Author: Sarita Jena

  • Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024: Champions and Rising Stars Unite!

    Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024: Champions and Rising Stars Unite!

    Get ready for an amazing badminton tournament in New Delhi! The Yonex-Sunrise India Open will take place from January 14-19 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Top players like Viktor Axelsen from Denmark and An Se Young from Korea will be there.

    India’s stars are also joining the fun! We have double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, last year’s champion Lakshya Sen, and the fantastic men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, ready to compete.

    This tournament is a big deal! It now has a prize pool of $950,000 and offers lots of points for the winners. A record number of Indian players—21 in total—will compete this year, including 3 in men’s singles, 4 in women’s singles, 2 in men’s doubles, 8 in women’s doubles, and 4 in mixed doubles.

    In the last two years, India sent 14 players each time, so this is a big step up! Last year’s men’s doubles gold winners from the Asian Games, Satwik and Chirag, are eager to prove themselves after a tough time at the Paris Olympics when they lost in the quarters.

    The men’s doubles competition will be intense, featuring top teams like Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang from China, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik from Malaysia, and more. With many stars changing their teams after the Olympics, this tournament could surprise us all!

  • Khurram Nagar Overbridge to Open Soon After Load Testing Begins

    Khurram Nagar Overbridge to Open Soon After Load Testing Begins

    Exciting news for the people living near Khurram Nagar! The new overbridge is set to undergo three days of testing starting this Friday. This testing is an important step to make sure the bridge is strong enough to handle a lot of traffic before it opens to everyone.

    Rajkumar Pithoria, the head engineer from the Public Works Department (PWD), said, “Load testing will start on Friday to check that the bridge is safe for use.” Some final touches are also being added to the bridge, which is expected to officially open by January 31. However, the exact date for the opening is still being decided.

    Originally, the bridge was supposed to be finished by March 2024. When it’s ready, it will help ease traffic for over 1.5 million people in nearby places like Indira Nagar, Munshipulia, and Kalyanpur. This new connection will help reduce traffic jams at busy spots like Jagarani Chauraha, Khurram Nagar Chauraha, and Bandhe Wali Road—making it easier to get to major areas like Polytechnic and Ring Road.

    One cool feature of the bridge is its special Hanging Arch design, which required unique building methods. According to Pithoria, this special design caused some delays, along with a decision to lengthen the bridge by 900 meters to meet the needs of more cars and people. The bridge was initially planned to be 1,711 meters long, but now it will stretch to 2,611 meters, helping to make traffic smoother in one of Lucknow’s busiest areas.

  • Delhi Airport Disruptions: 300+ Flights Delayed Due to Fog

    Delhi Airport Disruptions: 300+ Flights Delayed Due to Fog

    On Tuesday, heavy fog caused big delays at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, affecting over 300 flights, according to reports. Thankfully, no flights had to be rerouted during the day.

    Around 5:20 PM, the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) said that visibility had improved, and flights were starting to run normally again. They advised passengers to check with their airlines for any updates on their flights.

    Usually, about 1,300 flights take off and land at this busy airport each day. However, the poor weather impacted flights to and from other cities like Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Patna as well.

    IndiGo, a major airline, acknowledged the situation on social media, expressing their concern and hope for better weather to help restore travel plans soon.

    The weather in Delhi saw a slight temperature increase to 10.5 degrees Celsius, which is higher than normal. Humidity levels were quite high at 92% early in the morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that thick fog would continue, with temperatures expected to reach a high of around 19 degrees Celsius.

    Additionally, Delhi’s air quality is a real concern, recorded at an unhealthy level of 303 in the ‘very poor’ category in the morning. This means that the air can be harmful, especially for people with health issues.

  • Tata Steel India Reports Record Production and Sales Growth!

    Tata Steel India Reports Record Production and Sales Growth!

    Tata Steel India has had a fantastic few months! In the last quarter, their crude steel production jumped up 6% compared to last year and 8% from the previous quarter, reaching 5.68 million tonnes. This increase came after the new 5 million tonnes-per-year blast furnace started working at Kalinganagar in September.

    For the first nine months of this financial year, Tata Steel produced 16.2 million tonnes of steel, which is also a 5% increase from last year. The company’s sales have never been better, with deliveries reaching 5.29 million tonnes in just three months! This is a 4% increase from the last quarter and 8% from the same time last year. Great efforts in selling steel in India and exporting it helped boost these numbers.

    Here are some highlights for Tata Steel’s deliveries for the first nine months of the year:

    – Automotive & Special Products: Delivered 2.3 million tonnes, which is a 3% increase due to a rise in high-end steel products. They also launched a new Continuous Annealing Line (CAL) at the plant, which got approved by major car manufacturers.

    – Branded Products & Retail: Delivered 5.1 million tonnes, marking a 6% rise thanks to strong sales of their popular brands. Tata Tiscon, a retail brand, increased by 20% and Tata Steelium, their cold-rolled brand for small businesses, rose by 7%.

    – Industrial Products & Projects: Delivered 5.3 million tonnes, steady compared to last year. But growing areas like Engineering and Ready-to-use solutions saw strong double-digit growth.

    Additionally, Tata Steel Aashiyana, an online platform for individual home builders, saw a big jump in revenue, rising 37% to Rs. 2,154 crores! They have been working hard to make the shopping experience better for customers.

    Tata Steel also has operations in other countries like Europe and Thailand. In the Netherlands, they produced 1.76 million tonnes of liquid steel and delivered 1.53 million tonnes, which had a 16% rise from last year thanks to better production.

    Meanwhile, Tata Steel UK has changed its supply chain strategy after shutting down their blast furnaces, maintaining their customer service levels. However, their 9-month deliveries were impacted by lower demand.

    Tata Steel shares ended at Rs 133.18 on the NSE, gaining by Re 1 or 0.76%.

  • Trump Feels Weary of Frequent Visits from Elon Musk: What’s Next?

    Trump Feels Weary of Frequent Visits from Elon Musk: What’s Next?

    US President-elect Donald Trump may be feeling a bit annoyed with Elon Musk, even though he praises him in public. While they seem like close friends because Musk gives a lot of money to support Trump, it looks like Trump is getting weary of Musk’s constant visits to his Mar-a-Lago home.

    Musk, who has spent over $250 million on Trump’s election efforts, has been staying at a fancy rental nearby for $2,000 a night. From there, he joins Trump’s important meetings and even shows up to dinners with other famous business leaders, like Jeff Bezos from Amazon.

    However, reports say Trump is starting to think Musk is visiting too often. He’s even heard people calling Musk the “President Musk,” which bothers him. A reporter shared that this nickname gets under Trump’s skin.

    While Trump seems happy with Musk’s support, some people in Trump’s team find Musk’s boldness a bit annoying. They like that he supports Trump, but they don’t necessarily enjoy having him around all the time.

    Musk’s relationship with Trump is still strong, but it might change. According to the reporter, Musk probably won’t have as much access to Trump when he returns to the White House. Unlike his campaign manager and chief of staff, who are Trump’s top advisers, Musk isn’t in the closest circle of trust.

    Musk’s financial support has helped Trump, and he may be able to help him out again in the future. But with Musk’s bold style, it’s a complicated situation. In this world of politics and money, things can change quickly, and relationships can shift.

    For Musk, staying connected with Trump can have great benefits for his companies like Tesla and SpaceX. With potential advantages in laws and regulations, being around Trump could help improve Musk’s big business plans.

  • Understanding Processed vs Ultra-Processed Foods: Health Risks Explained

    Understanding Processed vs Ultra-Processed Foods: Health Risks Explained

    Processed foods often have added ingredients to make them last longer, while unprocessed foods don’t have these additives. Ultra-processed foods have even more additives. In an interview, Dr. Pritam Kataria, a cancer doctor at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, explained that ultra-processed foods are made mostly from ingredients taken from real foods, like fats, sugars, and starches. They can also include fake colors, flavors, and stabilizers. Common examples are frozen meals, soda, hot dogs, fast food, and packaged snacks like cookies.

    Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods:
    Dr. Kataria noted some worrying effects of eating ultra-processed foods:
    – 12% Increase in Cancer Risk: Eating more ultra-processed foods raises your chances of getting cancers like colon, breast, and pancreatic cancer.
    – 10% Rise in Heart Disease Risk: These foods can lead to heart problems.
    – Obesity: About 27.8% of Indian adults are affected by weight issues due to these foods.
    – Sugar Spikes: Eating these foods can lead to high blood sugar, increasing the risk for diabetes.
    – Trans Fats: Many ultra-processed foods have unhealthy fats that can harm your heart.

    How to Reduce Ultra-Processed Foods in Your Diet:

    1. Tell the Difference: Learn how to spot the difference between regular processed foods and ultra-processed foods. Not all processed foods are bad. Some processing, like fermentation or canning, can actually make food healthier. Even “sweetened” yogurts might have sugar but can still be good for you because they offer nutrients like protein and calcium.

    2. Eat Foods with More Nutritional Value: Cut back on foods that are low in nutrition or have harmful ingredients when eaten too much. Look for food options that provide essential nutrients.

  • Ibrahim Ali Khan’s Funny Cow Encounter After Gym Workout!

    Ibrahim Ali Khan’s Funny Cow Encounter After Gym Workout!

    Ibrahim Ali Khan, the son of Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan, loves to joke around with fans and paparazzi after his gym sessions. Recently, he had a funny moment with a man who brought his cow outside the gym.

    In a video shared by a photographer, we see Ibrahim wearing a black T-shirt, shorts, and a hoodie, along with sunglasses and a gym bag. While leaving the gym, he chatted with the paparazzi and the cow’s owner. When he asked the cow, named Laxmi, what she wanted, the owner asked for a tip. Ibrahim jokingly pointed at the eight photographers around, suggesting they should give the tip instead.

    The cow owner said, “You give, you are a big actor,” to which Ibrahim laughed and said, “What actor? I’m not an actor!” The owner insisted that he is the son of a famous actor, but Ibrahim replied, “My dad is the big actor, not me!” After sharing a laugh, he took a picture with the cow’s owner before driving off in his car. Fans were delighted and flooded social media with laughing emojis.

    Exciting news for Ibrahim: He is going to make his big Bollywood debut soon! Karan Johar is launching him in a movie called Sarzameen, directed by Kayoze Irani, the son of Boman Irani. The film will also star Kajol in an important role. Additionally, Ibrahim will act in another film called Nadaniyaan, directed by Shauna Gautam, where he will perform alongside Khushi Kapoor in a romantic drama produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.

  • Aubrey Plaza Mourns Husband Jeff Baena After Tragic Loss

    Aubrey Plaza Mourns Husband Jeff Baena After Tragic Loss

    Aubrey Plaza has spoken out for the first time after her husband, Jeff Baena, tragically died by suicide. He was 47 years old and was found by an assistant at his home in Los Angeles last week. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” said Plaza and Baena’s family in a statement. “We are very thankful for everyone’s support. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

    Just days before his death, Plaza was seen smiling at a Knicks basketball game on New Year’s Day. The couple had been together for over ten years and secretly got married in 2020. They celebrated their anniversary again in 2021, and Plaza shared this happy news on Instagram.

    Jeff Baena’s sudden death caused Plaza to withdraw from presenting at the 82nd Golden Globes last Sunday. The ceremony paid tribute to the grieving actress and her late husband, and kind messages flowed in from across the entertainment world.

    Baena was known for his work in comedy, having co-written the movie “I Heart Huckabees” and directed “Life After Beth” and “The Little Hours,” both of which starred Plaza.

    He is survived by his family, including his mother, father, and siblings. Baena graduated from New York University with a film degree and worked with famous filmmakers before creating his own films.

    Aubrey Plaza is best known for her roles in popular TV shows like “The White Lotus” and “Parks and Recreation.” Though she was set to present at the Golden Globes, she was not able to attend due to her husband’s passing. Filmmaker Brady Corbet even shared his condolences during his acceptance speech at the awards, saying, “My heart is with Aubrey Plaza and Jeff’s family.”

  • India’s Path to Better Energy Access with Innovation and Private Investment

    India’s Path to Better Energy Access with Innovation and Private Investment

    New Delhi: India can improve energy access without relying heavily on donations for specific projects. Instead, experts can help create model projects that attract private investments and make the energy system work better. Rajiv Shah, the President of the Rockefeller Foundation, shared these views. His organization is part of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), which is involved in several projects across India to boost efficiency and encourage new ideas.

    Shah emphasized that India’s energy projects should be commercially viable, as this is essential for scaling up energy access. Saurabh Kumar, Vice President of GEAPP in India, explained that changing the overall system is more important than just how much money is spent.

    One of GEAPP’s projects aims to digitize the electricity distribution in Rajasthan, meaning they will create a digital map of every asset in the electricity company, which could help reduce wasted energy. The focus is also on using more distributed renewable energy solutions to address issues like peak power shortages. The government’s rooftop solar program is becoming popular, and GEAPP is also promoting electric vehicles (EVs) and battery energy storage solutions.

    Recently, GEAPP partnered with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to create a fund that will raise $100 million to support impactful solar energy projects.

  • Zomato Unveils Fast 15-Minute Food Delivery Service!

    Zomato Unveils Fast 15-Minute Food Delivery Service!

    Zomato, a food delivery service from Gurgaon, has just launched a new service that promises to deliver your food in just 15 minutes! This means you can get tasty meals from nearby restaurants faster than ever. This speedy delivery service is similar to what Swiggy is doing with its Bolt service, which now makes up more than 5% of Swiggy’s total food orders.

    Zomato also has a quick delivery partner called Blinkit, which is now offering fast food and prepared meals through a new service called Bistro, using dark stores that work like mini-kitchens.

    Additionally, another company called Zepto, backed by Nexus Venture Partners, is delivering food in just 10 minutes with its service called Cafe. So now, there are lots of quick options for getting food delivered right to your door!