Ammad Shakeel Butt (Getty Images)

Pakistan hockey captain criticises federation after troubled Australia tour during which his side didn’t just have to roam the streets for lack of accommodation but also “wash dishes before going to play a match”.Pakistan hockey captain Shakeel Ammad Butt has strongly criticised the Pakistan Hockey Federation after the team’s difficult tour of Australia.

Speaking to reporters at Lahore Airport, early this morning that the Pakistan Hockey Federation had been telling them lies and “enough was enough”.“We can’t work with this current management of the federation. When players have to clean the kitchen and wash dishes before going to play a match what result do you expect from us?” a livid Butt asked angrily.Butt said the players faced serious problems during the trip. He claimed the federation did not properly arrange accommodation for the team. According to him, the players had to wait 13 to 14 hours at Sydney Airport before flying to Canberra.When the team arrived at their hotel, they were told that no advance payment had been made, so there were no confirmed bookings. The players had to wait for hours and even walk around the streets before a place to stay was arranged. Pakistan lost 2-3 to Australia in their first FIH Pro League match and went on to lose all their matches during the Australia leg, including games against Australia and Germany.Butt said the situation was embarrassing and affected the team’s performance. “What was pathetic was that even the Airbnb accommodation was arranged for 10 days when we had to stay for 13 days. We had to move into a cheaper residence after 10-days,” Butt said.The Pakistan Sports Board said it had given more than 10 million rupees to the federation for hotel arrangements. Its Director-General, Noor us Sabah, said a detailed report is being prepared for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has ordered an inquiry into the matter.The Sharif is the patron-in-chief of the PHF.Butt also revealed that players were warned not to speak to the media. “I am speaking up because of what we have been through in Australia,” he said.“We need a foreign coach if we have to move forward. We have a good combination of players but we need a foreign coach and good management,” he added.

September’s GST cuts had helped keep prices steady for a while, but now, almost six months in, the phase is ending. India’s consumer goods makers now increasing prices by up to 5%, as rising commodity costs and weak rupee put pressure on margins. The impact is now visible in stores this quarter, with distributors saying that selected packs of everyday essentials, including detergents, hair oils, chocolates, noodles and breakfast cereals, are reaching shelves with higher price tags, according to ET. The latest round of increases come after a period of during which companies had swiftly passed on tax benefits after GST rates were lowered across multiple consumer categories. Firms had acted cautiously at the time to avoid scrutiny under antiprofiteering regulations. With that phase now behind them, companies are beginning to exercise pricing power once again. Mohit Malhotra, chief executive of Dabur India, told ET that the company, which makes Real juice and Vatika hair oil, is implementing a 2% price increase in the ongoing fourth quarter. The higher pricing, he added, will continue into the next year. “We had to postpone the price hikes due to the antiprofiteering issue,” he said. The pressure on margins has intensified amid rising commodity prices and sustained currency weakness. Crude oil prices have firmed up in recent weeks, lifting costs of related commodities such as sulphur and n-paraffins. Coconut oil prices have doubled over the past year. Meanwhile, the rupee has been sliding for several months, touching an all-time intraday low of Rs 92.02 against the dollar on January 30, affected by trade deficits and global imbalances. The depreciation has pushed up the cost of imported inputs. “A lot of ingredients in breakfast staples, such as oats and almonds, are imported… The depreciation of the rupee has significantly increased costs of imports,” said Aditya Bagri, group director at breakfast cereals, muesli and oats maker Bagrry’s. “We are exploring a marginal increase in prices this quarter on select packs,” the official further added. Home and personal care manufacturers are also grappling with higher raw material expenses, given their dependence on crude oil derivatives that influence the cost of commodities such as liquid paraffin and surfactants. “Home care price increases will be (seen) soon. Some (packs with increased price tags) are already going into the market, and some will follow,” Niranjan Gupta, chief financial officer at Hindustan Unilever, said during an investor call last week. The company is raising prices across its home care portfolio, including Surf Excel, Rin, Vim and Domex. At Tata Consumer Products, tea prices have also shown movement. “There was a small uptick on tea prices at the end of the (December) quarter,” managing director Sunil D’ Souza said after the third-quarter earnings. “But remember, January to early April…will determine opening prices then. We will be flexible on moving (prices) up or down depending on how the commodity fares when the season opens. We have already passed on most of the increases in this quarter.” However, even with higher revenues, profitability remains under pressure. A report by financial services firm Systematix Group on Tuesday noted that while FMCG companies recorded 9% year-on-year revenue growth in the third quarter of FY26, margin expansion has been constrained. Average sales volumes rose 6% year-on-year, supported by GST-linked reductions in categories such as biscuits, noodles and snack foods, the report said.

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan‘s family has claimed that he is enduring “unimaginable mistreatment” in prison and demanded better health facilities for him.This comes after Khan recently told a visiting lawyer that he lost about 85 per cent of vision in the right eye due to alleged lack of health services.‘Under the vengeful instructions of Asim Munir’Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi claimed that the former prime minister is under the directives of ‘Asim Law’ and facing irreversible damage to his right eye as a direct consequence. She claimed that Khan has been diagnosed with retinal vein occlusion. “Imran Khan, a global celebrity, a philanthropist, and former prime minister of Pakistan, has endured unimaginable mistreatment in prison under the directives of ‘Asim Law,’ now facing irreversible damage to his right eye as a direct consequence,” Khan’s sister Noreen Niazi said in a post on X, referring to Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.“The jail’s poor conditions have severely impacted his health, leading to devastating effects on his eye, now diagnosed as retinal vein occlusion. This isn’t mere negligence. It’s deliberate cruelty, executed through an evil and conniving master plan of Gen Asim Munir. Under the vengeful instructions of Asim Munir, Imran Khan’s due treatment is being handled inside the poor conditions of the jail,” she added.Noreen added that given the nature of Khan’s eye condition, where he’s already lost 85 per cent of his vision, proper treatment “simply isn’t possible in a prison setting”.“Our sole constitutional and legal demand is that Imran Khan be immediately transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians,” she demanded.“You (Munir) declare yourself the chief of a Muslim armed forces, quoting Quranic verses in your speech, but you refuse to abide by them. The nation is wide awake, and the whole world is watching this brutality and inhumane and despicable treatment of Imran Khan. This ushers in concerns about Imran Khan’s legal rights; it rather underscores the gravity of lawlessness now prevalent in Pakistan under illegitimate and un-Islamic rule. It represents a profound trial of your beliefs, your command, and your impending judgment,” Noreen said.Meanwhile, Khan’s close aide Zulfi Bokhari said the former premier told his wife Bushra Bibi on Tuesday that he remains deeply concerned about his eye.“His first and only priority is an immediate emergency meeting with his personal physicians -Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim. Let’s put politics aside for a moment and only focus on this one, extremely reasonable demand,” Bokhari said.PTI cuts off Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the rest of PakistanMeanwhile, Pakistan’s opposition alliance continued its sit-in in Islamabad, demanding better health facilities for jailed former premier Imran Khan.The sit-in is led by the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP), an alliance set up last year to protest the constitution of the country.Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is its main force, while the alliance is led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a Pashtun tribal leader from Balochistan who is also the leader of the opposition in the national assembly.The group launched the protest on Friday at two places in Islamabad, including near the parliament building and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, the official building of the provincial government in the capital.The protestors have vowed to continue the sit-ins until Khan is shifted for specialist care to a private hospital.The PTI has cut off Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from the rest of the country by road blockades, demanding that Khan be immediately shifted to the hospital and allowing his doctors to see him.Former cricket captains appeal Pakistan govt over Khan careMore than a dozen former international cricket captains also issued a statement appealing the Islamabad government to give him “adequate” medical treatment.Former cricket skippers “respectfully” urges Pakistan “to ensure that Imran Khan receives immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing”.The campaign is led by former Australian captain and contemporary of Khan, Greg Chappell.“Khan deserves fair and transparent access to legal processes without undue delay or hindrance,” the statement said.Other signatories are Michael Atherton, Michael Brearley, Nasser Hussain and David Gower (England), Allan Border, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, Steve Waugh and Kim Hughes (Australia), Clive Lloyd (West Indies) and John Wright (New Zealand).Government rejects chargesInterior minister Mohsin Naqvi told the media that the government has no intention to “politicise” the matter of Khan’s health, while blaming the opposition for doing the same.“The medical report also came forward yesterday, and everything is clear as per it. Neither we nor the government want to politicise this,” he said.He also criticised the furore by the PTI over Khan’s health.“Putting up such a show is extremely inappropriate, especially misleading people,” the minister said.The government refuted the charges made by Khan’s family and said that a two-member team of doctor, who, after examining the former premier concluded that his vision in the right eye without glasses was recorded at 6/24 partial, while the left eye measured 6/9.However, with corrective glasses, the right eye improved to 6/9 partial and the left eye to 6/6.They also reported a reduction in the swelling in the right eye, with its thickness decreasing from 550 to 350 microns, and the report termed it a sign of improvement. The doctors also recommended eye drops for both eyes, while advising the PTI founder to undergo two other eye tests.Pakistan’s Supreme Court has already requested a report on Khan’s living conditions in the Adiala jail near Rawalpindi, in connection with a case that has been pending since 2023.Authorities had previously confirmed that Khan underwent a 20-minute medical procedure in January at Islamabad’s government hospital but gave no other details.

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmarks opened flat in trade on Wednesday. While the 50-share index Nifty was near 25,700, the 30-share BSE Sensex was down marginally. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,716.35, down 9 points or 0.035%. BSE Sensex was at 83,438.94, down 12 points or 0.014%.Experts believe that the stock market is likely to remain steady with a positive undertone in the near term, supported by global trends.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The better-than-expected Q3 results and indications of continuing momentum in earnings growth, going forward, are positive factors that will keep the market resilient. The volatility in IT stocks may continue, in response to incoming news relating to the sector. Overall, IT stocks may remain weak since uncertainty surrounding the sector is huge and large institutional investors are unlikely to invest big time in IT stocks, unless valuations become compelling. There can be churns away from IT towards other sectors like banking and financials, automobiles, telecom, pharmaceuticals etc where there is good earnings visibility.”“This is the time to gradually increase exposure to equity. But many retail investors are increasing investments in gold and silver ETFs, which is a risky game in the present context. Early signs of a shift in the investment strategy of FIIs are visible now. In the cash market, FIIs have been buyers in eight out of the last thirteen trading days. This trend and improving prospects for corporate earnings bode well for the market.“US equities ended marginally higher after a weak start to the session, helped by a rebound in technology stocks and support from financial shares. The recovery followed earlier volatility as investors assessed the outlook for artificial intelligence after recent turbulence that had pulled major indices away from record levels.Asian markets also posted modest gains in thin holiday trading. Investor sentiment remained cautious as markets continued to digest recent swings in global equities linked to concerns around AI-driven disruptions.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Chanting is not just about repeating a mantra. It is traditional science which aligns human body to universe and cosmic order. A human body can be visualzied with Panchakosha are Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya, and the Tri Sharira are Sthula Sharira, Sukshma Sharira and Karana Sharira. Chanting helps in aligning everything with the universe. Most often mantra is seen as collection of letters, however, it is collection of sound (naad) and letters. This is why there are broadly two types of chanting i.e Silent Chanting and Lound Chanting

Loud Chanting (Vaikhari)

Vaikhari means the mantra is spoken clearly so the sound is heard. This stage is important because it engages the body first. The breath becomes rhythmic, the chest opens, and the vibration moves through the physical system. It also prepares the space itself. Sound has a clearing effect, so loud chanting helps create a supportive atmosphere for practice rather than starting in a scattered environment. When the mind is dull or distracted, Vaikhari brings it back quickly because the body, breath and voice all participate. For that reason it is always useful at the beginning of chanting.

Silent Chanting (Upanshu)

Upanshu is when the mantra is repeated very softly, almost like a whisper or lip movement without sound. Here the work begins shifting inward. The rhythm remains, but the attention turns toward the mind and emotional field. Upanshu helps stabilize thought flow and creates alignment between the mantra and inner feeling. It reduces restlessness without breaking continuity, that is why it acts as a bridge between loud chanting and mental repetition.

Silent Chanting (Manasika)

Manasika means the mantra is repeated entirely in the mind. There is no sound and no movement, only awareness holding the repetition. At this stage the mantra begins working on the subtle body, the ukshma sharir, and influences deeper layers of the panchakosha. It refines thought patterns and steadies attention of thoughts. With regular and consistent practice, the repetition can continue quietly even outside formal chanting, shaping perception and emotional response at a subtle level.

How to Use Them Together

The simplest method is to begin with a few minutes of Vaikhari so the body and space are prepared. Then allow the chant to soften into Upanshu as the mind steadies. From there it naturally moves into Manasika, where the repetition becomes internal. In this progression the mantra moves from sound to mind to subtle awareness of person.

India’s Hardik Pandya (ANI Photo)

India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya has revisited the turning point of his career, casting his mind back to the dramatic final over against Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2016 that first thrust him into the national spotlight. Tasked with defending 11 runs in the last over, Pandya held his nerve in a finish that remains one of the most unforgettable moments of that tournament. Nearly a decade on, he is now part of India’s squad as a senior figure in their title defence. He believes that night in 2016 laid the foundation for everything that followed.

“I think all these moments made me the kind of person I am. There were early challenges in my international career where I had to hold my ground and back myself. It was important to have belief. In cricket, even if there is just a 1% chance, the game is not over until the last ball of the match is bowled. “That Bangladesh match was a classic example of that. One ball before the wicket, the batter had started celebrating as if the game was over. He was celebrating right in front of me, and it was all happening before my eyes. “When things turn around like that, they create wonderful memories. Every time I see it, I think about how, in the early days, that was one of the challenges in my life and one of the moments in my career that shaped Hardik Pandya. I have had many more moments like this, but my journey started with that one,” Pandya said on JioStar. Pandya also described himself as a bowling-first “cricket geek”, admitting that he has not yet fully unlocked his batting ability. After the most recent IPL season, he realised he wanted to push towards his true ceiling as a batter. He also acknowledged the role his girlfriend, Mahieka, played in helping him reconnect with the joy of the sport. “I think the child in me, the cricket geek, who is always there, was focusing more on my skill set as a bowler. I have always had a lot of confidence in my bowling, but batting was very close to my heart. “After the last IPL, I realised that I really wanted to play to Hardik’s full potential. I think until now, I haven’t utilised more than 40 per cent of my batting potential, and that is genuinely honest feedback. “What I know as a cricketer, what I imagine, what I manifest, and how I practice, have not translated into performance by more than 40 per cent. I took some time in my life to figure out how to bring that out. That’s when Mahieka came into my life. “We started talking about the sport and how to bring that child back. She helped me rediscover that excitement for the game that I always had. I went behind the scenes, worked really hard, and had a good amount of batting sessions. “There were days when I was on the ground for six to seven hours. When I went to the NCA, I would go at 3:30 in the afternoon and finish at 12:30 at night. I was usually the last person to leave and shut the lights off,” he added. Those marathon sessions at the NCA in Bengaluru, stretching from mid-afternoon until well past midnight, underline Pandya’s determination to turn potential into performance as he enters the next phase of his international journey.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was visibly frustrated with paparazzi as he left the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after visiting his father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, who is currently under medical care.Video footage circulating online shows Salman exiting the hospital, in his car. He was joined by his brother, Arbaaz Khan and sister-in-law Sshura Khan. The actor, who was seated in the front seat, was seen looking visibly upset as a crowd of paparazzi crowded around his car to take photos. Some photographers were even heard shouting “Salman Bhai!” repeatedly while he made his exit. Video footage shows Khan closing his eyes as the cameras flashed in front of his car. The actor was also seen ducking his head, trying to avoid the paparazzi.

Fans outraged at paparazzi

The videos prompted the actor’s fans to step in and express their displeasure and urge photographers to give him space. The incident drew sharp criticism from fans, many of whom scolded the paparazzi for their conduct. One comment read, “Why can’t these spectators/media give them a little privacy? At least, they must learn to control their excitement and stop yelling the names of the celebs. These celebs are human too… with emotions.” Another wrote, “Why can’t you guys give the man space while recording? Don’t go in front of the car. Do it respectfully.”A third added, “Why are the cameramen and reporters running behind the cars?”

Fans compare frenzy to Dharmendra’s hospitalisation

“First the Deol brothers and now Salman Khan,” read a post, pointing out similar episodes involving other stars. Previously, the paparazzi came under fire for their ‘insensitive’ behaviour towards the Deol family when veteran actor Dharmendra was in hospital. Besides the fans, Sunny Deol, Esha Deol and other family members also expressed their displeasure with the photographers during their father’s hospitalisation.Salim Khan was admitted to the ICU on Tuesday morning. His children, including Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Arpita Khan and other family members were spotted arriving at the hospital throughout the day to be by his side.As per a statement issued by Dr Jalil Parkar, Lilavati Hospital, “Salim Khan was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital under Dr Jalil Parkar in the ICU at 8.30 am on Tuesday morning. He was brought into the emergency by their family doctor, prompting emergency care. Salim Khan was later shifted to the intensive care. He is stable but is under close observation in regards to his clinical status.”Parker said the doctors will hold a press bulletin on Wednesday at 11 am with “due consent of the relatives and maintaining the confidentiality of the patient to the utmost.”

Despite being born into the illustrious Bachchan family, Navya Naveli Nanda says she never felt any pressure to step into the world of acting.In a recent conversation with Variety India, Navya addressed the long-standing curiosity around whether she was ever expected to carry forward the cinematic legacy of her grandparents, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.“No, I don’t think there was any pressure, and I think that my family has always been very supportive of everyone having their own independent choices, especially when it comes to their careers. So, there was no pressure ever to join a certain side or a certain legacy of the family,” she said.Navya revealed that her interests were always inclined towards entrepreneurship. “I think for me, growing up, it was always seeing my dad (entrepreneur Nikhil Nanda) work and seeing my dadi (paternal grandmother) and my bua (aunt) and my mom (author-philanthropist Shweta Bachchan Nanda) start businesses of their own. So, I think that’s really what inspired and excited me as a kid. I was always very clear from a very young age that that was really the side that I would kind of choose and lean in to in my own career.”

Pursuing management at IIM Ahmedabad

Navya Naveli Nanda, entrepreneur and granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan, is currently pursuing a two-year Blended Post Graduate Programme (BPGP) in Management at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad as part of the Class of 2026. She enrolled in the hybrid (online and on-campus) programme to deepen her business knowledge, describing it as a demanding, rigorous yet rewarding experience.

“Achievement is not a large number”

Navya, who works in the development sector and co-hosts a podcast with her mother Shweta Bachchan Nanda and grandmother Jaya Bachchan, also reflected on what success truly means to her. “I think this is probably a question that we all grapple with, which is, you know, what does success really mean or what does achievement really mean? I work in the development sector, and for me, achievement or success is not a large number. It’s about impacting one person’s life as deeply as you can, and the work that we do really tries to focus more on that rather than thousands and thousands of people. It’s really about how you can change one person’s life through what you’re doing, and for me, that is an achievement. If I’m able to do that even daily I think I would say I’m being successful.”