the game was officially called off at 9:30 pm. Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a surgical mask during the warm-up, underlining the severity of the pollution. BCCI vice-president and Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association strongman Rajeev Shukla also walked out for one of the inspections, though his visible disappointment after speaking with officials reflected the inevitability of the outcome. The abandoned fixture has put the spotlight on the venues chosen for the India-South Africa series, which was spread across cities such as New Chandigarh, Dharamsala, Lucknow, Ranchi, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Guwahati and Kolkata during November and December. This is traditionally the time when pollution levels in cities like Lucknow, New Chandigarh and Dharamsala are at their worst. With no reserve day scheduled, both teams will now head to Ahmedabad for the fifth and final T20I on Friday, with India currently leading the series 2–1. While the BCCI follows a rotational policy when allocating venues, the situation has revived questions about planning. The board could have explored swapping venues with the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11 and will be played largely across western and southern India, including Vadodara, Rajkot, Indore, Nagpur, Raipur, Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram, with Guwahati the only north-eastern stop. Weather-related disruptions have frequently impacted matches at north zone venues during winter. Just last week, the third T20I in Dharamsala was played in temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. After that game, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy admitted the conditions were difficult to cope with. “I’ve never played at a ground this cold, so I did find it quite challenging,” he had said. On that day, the AQI in Dharamsala was rated ‘poor’, while New Chandigarh experienced ‘severe’ air quality during the second T20I. The repeated issues have led to questions about whether the BCCI’s operations team adequately factored in historical weather and pollution data, or considered alternative options such as afternoon start times that could have at least ensured play for fans in attendance.

The Trump administration is significantly expanding its 2025 US travel ban, adding 20 countries, primarily from Africa, to existing restrictions. This policy, effective January 1, 2026, cites national security and public safety concerns, including vulnerabilities in screening processes. The expansion targets countries with alleged corruption and unreliable documentation, impacting both full and partial entry bans.

Luthra brothers (File photo)

NEW DELHI: A Goa court on Wednesday sent Saurav Luthra and Gaurav Luthra to 5-day police custody in connection with the devastating fire at an Arpora club venue. The Luthra brothers are the owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which was engulfed in fire that claimed 25 lives.The brothers were produced before the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court after being brought back to Goa from Thailand. The court remanded them to police custody to allow investigators to question them about the circumstances leading to the blaze and alleged safety lapses at the club.

Before being produced in court, the duo underwent multiple medical examinations. After landing at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, around 10.45 am under police escort, they were first taken to a primary health centre in Siolim and later to the District Hospital in Mapusa for health check-ups.On court directions, they were again sent for a fresh medical examination before being presented before JMFC Puja Sardesai, who ordered five days of police custody.The fire broke out on December 6 around 11.45 pm during a crowded event at the nightclub, when electric firecrackers allegedly struck the wooden ceiling, triggering a massive blaze. 25 people, including tourists and staff, lost their lives, while several others were injured.According to the police, the brothers fled India within hours of the incident. They left for Thailand on December 7, even as rescue operations were under way and a criminal case was registered against them at the Anjuna police station. Goa Police subsequently launched a nationwide and international manhunt, issuing a lookout circular and seeking an Interpol Blue Notice.After their passports were suspended by the ministry of external affairs, Thai authorities detained the brothers in Phuket for illegal stay. They were later deported to India on emergency travel documents issued by the Indian embassy. The duo landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday, where they were arrested by Goa Police and produced before a Delhi court, which granted a 48-hour transit remand.Police have booked them under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence.Investigators have also arrested several others linked to the nightclub’s operations and are probing allegations that the venue was operating with expired licences and without mandatory safety clearances.

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday criticised Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on India’s manufacturing sector during his visit to Germany, accusing him of “insulting India from foreign soil” at a time when Parliament is in session. BJP MP Sambit Patra said the LoP carries a “huge responsibility” and needs to behave in a “responsible manner”, especially while travelling abroad. “LoP has a huge responsibility. The LoP has to behave in a really responsible manner, especially when the LoP is on foreign soil. Parliament is in session here, several Bills are being discussed in the House and Rahul Gandhi is in Germany to address the Indian diaspora.” Patra said.Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the BMW factory in Munich, Patra alleged that the Congress leader praised German manufacturing while portraying India in a bad light. “Today, we saw Rahul Gandhi visiting BMW factory in Munich and there, he appreciated their manufacturing and said that he is sad that manufacturing is poor in India,” Patra said. The Puri MP rejected Rahul’s claims of Indian manufacturing being in a fragile state and declining, citing data. “Insofar as manufacturing is concerned, IIP (index of industrial production) is on a positive growth trend. In 2025 manufacturing in the country has grown at a record 5.4 per cent. Also right now our GDP is growing at 8.2 per cent, we’re among the fastest growing GDPs in the world, in which around 17 per cent contribution is of manufacturing,” he further added, “Rahul and responsibility can never move together. Whenever he visits abroad, he insults Parliament and India.”Earlier in the day Congress on X posted a video of Rahul Gandhi visiting the automobile major BMW’s headquarters in Munich. The post added that he inspected several cars and motorcycles at the plant. “He was pleased to see TVS’s 450cc motorcycle, developed in partnership with BMW—a proud moment to witness Indian engineering on display,” the post read.In the same post, Rahul reiterated his criticism of the Centre’s manufacturing policy. Congress quoted him saying, “Manufacturing is the backbone of strong economies. Sadly, in India, manufacturing is declining. For us to accelerate growth, we need to produce more – build meaningful manufacturing ecosystems, and create high-quality jobs at scale.” In a video shared by the party, Gandhi said, “India needs to start producing. Production is the key for the success of any country. And our manufacturing is declining which actually should be going up.”Rahul Gandhi is currently in Germany as part of an outreach programme and is scheduled to address the Indian diaspora in Berlin on December 17.

The UAE approved amendments to corporate tax, VAT, and company laws, clarifying tax credits, easing VAT rules, and updating corporate structures/Representative Image

The UAE has introduced a set of significant legislative changes covering corporate tax, value added tax (VAT), and the Commercial Companies Law. These amendments aim to make business operations simpler, reduce regulatory ambiguities, and strengthen the country’s business friendly framework, giving companies clearer guidance on taxation and corporate structures.The corporate tax amendments provide detailed guidance on calculating and settling tax liabilities when credits, incentives, or reliefs apply. Liabilities will be settled in a specific order: first, withholding tax credits; then, foreign tax credits; followed by any other Cabinet approved incentives or reliefs. Any remaining corporate tax must be paid. Taxpayers are also allowed to claim payments for unused tax credits, provided they adhere to specified timelines and procedures. These measures remove previous uncertainties and ensure consistent and transparent application of the corporate tax framework, which applies a standard 9 percent rate to companies with profits above Dh375,000 ($102,110), while profits below this threshold remain tax free.On the VAT side, Federal Decree Law No. 16 of 2025, effective January 1, 2026, simplifies tax procedures while maintaining compliance with international standards. Businesses will no longer need to issue self-invoices under the reverse charge mechanism if supporting documentation is kept. In addition, a five-year time limit is introduced for submitting claims to recover excess refundable VAT after reconciliation, providing clear timelines for businesses to manage tax recoveries.The amendments to the Commercial Companies Law expand flexibility and competitiveness in corporate structures. The law introduces the non-profit company, allowing organizations to reinvest net profits to achieve their objectives without distributing profits to shareholders. It also permits more complex capital structures, including multiple classes of shares with different rights for voting, profit distribution, redemption, and liquidation, as outlined in a company’s articles of incorporation or bylaws.Together, these updates reinforce the UAE’s commitment to creating a transparent, efficient, and predictable regulatory environment. By clarifying tax procedures, streamlining compliance, and enabling more flexible corporate structures, the country strengthens its position as a preferred destination for businesses and investors alike.

MUMBAI: The Worli police have taken a Lamborghini in custody after a video of it was uploaded on a social media platform a couple of days ago showing its speed as more than 200 km/h. The viral video shows shows the Lamborghini weaving through traffic on the sea link, overtaking multiple cars at high speed.Investigators said the vehicle was identified through its registration number visible in the footage.The Lamborghini was reportedly driven on the Bandra Worli sea link where the speed limit is 80 km/h. Police are verifying the documents of the car owner and the car dealer.Suzuki Hayabusa crashIn a separate incident, a motorcyclist suffered injuries on Sunday morning while allegedly trying to speed past another vehicle on NH-8 near Ambience Mall in DLF-3. Footage recorded on a fellow rider’s helmet camera shows a Suzuki Hayabusa accelerating aggressively seconds before the collision.According to police, the rider lost control during a risky overtake, causing him to be thrown off the bike and tumble repeatedly on the highway. The superbike slid several metres before coming to a halt. The clip went viral online, drawing criticism over reckless biking on the busy Gurgaon expressway.A patrol team reached the location and took the injured motorcyclist to Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.Officers said a case was not registered as the rider admitted he was speeding and overtaking improperly, and declined to file a complaint. “The video clearly showed the violation,” the SHO of DLF Phase 3 said.Police said the Swift car seen in the clip has since been traced and its driver identified, but initial investigation suggests the biker triggered the crash.Authorities noted that NH-8 continues to report numerous accidents linked to speeding, aggressive overtaking and lane indiscipline. Traffic officials once again urged commuters to maintain speed limits, especially around the Ambience Mall stretch, which is notorious for congestion and frequent mishaps.

Parliamentary panel recommends pen-and-paper format to improve reliability in national exams

The parliamentary standing committee on education, women, children, youth and sports has recommended a stronger focus on pen-and-paper exams for major national tests, highlighting recurring disruptions in computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The committee, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, reviewed the security, administration and financial functioning of the NTA in a detailed report tabled in Parliament.The report assessed 14 competitive examinations conducted by the NTA in 2024 and noted that at least five faced significant issues. UGC-NET, CSIR-NET and NEET-PG were postponed, while NEET-UG faced instances of paper leaks, and CUET (UG/PG) results were deferred. In early 2025, the report stated that in JEE (Main) 2025 held in January, at least 12 questions had to be withdrawn due to errors in the final answer key.Pen-and-paper exams and computer-based testingThe committee examined both pen-and-paper and computer-based test (CBT) formats. It found that pen-and-paper exams “offer more opportunities for paper leaks,” whereas CBTs “can be hacked in a manner that is difficult to detect.” Despite these concerns, the committee recommended a stronger focus on pen-and-paper exams, citing the proven reliability of CBSE and UPSC systems. It further advised that CBTs, when conducted, should only take place in government or government-controlled centres and “never in private centres.”Issues with vendors and administrationThe report highlighted ongoing problems with private vendors involved in paper setting, administration and correction. Several firms blacklisted by certain organisations or state governments continued to secure contracts elsewhere. The committee stated that “such blacklisted firms must not be engaged for any entrance test by the NTA or the state governments.” It recommended creating a nationwide blacklist of firms and associated individuals to prevent repeated involvement in exam-related malpractices.Financial review and capacity-buildingOver six years, the NTA collected an estimated Rs 3,512.98 crore and spent Rs 3,064.77 crore, leaving a surplus of Rs 448 crore. The committee suggested this corpus could be used to strengthen the agency’s capabilities to conduct tests independently, enhance regulatory oversight, and improve monitoring of vendors. Funding could also support better security measures for both pen-and-paper and computer-based exams.

Impacts of pen-and-paper exams

Implications for students and school curriculumA separate central panel has proposed reforms to reduce students’ dependence on coaching centres. It is considering conducting national exams such as JEE, NEET and CUET as early as Class XI. The plan aims to ease academic pressure in Class XII and limit daily coaching hours to two or three, down from five to six in many private centres.Officials said a hybrid assessment model could combine board marks with aptitude-based testing, strengthening classroom learning and internal assessments while reducing coaching reliance. NCERT has been tasked with coordinating with CBSE and state boards to compare Class XI and XII syllabi with entrance exam requirements, aiming to align school curricula and minimise disparities.Logistical challenges and exam conductTransitioning to pen-and-paper exams will require increased logistical efforts, including printing, secure transportation, invigilation, and manual evaluation. Despite these demands, pen-and-paper tests are expected to reduce technical errors, answer key issues and cyber vulnerabilities. Government-controlled centres and robust vendor oversight are considered essential to successful implementation.While the parliamentary committee did not mandate a full return to pen-and-paper testing, its recommendations emphasise the format as a reliable alternative. The decision on whether exams such as JEE Main, CUET and UGC NET will revert to pen-and-paper will depend on the government’s response and implementation of the committee’s findings.