The FMCG sector registered a robust recovery in the December quarter, aided by GST changes, festive sales, and reduced costs of raw materials. Even Dabur, Marico, and Godrej Consumer Products reported volume growth with single-digit revenue growth along with improved operating profit margins. The rural market continued to report better sales than the urban market, along with a sharp increase in e-commerce sales, as reported by ANI.After the initial shocks created by the GST implementation, with the need for the clearance of stocks, the market is now stabilising. There has been reported improvement in customer sentiment in both the urban and rural markets, with the rural market being stronger.Dabur anticipates double-digit growth in its Home & Personal care segment, especially in the category of hair oils and oral care. The company predicted its main brands like Dabur Amla, Almond, Anmol, Red Toothpaste, and Meswak will show healthy growth and gain market share. “Within the India business, we expect the Home & Personal care business to grow in double digits on the back of strong growth in Hair Oils and Oral care category. Key brands, which are likely to record healthy volume-led growth, are Dabur Amla franchise, Dabur Almond, Dabur Anmol, Dabur Red Toothpaste and Meswak,” it said.Godrej Consumer Products sees improving market conditions and expects close to double-digit revenue growth. The company is confident about better consumption in coming quarters due to falling inflation and lower GST rates making products more affordable. “We remain confident of a gradual improvement in consumption over the coming quarters, supported by falling inflation and improving affordability, following lower GST rates,” said the FMCG arm of Godrej Industries Group (GIG).Marico anticipates high revenue growth in the twenties for Q3, with better margins. The company sees steady demand and is optimistic about future growth, citing factors like lower inflation, reduced GST rates, higher minimum support prices for farmers, and good crop season. “Consolidated revenue growth on a year-on-year basis stood in the high twenties, poised to achieve our full-year aspiration,” it said.Major retailers are also showing strong performance. Trent reported 17 per cent revenue growth to Rs 5,220 crore. D-Mart saw its profits rise by 18.27 per cent to Rs 855.78 crore, while revenue grew 13.32 per cent to Rs 18,100.88 crore. Titan’s revenue grew by up to 40 per cent, largely because of rising gold prices.The organised retail segment continues to do well, with e-commerce and quick delivery services particularly growing at a high rate. Companies expect this positive trend to continue with improvement in market conditions and increase in consumption.

PM Modi during Yatra in Gujarat

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took part in a ‘Shaurya Yatra’ at Somnath, marking a four-day national commemoration observing 1,000 years of uninterrupted faith and resilience since the first recorded attack on the Somnath Temple in January 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni.PM Modi also paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who made significant efforts in the restoration of the Somnath Temple following Independence.

He also paid floral tributes to the countless warriors who laid down their lives defending the temple.Visuals from the event showed the Prime Minister standing in an open, flower-adorned vehicle as the procession moved through the town. He was joined by Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi.During the yatra, the Prime Minister was seen blowing a conch shell and greeting crowds that had gathered along the route. The Shaurya Yatra forms part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, a symbolic observance highlighting courage, sacrifice and the enduring spirit that ensured Somnath’s survival through centuries of destruction and rebuilding.PM Modi also offered prayers at Somnath Temple before interacting with ‘Rishikumar’ and artists in attendance.Ahead of the procession, 108 horses from the Gujarat Police Mounted Unit arrived to take part in the event. Officials said the mounted contingent played a central ceremonial role in the yatra.DIG Rajendrasinh Chudasama said the procession included horses from the police mounted unit, featuring locally bred Kathiawadi and Marwadi breeds. He noted that the animals had undergone months of specialised preparation for the event.“Shaurya Yatra is being organised in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and 108 horses of the Gujarat Mounted Unit will be participating in it. The unit consists of Kathiawadi and Marwadi horses and are locally bred… The horses have been trained for the Shaurya Yatra for eight months,” he told ANI.Several saints, seers and groups of children were present to welcome the Prime Minister. Students from Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya in Gujarat’s Kheda district also participated in large numbers.Sanjay Brahmbhatt of the institution said around 350 students had travelled to Somnath to take part in the procession.“We have come from Nadiad in Kheda district. We are from Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, and Dahyabhai Shastri is with us, along with all his students. Around 350 students have come here, and all of us will take part in the Shaurya Yatra. Our children will play the conch (shankh) and damru, and we will lead the procession ahead of the horses,” he told ANI.

Iran has been hit with a near‑total nationwide internet blackout amid widespread anti‑government protests, with independent monitors reporting connectivity has fallen to a tiny fraction of normal levels as authorities restrict access across the country. NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring group, confirmed the blackout has persisted for over 36–48 hours, sharply curtailing Iranians’ ability to communicate and share information.Cybersecurity expert noted the shutdown appears to be an intentional, centrally imposed disruption — often described as an “internet kill switch” — rather than a technical failure, and is intended to limit coverage of events on the ground and disrupt protest coordination. The move appears to be aimed at limiting and hiding the flow of information about alleged abuses and crimes by security forces as nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy continue. Concerns existed that authorities might attempt to interfere with satellite signals to prevent footage of the unrest from reaching the outside world.

According to the Associated Press, at least 116 people have been killed in connection with the nationwide unrest so far.Amnesty International said, “People in Iran daring to express their anger at decades of repression and demand fundamental change are once again being met with a deadly pattern of security forces unlawfully firing at, chasing, arresting and beating protesters.”Alp Toker, CEO of NetBlocks, was quoted by Fox News as saying, “This is Iran’s war against its own population using digital means. This was a piecemeal measure that eventually encompassed the entire country, with the government willing to use this kind of measure for an extended period of time.”He added that “There would be an attempt by the regime to cover up crimes that it may have committed, so this blackout could potentially last for days or weeks.”NetBlocks has described the current blackout as among the most severe ever recorded in Iran. “We are tracking near-total disconnection of internet service across Iran right now, and connectivity is below 2% of ordinary levels,” Toker said. “This is a nationwide disruption that is impacting almost all services, all connectivity and all avenues of life, extending beyond just mobile phones and computers.”The shutdown is affecting essential services, including banks, and severely restricting communication within the country. “There are a few gaps, so it’s possible to communicate with those close to the borders through Wi-Fi or mobile service that crosses borders,” Toker explained. “It’s also occasionally possible to find a part in the service, in a fixed-line service, where they can tunnel through all those, but that is increasingly rare and no longer an option.“Satellite internet, such as Starlink, remains technically feasible but the regime has banned the equipment. “The technology that the Iranian regime uses to trace links is essentially anti-espionage technology,” Toker said.He noted that similar measures were imposed during multi-week blackouts in 2019 and 2022, both coinciding with major protests, including those following the killing of Mahsa Amini. “In past incidents, we did observe that the government attempted to keep a baseline of service available. In this recent case, they pulled the plug, so there’s a far more extreme measure in place here, which suggests that the regime is scared and isn’t taking risks when it comes to the possibility of information reaching the outside world,” he said.Protests fuelled by a deepening economic crisis have swept Iran since they began on December 28, following the collapse of the Iranian rial, as soaring inflation has driven frustrated traders and university students into the streets of major cities, including Tehran. The unrest, challenging Iran’s theocracy, has since intensified. Observers say the demonstrations are the largest since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked nationwide anti-government protests. At least 116 people have been killed in violence linked to the nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocratic leadership. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that more than 2,600 people have also been arrested. With internet access restricted and phone lines cut across Iran, assessing the full scale of the demonstrations has become increasingly difficult.

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s presence in an Indian dressing room is often felt in moments that don’t make the highlights reel, and a small episode from India’s training camp in Vadodara has once again underlined that side of his leadership. Ahead of the opening ODI against New Zealand, a video surfaced on social media showing Kohli engaging with a local net bowler during an intense practice session, a clip that has quickly gone viral.The incident took place at the Kotambi Stadium on Saturday, January 10, where India were putting in the final touches before the three-match ODI series gets underway on Sunday. After an extended net session, Kohli paused to offer words of encouragement to the net bowler, later signing a cricket ball for him.

The interaction came after a demanding practice routine in which Kohli and the net bowler spent close to an hour and a half facing Indian pacers, spinners and throw-down specialists. Fresh off appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the sessions were designed to replicate match-like pressure, and Kohli appeared fully invested in every detail.During the exchange, Kohli was heard delivering a pointed yet motivational message: “Agar maar padh bhi jaati hai to koi baat nahi, par conviction se, ki main wo ball daal raha hu jo mujhe daalna hai, main wo ball nahi daal raha jo batsman mujhse dalwa raha hai (Even if you get hit, it’s fine. But you should have the conviction that you are delivering a ball that you want to, not the one the batter wants you to bowl).”Kohli arrives into the ODI series in red-hot form. After scores of 77 and 131 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he looked sharp against both pace and spin, even though inconsistent bounce from throw-down specialists challenged him in the nets. Now a single-format international player, Kohli skipped Delhi’s third Vijay Hazare match to join the national squad.His recent numbers underline his momentum. Kohli was named Player of the Series against South Africa after scoring 302 runs in three matches at an average of 151. He scored two centuries in the series. Against New Zealand, his ODI record remains formidable, with 1,657 runs from 33 matches at an average of 55.23.

Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir has passed away at 78 after a battle with cancer. His spokesperson confirmed his death, citing complications from lung issues. Weir, a guitarist and vocalist, was a guiding force in American music, building a lasting community through his artistry. He is remembered for his fiery spirit and a legacy intended to endure for centuries.

Guitarist and the founding member of the Grateful Dead band, Bob Weir, has passed away at the age of 78. He had been battling cancer for quite some time. In a social media post, the musician’s spokesperson confirmed that Weir had passed away surrounded by his loved ones as he fought complications from his cancer diagnosis.

Bob Weir passes away at 78

In the social media post shared on his official page, it was revealed that the guitarist “unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.” The post further read that, “Bobby took to the road. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music. His work did more than fill rooms with music; it was warm sunlight that filled the soul, building a community, a language, and a feeling of family that generations of fans carry with them.” The post recalled all of the work he had done in the past 60 years and how his music managed to connect people far and wide. It also talked about how he battled cancer and the underlying issues head-on after his diagnosis in July last year.They also revealed that the guitarist had been diagnosed only weeks before his memorable performance at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, his hometown. “Those performances, emotional, soulful, and full of light, were not farewells, but gifts. Another act of resilience,” the post added. The post remembered his fiery spirit and how his story has not ended, and has only taken another form. The post concluded with “He often spoke of a three-hundred-year legacy, determined to ensure the songbook would endure long after him. May that dream live on through future generations of Dead Heads. And so we send him off the way he sent so many of us on our way: with a farewell that isn’t an ending, but a blessing. A reward for a life worth livin’.”The post was also accompanied by a photo of the musician playing with his guitar, which was taken by his daughter, Chloe.

Know more about Bob Weir

Weir began his journey into the world of music at an extremely young age. At the mere age of 16, he and Jerry Garcia played together at an event in Paulo Alto. This prompted the two of them to form a bond and later start a band. Along with Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh, and Bill Kreutzmann, Weir and Garcia made up the five-member band Grateful Dead. He spent 30 years with the band, playing the guitar and occasionally singing at some of their performances. After Garcia’s passing in 1995, the band officially came to an end; however, spin-off groups named The Other Ones and The Dead were formed. He spent another two decades playing with them on stage. Bob Weir is survived by his wife, Natascha Münter, and their two children, Monet and Chloe.

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar, along with the ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Rakesh Bedi, and others, gave 2025 oneof its biggest hits – ‘Dhurandhar.’ For the entire month of December, the spy thriller enjoyed its reign as the undefeated king of the box office. However, now, after more than a month, it appears ‘Dhurandhar’ finally met its match. With 2026’s highly anticipated release, ‘The Raja Saab,’ led by Prabhas, the box office dynamics have changed. The Aditya Dhar film minted close to Rs 6 crore in India on Saturday, while the Prabhas starrer collected over Rs 25 crore across languages in the domestic market.Read on to know more about the performance of ‘Dhurandhar’ amid the wave of ‘The Raja Saab’.

‘Dhurandhar’ box office collections Day 37

According to the early estimates shared by Sacnilk, Ranveer Singh starrer ‘Dhurandhar’ collected Rs 5.75 crore on its 6th Saturday. These numbers came after the movie opened its 6th week with Rs 3.5 crore on Friday. With this, the action-packed drama ‘Dhurandhar’ stood at Rs. 799.5 crore net in India. It missed the Rs 800 core mark by a whisker.

‘Dhurandhar’ week-wise box office performance

Week 1: Rs 207.25 croreWeek 2: Rs 253.25 croreWeek 3: Rs 172 croreWeek 4: Rs 106.5 croreWeek 5: Rs 51.25 crore6th Friday: Rs 3.5 crore6th Saturday: Rs 5.75 croreTotal: Rs 799.5 crore

‘Dhurandhar’ global box office

The worldwide collection of the Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun, Akhshaye Khanna starrer stands at Rs 1245.75 crore. In this, India’s gross collection is Rs 959.25 crore, while the business from overseas accounts for Rs 286.5 crores.

‘Dhurandhar’ vs ‘The Raja Saab’

On the other hand, ‘The Raja Saab’, which made it to the screens on Thursday, opened with Rs 9.15 crore. Then on Friday, it soared to 53.75 crore. Saturday saw a huge drop in numbers, with the movie collecting Rs. 27.83 crore across languages. The tally as of now stands at Rs 90.73 crore.DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers in this article are compiled from our proprietary sources and diverse public data. We strive for accuracy, and all figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned. We offer a fair representation of the project’s box office performance. We are open to feedback and suggestions on toientertainment@timesinternet.in