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Technology

The Big F Awards 2025 Celebrates the Best of Delhi NCR's Dining Scene

NewsVoirNew Delhi [India], October 7: The 12th edition of The Big F Awards, hosted by food critic Pawan Soni and presented by Indian Food Freak, lit up Le Meridien New Delhi last evening as the city’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, and food personalities came together to honour excellence in the dining industry.From stalwarts like Rohit Khattar, AD Singh, Rocky Mohan, Zorawar Kalra, RJ Khurafati Nitin, Rocky Singh and Mayur Sharma, to culinary leaders such as Chef Manisha Bhasin, Chef Manish Mehrotra, Chef Kunal Kapur, Chef Ajay Chopra, Chef Saby Gorai amongst others, the gathering reflected the depth and diversity of Delhi NCR’s food culture.A Fair and Transparent ProcessWhat sets The Big F Awards apart is its uncompromising commitment to fairness. The honours are not influenced by sponsorships or lobbying. Each year, an independent jury visits nominated restaurants, experiences their food, and casts a single, non-revisable vote. Winners are revealed only on the night of the awards, ensuring transparency and keeping the suspense intact till the very end.The 2025 jury featured some of the most respected names in the culinary and hospitality world: Chef Kunal Kapur, Chef Sabyasachi Gorai, Sameer Bawa, RJ Khurafati Nitin, Chef Nita Mehta, Rocky Singh, Chef Ashish Bhasin, Diwan Gautam Anand, and host Pawan Soni himself.Celebrating Food Stories that Matter“The Big F Awards have always stood for honest recognition,” said Pawan Soni during his address. “This gathering reflects the incredible depth of talent, passion, and creativity that defines Delhi NCR’s dining culture. We celebrated chefs who preserve heritage with pride, visionaries who are redefining how we experience food, and restaurants that have earned trust through years of consistency. Awards matter only when they are deserved, not when they are bought, and last night was about applauding the people who bring joy, comfort, and inspiration to our lives through food.”Highlights of the WinnersThe evening recognised some of the most inspiring names in the industry. Rohit Khattar was honoured with the Culinary Icon Award. Varun Tuli was named Best Restaurateur and Sahil Sambhi received the award for Best Nightlife Entrepreneur. The legendary Bukhara at ITC Maurya joined the Hall of Fame, where it will be recognised each year but will no longer compete in the awards.Other notable winners included:– Comorin as Best Modern Indian– Lair as Best Cocktail Bar– Fort City as Best Microbrewery– Varun Sharma as Best Mixologist– Megu at Leela Palace as Best Japanese Restaurant– Orient Express at Taj Palace as Best European Restaurant For the complete list of winners, visit the official Instagram page @thebigfawards.An Evening of Camaraderie and InspirationThe ceremony wasn’t only about competition. It was also a night of meaningful conversations, reunions, and collaborations. Guests enjoyed a specially curated menu by the Le Meridien team that added to the flavour of the celebration. The winners represented every facet of the dining landscape, from boutique spaces to landmark establishments, showing how Delhi NCR continues to evolve as a culinary powerhouse.Since its inception in 2014, The Big F Awards has grown into one of the capital’s most authentic platforms for recognition, dialogue, and exchange. The 2025 edition carried this legacy forward, with conversations spilling beyond the stage and sparking collaborations that promise to shape the future of dining in the region.For the many who gathered, the night was more than an awards ceremony. It was a celebration of food, community, and the people who make dining in Delhi NCR unforgettable.(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Technology

North Bengal rains caused insurmountable damage to Small tea growers

Kolkata, Oct 7 (PTI) The recent incessant and torrential rains in North Bengal have caused insurmountable damage to small tea growers (STGs) in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts, for which financial assistance would be sought from both the Centre and West Bengal governments, a spokesperson of the STGs said on Tuesday. In Nagrakata and Banerhat blocks in the Dooars area of Jalpaiguri, the STGs are mostly affected, president of Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Associations (CISTA) Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty said. “The rains have caused heavy damage to the STGs in North Bengal. We are assessing the extent of the damage as many of the estates are still underwater. We will subsequently seek financial relief from both the Centre and state governments”, Chakraborty said. He said that more than 50,000 small tea growers are functioning in North Bengal with an average area of less than one hectare. The STGs contribute to 64 per cent of total tea production in West Bengal, he said. North Bengal produces annually around 280 million kilogrammes of tea. According to him, most of the small tea gardens near Jaldhaka river in Maynaguri have been fully submerged under water for the last two days. Chakraborty said in areas where the water levels are receding, deposition of silt was observed on tea plants. “This would be a huge financial loss to the STGs. Besides this, damage to the road infrastructure would cause a problem for dispatch of green tea leaves to the factories”, he said. Absenteeism of the workers has also been noticed in the last two days, he added. PTI dc RG

Technology

The Global Design Co. Strikes a GIWA Hat-Trick with Wedding of the Year - Gold

India PR DistributionNew Delhi [India], October 7: It was a night of celebration, glamour, and recognition as The Global Design Co. (GDC) once again proved why it is a name synonymous with excellence in the wedding industry. At the recently concluded International Convention of Wedding Fraternity (ICWF) 2025, the company made history by winning the ‘Wedding of the Year – Gold’ at the Great Indian Wedding Awards (GIWA) for the third consecutive year – a true hat-trick of victories. Adding to the glory, GDC also bagged the coveted Best International Wedding of the Year Award, further solidifying its position as a global leader in destination wedding planning.A Star-Studded Celebration at ICWF & GIWAThe ICWF and its flagship GIWA ceremony are regarded as the biggest stage for the wedding fraternity in India, where industry leaders, planners, designers, and hospitality experts from across the world gather to celebrate creativity and innovation. The awards are considered the highest honour for wedding professionals, recognising exceptional talent, flawless execution, and world-class experiences.This year’s GIWA ceremony sparkled with star power as Aditya Roy Kapur, Neha Kakkar, Chitrangda Singh, Vaani Kapoor, and Amyra Dastur graced the event, adding Bollywood glamour to an already dazzling evening. With live performances, engaging panels, and a celebration of the finest weddings executed in the past year, GIWA truly set new benchmarks for the industry.The Global Design Co. – Crafting Dreams Across BordersLed by its visionary founder and director, Sunny Chotwani, The Global Design Co. has been shaping extraordinary weddings for over 15 years. Today, it stands as a premium destination wedding planning company trusted by families across the world to create once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.From India’s royal palaces to international shores, GDC has left its mark at some of the world’s most sought-after wedding destinations including Turkey, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Bahrain, Jaipur, Udaipur, Goa, and several other iconic locations.Every wedding planned by GDC reflects the couple’s unique story, with an attention to detail that ensures no two celebrations are ever alike. Their strength lies in blending rich traditions with modern elegance, ensuring that every guest experiences not just a wedding, but a memory that lasts forever.GDC’s Wedding of the Year – Gold recognition came for a spectacular celebration in Udaipur, where the idea of grandness took a bold new leap. The event was a benchmark in luxury and precision, with the team working tirelessly on every element — from immersive decor concepts and curated food design to world-class entertainment that kept guests mesmerised. It was this seamless harmony of scale and detail that made the wedding a true masterpiece and earned GDC top honours at GIWA.Why GIWA Gold MattersWinning Wedding of the Year – Gold at GIWA is considered the highest honor in the Indian wedding industry. It is judged by an eminent panel of experts who evaluate creativity, innovation, scale, and flawless execution. Achieving it three years in a row is a feat few can dream of, and it demonstrates GDC’s consistency and ability to innovate at the highest level.The Best International Wedding of the Year award further underscores the company’s global expertise. With weddings spread across continents, GDC has shown that Indian wedding planners can match – and even surpass – international standards of design and hospitality.Beyond the Hat-TrickWith its GIWA hat-trick and a growing international footprint, The Global Design Co. is now setting its sights even higher. Sunny Chotwani and his team aim to explore new destinations while continuing to showcase India’s royal charm and cultural richness to the world.For couples seeking a premium, stress-free, and unforgettable destination wedding, GDC has once again proven it is the name to trust. This historic hat-trick is not just a win for GDC, but a milestone for the Indian wedding fraternity – showcasing the global standard of creativity, execution, and vision being delivered by Indian planners.(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Technology

EC must ensure that no eligible voter left out in Bihar assembly polls: CPI

Patna, Oct 7 (PTI) CPI general secretary D Raja on Tuesday said the ‘constitutional duty’ of the Election Commission is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls. Talking to reporters here, the Left leader said questions were raised over the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, conducted by the commission, in poll-bound Bihar. “The ECI has announced dates for the Bihar assembly elections. Questions were raised on the special intensive revision of the electoral roll, carried out by the EC in Bihar, and only after the Supreme Court’s intervention, Aadhaar and other documents were allowed for registration. It is the constitutional duty of the EC to ensure that no eligible voter is left out in the polls. Right to vote must be ensured by the EC,” Raja said. It is the duty of the authority concerned to ensure that the credibility of the EC is restored, he said. “The EC should also ensure that free and fair elections are conducted in Bihar…EC’s SIR exercise had created many problems, and we (our party) raised these issues. The SC had to intervene in it,” Raja said. The total number of electors in poll-bound Bihar came down to 7.42 crore in the final electoral roll published on September 30 from 7.89 crore before the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list was carried out by the Election Commission. The final figure was, however, more than 7.24 crore electors named in the draft list issued on August 1, which had removed 65 lakh voters from the original list on various accounts, including deaths, migration and duplication of voters. The assembly elections in Bihar will be held on November 6 and 11, while the counting will be done on November 14. Asked about seat-sharing arrangements in the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ for the Bihar polls, Raja said, “It will be sorted out very soon and we will fight in a reasonable number of seats in the coming assembly polls.” PTI PKD BDC