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News from November 25, 2025

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Son dresses as dead mum to allegedly claim pension
Technology

Son dresses as dead mum to allegedly claim pension

The 56-year-old man successfully pocketed thousands in pension payments before he was eventually exposed, The Sun reports. To make matters worse his mother, Graziella Dall’Oglio, died three years earlier at the age of 82. When she passed away, her son did not report her death. Instead he wrapped her body in a bed sheet, stuffed it in a sleeping bag and hid it away in his house. The unemployed nurse from Mantua kept her decaying corpse for so long that it eventually became mummified. Realising that in order to claim her pension he would need to modify his appearance, he underwent a “Mrs Doubtfire-style transformation,” cutting his hair in a similar style to his mother. He then applied foundation and lipstick, and put on her pearl necklace and clip earrings. Arriving at a government agency in town in the hope of renewing his mother’s identity card that had expired a few months earlier, it wasn’t long before he raised the suspicions of someone who worked there. Realising something was wrong, the employee alerted the police and the local mayor. The authorities then compared photos taken of the mother and her son. It was only then that they realised they had been deceived. To lure him out, the police summoned his mother to the town hall once again, except this time he was met by police officers. Following this discovery, the police went to his home where they discovered the body of his mother tucked away in the laundry room. “He came into the council offices wearing a long skirt, he was wearing lipstick and nail varnish, a necklace and old-style earrings,” said Francesco Aporti, the mayor of Borgo Virgilio. “But up close his neck was too thick and his wrinkles were strange, the skin on his hands did not seem to be that of an 85-year-old woman. “His voice was feminine but every so often it dipped and sounded masculine. “But I might not have noticed these strange features had they not been pointed out.” Once his deception was revealed, the police told him they needed to inspect his home. “He agreed to that. They searched the house and found a mummified body,” said the mayor. “She probably died of natural causes but that will be established by the post-mortem. “It is a very strange story and very, very sad.” In a statement, Italy’s military police said the mother’s body was wrapped in bed sheets and a sleeping bag. “The body was in a clear state of mummification,” they said. The corpse was then taken to the mortuary of a local hospital for a post-mortem to be conduced. It is estimated that the son had an annual income of €53,000 ($95,000) thanks to a combination of his mother’s pension payments and a portfolio of three houses. The man is now under investigation for illegally concealing a body and benefit fraud. This article originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.

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Freed Israeli hostage details Hamas’s sexual abuse, porn threat
Entertainment

Freed Israeli hostage details Hamas’s sexual abuse, porn threat

A freed Israeli hostage has revealed how he was sexually abused at gunpoint by a Hamas terrorist who suggested they make a porn film together – then threatened to kill him if he ever spoke about it. Guy Dalal-Gilboa, 23, detailed the horrors of his two years in captivity at the hands of the terrorists before he was among the hostages released from Gaza last month as part of the ceasefire deal, per The New York Post. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, Mr Dalal-Gilboa described how one of his tormentors had led him blindfolded to a room and mockingly asked: “You haven’t seen girls in a long time, right? Want to watch porn? Want me and you to make a porn film?” “He started touching my whole body and I froze at that moment,” he continued. “He started touching and kissing my neck, kissing my back. It was very, very scary.” When Mr Dalal-Gilboa told the terrorist that he was terrified, the Hamas terrorist threatened to kill him if he ever detailed the abuse. “He took me, pressed a gun to my head and a knife to my throat and told me that if I told any one of the guys inside, then he would kill me,” he recalled. “Not only did I go through that terrible experience, I also couldn’t tell anyone. I had to keep it to myself, inside me.” Recounting yet another degrading attack, Mr Dalal-Gilboa said one of his captors abused him when he had been allowed to take a shower. “I showered and he took me by force and pulled me into their room, and wouldn’t let me get dressed,” he said. “He also takes off his own trousers. I told him, ‘You’re joking, right? That’s forbidden in Islam. You’re Muslim, things like this are forbidden’. “I didn’t know what to do with myself at that moment.” Mr Dalal-Gilboa said that he feared the abuse would “slowly get worse” and “become even more violent and even more invasive”. His traumatising account comes just weeks after another male hostage, Rom Braslavski, revealed that he, too, was stripped naked, starved and sexually abused by Hamas before he was finally released earlier this year. Israeli President Isaac Herzog was among those to decry Mr Dalal-Gilboa’s harrowing revelations and hail the traumatised hostage’s bravery. “The world must hear his shocking testimony, recognise that Hamas terrorists committed horrific sexual violence, and understand that the systematic and sustained sexual violence that began on October 7 continued thereafter,” he wrote on X. “Guy, you are teaching us a vital lesson. You are shedding light on the terrible darkness of the tunnels so that the world can understand what really happened there. “You are a young man carrying a horrific burden that no one should bear.” This article was originally published by The New York Post and was reproduced with permission

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Kids taken away from Melb mum living in forest
Politics

Kids taken away from Melb mum living in forest

Melbourne life coach Catherine Birmingham, 45, and her husband, British former professional chef Nathan Trevallion, 51, along with their eight-year-old daughter and six-year-old twin sons, have been living in a remote farmhouse, which reportedly operates without water or electricity, near Chieti, in Italy’s eastern Abruzzo region since 2021. But last week, a juvenile court in the nearby city of L’Aquila suspended the couple’s parental responsibility and ordered the transfer of their children to a protective home with Ms Birmingham, after prosecutors claimed the children were suffering from “serious harm” due to their off-grid lifestyle, according to The Telegraph. The court cited poor sanitary conditions at the home and the unauthorised homeschooling of the three children. “The family unit lives in housing hardship as the building has not been declared habitable,” the order states, as per CNN. The order added the family have “no social interaction, no fixed income, the home has no toilet facilities, and the children do not attend school”. “The order is based on the risk of violating the right to social life in consideration of the serious and harmful violations of the children’s rights to physical and mental integrity the parents should be suspended from parental responsibility.” Prosecutors had claimed in legal documents seen by The Telegraph that the children were being raised in “harmful” living conditions and should be “urgently” put into care. The court’s decision comes a year after all five family members were hospitalised for eating poisonous wild mushrooms from the forest in September 2024, according to CNN. Following the incident, law enforcement and social services visited the family but according to their lawyer, recommendations for the children to receive regular medical care and attend school were not met, the outlet reports. In a press release, the Italian Association of Magistrates for Minors and for the Family noted that the court’s decision last week to remove the children came after a year-long observation period “during which the court’s orders were systematically disregarded by the parents”. ‘This is insane’ Ms Birmingham has hit back at the court order, telling The Telegraph: “This is insane”. “There is no negligence, there is no abuse, the kids are not in danger of their lives,” she said. The family’s lawyer negotiated a deal for the 45-year-old to accompany her children to the shelter. However, Ms Birmingham told the newspaper she has been separated from her children inside the shelter and is “not allowed” to see her children. Mr Trevallion reportedly remains at the family’s property. “We’ve been imprisoned for a crime we never did. I have had my parental rights stripped from me,” Ms Birmingham said. Mr Trevallion told The Times the children’s removal to a care shelter was “very fast and unexpected”. “We got a call from a social worker saying she was at the Carabinieri police station and we needed to get over there. There were ten officers ready to go and kidnap the children, to put it bluntly,” he told the publication. “We spent 30 minutes negotiating and they agreed to allow Catherine to accompany the children to a centre. It was a compromise. Otherwise they would have just taken away the children without saying where.” The family’s lawyer, Giovanni Angelucci, said the couple will appeal the court’s decision. Defending their lifestyle as one “without stress” and in harmony with nature, Ms Birmingham and Mr Trevallion earlier told national broadcaster Rai this month that their children were “growing up better” in their home in the woods. A tour of the home given to Rai showed a wood-burning stove in a kitchen, colourful children’s beds covered with stuffed animals, and Christmas lights strewn about the home. Electricity is provided from solar panels, while the toilet is compostable and located in a shack outside, where a donkey, horse, dogs, cats, chickens and ducks roam a clearing among the trees. “The children are happy, healthy. We haven’t done anything wrong if we want to return to nature,” Mr Birmingham told Rai. But local media has reported that the children are not vaccinated and do not go to school, with the parents having failed to submit their request for homeschooling to local authorities. ‘Kidnapping’ Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – leader of a hard-right government that champions family values – and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini have both condemned the court’s decision. A spokesman for Ms Meloni called the move “alarming” and said she has contacted Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio over the case, as per CNN. Meanwhile, her deputy has labelled the judge’s actions “unworthy, worrying, dangerous and shameful”, describing it as a “kidnapping” of the minors. “Judges and social workers in Abruzzo, don’t be a nuisance,” he said, pointing to a need for judicial reform. An online petition supporting the family has amassed over 143,000 signatured as of Tuesday. Magistrates associations have defended the Aquila court’s decision to remove the children and slammed what they called exploitation of the case for political purposes. “We reject any form of exploitation expressed in recent days by some political factions and the media, which fail to consider the complexity and sensitivity of the rights in question,” said the Italian Association of Magistrates for Minors and for the Family. In a press release, it noted that the court’s decision came after a year-long observation period “during which the court’s orders were systematically disregarded by the parents”. On Monday, the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM), which is tasked with judicial independence and disciplinary matters, opened a procedure to protect the magistrates in question.

Brielle Burns
Mumbai Police Rescues Kidnapped Girl After Six-Month Hunt, Anand Mahindra Salutes Force: ‘Aai Is Singing Lullabies Again’
Entertainment

Mumbai Police Rescues Kidnapped Girl After Six-Month Hunt, Anand Mahindra Salutes Force: ‘Aai Is Singing Lullabies Again’

A touching moment on the internet has caught people’s attention after a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter) narrated how a four-year-old girl, who went missing from Mumbai nearly six months ago, was finally found and reunited with her parents. Anand Mahindra reacted to the post and praised the Mumbai Police for their efforts. The business leader’s response added to the wave of emotional reactions online as many people appreciated the officers who persisted for months to bring the child home. The user’s post, which described the journey of the little girl and the police, also shared how officers welcomed her back with balloons and a new frock when she was flown to Mumbai on Children’s Day. ‘You Just Gave Us The Gift Of Hope And Happiness’: Anand Mahindra Praises Mumbai Police The post on X described the six-month search in an emotional narrative by highlighting the struggles of the parents, the relentless efforts of the police and the child’s days at an orphanage in Varanasi before being identified. Moved by the account, Anand Mahindra wrote, “Mumbai Police… You just gave us the gift of hope and happiness. For this alone, you rank as one of the finest forces in the world.” Mumbai Police… You just gave us the gift of hope and happiness. For this alone, you rank as one of the finest forces in the world His reaction drew several responses from users who agreed with his appreciation for Mumbai Police. One user commented, “This is the best news in a long time. Thank you to Mumbai Police and all involved. There is no greater service to a parent and child than this.” Another added, “Well said, sir. What they delivered was more than just a successful operation; it was a profound act of self-actualization. That moment of reunion is a legacy that far surpasses any award or salary. They are indeed one of the world’s finest!” Someone else wrote, “Stories like this show why the Mumbai Police are so respected. A single act of kindness can restore hope and bring smiles in the toughest times.” “This high praise highlights the transformative impact of community policing! Exemplary public service and acts of compassion are crucial in building trust and hope, defining truly world-class law enforcement institutions,” read another comment. Girl Went Missing Near CSMT And Was Traced To Varanasi According to reports, the four-year-old had travelled with her parents from Solapur to Mumbai for her father’s treatment at St. George Hospital. On May 20, she went missing while playing near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Her parents immediately informed the police. Mumbai Police launched a large-scale investigation where they formed ten specialised teams and scanned hundreds of hours of CCTV footage from areas including the Fort region, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Bhusawal. The footage helped them trace her journey onto a train heading to Varanasi. A 4-year-old girl missing for six months was located at an orphanage in Varanasi through the efforts of @MraMargPS . Following a complaint from her parents reporting her kidnapping from Mumbai CST, the investigation uncovered that the accused had taken her by train from Lokmanya… pic.twitter.com/IAe6iM0Dyl — मुंबई पोलीस – Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) November 15, 2025 In September, the force started “Operation Shodh” in Varanasi with the support of local police and railway staff. Posters and banners were put up across the area and ads were published in newspapers to widen the search. Reunion On Children’s Day A breakthrough came after a local journalist recognised a Marathi-speaking child at an orphanage and alerted the Mumbai Police team. The girl had been found near Varanasi station months earlier and was taken to the shelter after being abandoned by the kidnapper. Once her identity was confirmed, the officers arranged to bring her home. She was flown back to Mumbai on November 14. The post described how officers greeted her with balloons and a new frock and how she ran towards them with a smile as soon as she stepped out. On the night of May 20, 2025, a little girl in a faded pink frock fell asleep on her mother’s lap at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Her parents, simple people from Solapur, had come to Mumbai for her father’s treatment. They were exhausted. Just for a moment, the mother… pic.twitter.com/Cc2u5gv1lU — Mohini Maheshwari (@MohiniWealth) November 23, 2025 “Tiny legs pumping, arms outstretched, she threw herself at the nearest officer and laughed — the purest, clearest laugh that had been missing from the world for half a year. The officer, a tough man who had seen everything, felt his eyes burn. He lifted her high, and she wrapped her arms around his neck like he was family,” the user wrote. Her parents, who had been searching for her for months, were also present when she arrived. “The mother touched her face again and again, as if checking she was real. The father fell to his knees and pressed his forehead to his child’s tiny feet, sobbing words no one could understand except God,” the post continued. “Somewhere in Mumbai, there are policemen who will never forget the weight of a four-year-old girl in their arms — the weight of an entire life returned. Sometimes the uniform doesn’t just catch thieves. Sometimes it carries lost children all the way back to their mothers’ hearts,” it concluded. As per reports, the kidnapper remains unidentified and is still missing.

News18,Sahas Mahapatra
Swiggy Instamart User Asks Gemini Nano To Crack 20 Eggs In Tray, Gets Full Refund: ‘Fraud Will Scale Faster Than Revenue’
Technology

Swiggy Instamart User Asks Gemini Nano To Crack 20 Eggs In Tray, Gets Full Refund: ‘Fraud Will Scale Faster Than Revenue’

Artificial intelligence (AI) has reached a point where almost anything can be recreated with shocking accuracy, and social media is full of examples. Google’s new imaging tool, Nano Banana Pro, can create pictures so realistic that many people cannot tell whether they are real or fake. A recent example shared online shows how this technology is being misused. A person ordered eggs on Instamart and found only one egg cracked. Instead of filing a normal complaint, they used AI and typed “apply more cracks.” Within seconds, the tool changed the image to show more than twenty cracked eggs that looked completely real. The support team saw the photo, believed it to be true and issued a full refund without hesitation. This incident has made many people think about how easy it has become to fool refund systems that still work on trust-based image proof. If more people start doing this, companies offering fast delivery may face huge losses. The real challenge now is upgrading verification systems to match the speed of AI. Instamart Support Issued Refund After Believing Edited Egg Photo The image posted on X (Formerly Twitter) came with the caption, “Someone ordered eggs on Instamart and only one came cracked. Instead of just reporting it, they opened Gemini Nano and literally typed: ‘Apply more cracks. In a few seconds, AI turned that tray into 20+ cracked eggs — flawless, realistic, impossible to distinguish. Support took one look at the ‘proof,’ processed a full refund and moved on.” “Just pause and think about that. Our refund systems were built for a world where photos were trustworthy. But now they’re up against 2025-level AI and they’re getting absolutely destroyed. If even 1% of people start doing this, quick-commerce unit economics won’t just suffer, they’ll implode. AI isn’t the villain here. The real problem is verification systems stuck in the past. Welcome to the era of AI vs AI,” the individual added. Someone ordered eggs on Instamart and only one came cracked. Instead of just reporting it, they opened Gemini Nano and literally typed:“apply more cracks.”In a few seconds, AI turned that tray into 20+ cracked eggs — flawless, realistic, impossible to distinguish. Support… pic.twitter.com/PnkNuG2Qt3 — kapilansh (@kapilansh_twt) November 24, 2025 Social Media Suggests Safety Steps For Deliveries Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “Most AI-generated photos may soon include hidden signatures. Many companies that create AI images and videos are expected to embed such markers, making it harder for the human eye to detect whether an image is real or not. But when you create an image using Gemini, it leaves a visible Gemini mark on the right side.” Another suggested, “Open box delivery with GoPro should be common for all delivery folks now.” “Just a low trust society, trying to scam a company because they feel they are entitled to refunds,” a comment read. An individual stated, “When proof becomes editable, trust becomes a vulnerability. One fake refund doesn’t matter. Millions will break the business. This isn’t about cracked eggs. It’s about cracked systems.” Another mentioned, “Google-generated AI images use SynthID, and you can upload to Gemini to check whether it’s AI-generated or not. Every e-commerce and q-commerce platform will have to integrate it sooner.” One more added, “Free money glitch.” What Is Nano Banana Pro? According to Google, Nano Banana Pro is designed to transform any idea in your mind into a clear visual. It can help you sketch rough models, turn data into charts, or convert handwritten notes into clean, organised diagrams. With the upgraded Gemini 3 system, the tool goes beyond creating attractive visuals; it also helps users generate meaningful, structured content. If you want to understand a topic better, Nano Banana Pro can create infographics and diagrams containing accurate information based on the material you upload. The tool can also connect to Google Search to pull real-time facts from the internet. This means you can instantly generate a recipe guide, get a weather update in visual form, or create a sports graphic using live information.

News18
Sydney Morning Herald editor resigns
Technology

Sydney Morning Herald editor resigns

After four years in the chair, Shields will step back from his post and become a senior writer. He is to be replaced by senior writer Jordan Baker. Shields announced his decision to “step aside” in an email to staff on Tuesday afternoon. “Hi everyone. I am aware there has been some speculation about my future. I am writing to tell you that after four years as editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, I have decided to step aside,” Shields wrote. “This job has been the honour of my life and I am extremely proud of everything we have achieved together,” he continued. “The time has come for me to focus on my health and wellbeing and to think about the next chapter. “I would like to thank you all for the privilege of being your editor. I am now going to embark on a break from the newsroom over summer and return to the Herald in a senior writing role in 2026.” More to come.

Annette Sharp
Explained: Carmakers moving away from rare earth metals amid supply squeeze
World

Explained: Carmakers moving away from rare earth metals amid supply squeeze

Amid growing supply concerns and changing policies around China’s rare earth exports, many automakers across the world are moving toward components that can either replace rare earth metals or reduce their use. Automakers in the US and Europe are studying alternative materials that could substitute rare earth magnets in various vehicle parts, including windshield wiper motors and seat adjustment systems, according to the New York Times.Why is rare earth crucial?Rare earth metals are a crucial component in the production of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, which are increasingly becoming popular. Rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium are used to make strong and efficient permanent magnets inside the motors. These magnets help EVs run with more power, use less energy, and travel longer distances on a single charge. They also allow the motors to stay small and light, which makes the vehicles more efficient. Neodymium and praseodymium are mixed to make strong magnets that help the motor produce high power. Dysprosium and terbium are added to these magnets to help them work well even at very high temperatures, such as when the vehicle accelerates or carries a heavy load. However, due to irregular supplies of these rare earth metals, the industry remains vulnerable to shortages, which could also bring assembly lines to a halt.What are major automakers doing?Many automakers worry that rare earth metals may become hard to get in the future. Because of this, they are choosing one of two paths: either finding new suppliers or switching to motor designs that do not need rare earths at all. As a result, several major companies have started looking for alternatives. BMW already uses electric motors that work without rare earth metals. According to the New York Times, researchers at Northeastern University are even trying to create new magnetic materials that are found only in meteorites, which could one day replace rare earth magnets. ALSO READ: What are CAFE norms and why are small carmakers worried about them? General Motors is taking the first approach by securing its supply. It has partnered with MP Materials, a company mining rare earths in California. GM has agreed to buy most of the output from this Texas facility for use in its Cadillac and Chevrolet electric vehicles. At the same time, GM is also exploring motor parts that don’t require rare earths. However, concerns remain that carmakers might end up paying more if shortages ease in the future and prices fall again. In India, Ola Electric claimed that it has found a way to keep the dragon out of the picture altogether. The company claims to have developed its own ferrite motor, which uses materials found in India and does not require rare earths. This new motor has reportedly passed government testing for its 7 kW and 11 kW models, and the results show that its performance matches motors that use rare earth permanent magnets.Who dominates rare earths exports?According to an EY report, China is the biggest producer of rare earths, with 68.6 per cent of global output. The US is second with 12.3 per cent. Both countries mine much more than their actual share of reserves, which shows that their resources are heavily used. Because of this, both China and the US are now looking for new rare earth rich areas to secure future supplies.China’s stand on rare earth exportsChina controls most of the world’s rare earth market and has used this power in politics. This year, it tightened export rules in response to US tariffs under President Donald Trump. Some of these limits were relaxed later during discussions with the US, but the possibility of new restrictions remains as tensions continue. India also felt the impact. Chinese supplies slowed down, and some Indian companies had to wait nearly six months to receive import licences again. According to the Mint, India’s imports of permanent magnets, mainly from China, fell sharply in the first half of FY26, dropping 56 per cent compared to the same period last year. This, however, is not the first time China’s dominance has spread concerns. In 2010, it cut supplies, following a dispute with the US. During the 2020 pandemic, global shortages highlighted the danger of depending heavily on one country for critical materials.Where does India stand?India has around 6.27 per cent of global rare earth reserves but produces only 0.83 per cent of the world’s output. To realise the Viksit Bharat goal, the government is working to increase mining and processing within the country. The EY report says India already has large reserves; it mainly needs to improve the speed of extraction and build local processing capabilities.What is the government doing?The government launched the National Critical Mineral Mission earlier this year. Under this mission, the Geological Survey of India will conduct 1,200 exploration projects between FY25 and FY31. The Atomic Minerals Directorate is also surveying coastal and river sands to find more rare earth deposits. Additionally, IREL Limited, a government company, has been given the responsibility to produce high-purity rare earth oxides from monazite, helping India reduce its dependence on imports.

Rishika Agarwal
Indian envoy meets Canadian leader, discusses bilateral ties
Business

Indian envoy meets Canadian leader, discusses bilateral ties

Ottawa: In a significant step towards enhancing India-Canada bilateral ties, Indian High Commissioner to the North American country, Dinesh K Patnaik, met the Premier of the Canadian province of Alberta, Danielle Smith. Both sides discussed important areas of bilateral partnership, including energy, trade, agriculture, technology collaboration, research, and people-to-people connections. “Honoured to meet Premier Danielle Smith. We had an excellent discussion on key aspects of our bilateral partnership — energy, trade, agriculture, technology collaboration, research, and people-to-people ties. Great potential ahead to elevate our relationship through fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial cooperation,” the Indian High Commission in Ottawa quoted Patnaik as saying. Following the meeting, Danielle Smith took to X and posted: “Alberta has deep and growing ties with India, and today I had the pleasure of meeting Dinesh K Patnaik, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, to talk about how we can take that partnership to the next level. We discussed Alberta’s role in helping meet India’s growing needs for safe, reliable energy, high-quality agricultural products, as well as new opportunities in technology. “ “With a strong Indo-Canadian community here at home and Indian companies already investing in Alberta, there is huge potential ahead. Our message is simple: Alberta is open for business and ready to be a long-term partner in India’s growth,” she added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday held a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, in which he noted that India has set a target of $50 billion by 2030 for bilateral trade between the two countries. “Had a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. We appreciated the significant momentum in our bilateral ties since our earlier meeting held during the G7 Summit hosted by Canada. We agreed to further advance our relations in the coming months,” PM Modi wrote on X. The Prime Minister added that India and Canada have great potential in strengthening trade and investment linkages. “We have set a target of 50 billion USD by 2030 for our bilateral trade. Canadian Pension Funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies,” PM Modi informed on X. In a statement shared on X, PM Carney said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I met at the G20 Summit today, and launched negotiations for a trade deal that could more than double our trade to $70 billion. India is the world’s fifth-largest economy, and that means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.”

Post News Network
Campa, Lahori Zeera double market share as Cola giants lose ground in 2025
Business

Campa, Lahori Zeera double market share as Cola giants lose ground in 2025

India’s soft drinks market, long dominated by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, is witnessing its biggest shift in years. The shift is most visible in the first nine months of 2025, with new entrants expanding faster than expected despite weather-related setbacks and limited national reach, according to a report by The Economic Times. Smaller players led by Reliance’s Campa and Verlinvest-backed Lahori Zeera have doubled their combined share to nearly 15 per cent in January-September 2025. A year ago, these brands held only about 7 per cent. Most of this growth has come from the mass-market ₹10 price segment, where consumers are more open to trying newer, cheaper alternatives. This shift has taken a toll on Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, whose combined share has fallen from 93 per cent last year to nearly 85 per cent in the same period, the news report said. Overall market growth, however, remained flat this year due to heavy rainfall across many regions, which reduced summer demand. ALSO READ: Reliance to launch Campa Sure water, teams with regional makers to cut cost Lahori Zeera prepares nationwide expansion Lahori Zeera co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Nikhil Doda said that the company plans to become national by next year. The news report quoted him as saying that the company is planning to cover 80-90 per cent pin codes. Lahori, founded in 2017 in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib by cousins Saurabh Munjal, Nikhil Doda and Saurabh Bhutna, is setting up its third plant in Lucknow. The company also aims to enter institutional sales and is introducing new products like Lahori Aamras and Masala Cola. It currently has over 2,500 distributors, most of them in general trade. Campa expands visibility Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL), which bought Campa Cola in 2022 and relaunched it in 2023, has pushed the brand this year. Campa signed multiple partnerships, including a co-powered IPL sponsorship, roped in actor Ram Charan as brand ambassador and secured an exclusive beverage deal with Hyderabad Metro, allowing sales through vending machines, kiosks and retail outlets in metro premises. Campa also joined hands with Ajith Kumar Racing as the “official energy partner” for its Campa Energy drink. ALSO READ: PepsiCo flags rising competition, slower growth in India beverage market Campa enters Sri Lanka with local partner Reliance Consumer Products introduced Campa beverages in Sri Lanka this year through a partnership with Ceylon Cold Stores, part of the John Keells Group. The strong distribution network of Ceylon Cold Stores is expected to help Campa build quick visibility. The Sri Lanka lineup includes Campa Cola, Lemon, Orange and energy drinks such as Campa NRG Gold Boost and Berry Kik, priced at ₹100 for 250 ml bottles. RCPL also rolled out Campa Cola in the UAE at the Gulfood event, partnering with Agthia Group, a major regional F&B company.

Rimjhim Singh
Shillong lawyer duped of Rs 90,000 in AI voice scam mimicking senior advocate
Technology

Shillong lawyer duped of Rs 90,000 in AI voice scam mimicking senior advocate

Shillong, Nov 25: A lawyer was duped of Rs 90,000 after receiving an AI-generated voice call "mimicking her senior" recently. The lawyer transferred the amount as the Al voice asked her to do so. Justice HS Thangkhiew, Judge Incharge of the Meghalaya State Judicial Academy, narrated the incident during a training programme on "Cybercrime & the Court: Law, Evidence & Practice" for judicial officers at the High Court of Meghalaya recently. Later during the investigation, it was found the fraudulent transaction, validated through an OTP, was traced through multiple numbers linked to Bihar and Haryana. This led to the arrest of a man whose SIM card was misused. Justice Thangkhiew said the arrested man was "just a pawn and had no idea his number was being used." Justice Thangkhiew said, cybercrime investigations often require coordination among several agencies, particularly when bank accounts are frozen to prevent fund movement. In some cases, he said, innocent individuals suffer when their accounts are incorrectly frozen, disrupting their livelihoods. Modern crimes, such as these, no longer require physical presence of the criminals and these are often transnational and involve victims across jurisdictions and lack traditional forms of evidence such as eyewitnesses, he noted. Justice Thangkhiew said that the conventional tools used by law-enforcement agencies and courts have be-come inadequate in dealing with these evolving threats. Referring to the amendments in the Indian criminal justice system, including the replacement of the Indian Penal Code, CrPC and Evidence Act with three new laws, he said these were done to ad-dress issues of jurisdiction, of-fences and electronic evidence. "These changes are necessary to keep pace with technological advances," he said adding, that technology has become an integral part of daily life, especially during online banking, shopping and other works in the digital age and space.

The Assam Tribune
Ethiopia volcanic eruption: Airlines cancel flights, Hayli Gubbi volcano ash to clear from India by evening
Technology

Ethiopia volcanic eruption: Airlines cancel flights, Hayli Gubbi volcano ash to clear from India by evening

Air travel across multiple Indian cities and international routes faced significant disruption on Monday and Tuesday after the eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano sent a massive ash plume drifting across regions of West Asia and towards India. Several airlines, including Air India, Akasa Air, IndiGo and KLM, cancelled flights as a precaution, while aviation authorities issued detailed advisories to ensure operational safety. Forecast models indicated ash influence over Gujarat, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Air India cancels multiple flights after precautionary checks Air India has cancelled at least 11 flights since Monday as it conducts precautionary checks on aircraft that had flown over regions affected by volcanic ash. In a post on X, Air India said: "The following Air India flights have been cancelled as we carry out precautionary checks on those aircraft which had flown over certain geographical locations after the Hayli Gubbi volcanic eruption." The airline added: "Our ground teams across the network are keeping passengers updated on their flight status and are providing immediate assistance, including hotel accommodation. We are making every effort to arrange alternative travel at the earliest." It further stated: "We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this unforeseen situation beyond our control. The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority." There were no latest updates from IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa Air on the situation. Flights cancelled by Air India 24 November: • AI 106 – Newark–Delhi • AI 102 – New York (JFK)–Delhi • AI 2204 – Dubai–Hyderabad • AI 2290 – Doha–Mumbai • AI 2212 – Dubai–Chennai • AI 2250 – Dammam–Mumbai • AI 2284 – Doha–Delhi 25 November: • AI 2822 – Chennai–Mumbai • AI 2466 – Hyderabad–Delhi • AI 2444 / 2445 – Mumbai–Hyderabad–Mumbai • AI 2471 / 2472 – Mumbai–Kolkata–Mumbai IMD: Ash cloud to move away today According to the India Meteorological Department, the ash clouds from Ethiopia are drifting eastward and will clear from Indian skies later on Tuesday. IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the ash clouds are “drifting towards China and will move away from Indian skies by 7.30 pm.” The IMD reported that ash plumes from the Hayli Gubbi volcano rose to nearly 14 km (45,000 ft) and spread across the Red Sea towards the Arabian Peninsula and India. The department said, "High-level winds carried the ash cloud from Ethiopia across the Red Sea to Yemen and Oman and further over the Arabian Sea towards western and northern India." The agency monitored satellite data, VAAC bulletins and issued ICAO-standard SIGMET advisories to airports, cautioning them to avoid affected airspace. DGCA issues advisory to airlines and airports Amid increasing cancellations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a detailed advisory on Monday, warning airlines to strictly avoid volcanic ash–affected zones. The DGCA directed carriers to adjust routing, fuel planning and immediately report any instances of suspected ash encounters. It also instructed airport operators to inspect runways, taxiways and aprons if ash deposition is suspected. Akasa Air said in a statement: "Following recent volcanic activity in Ethiopia and the resulting ash plume in the surrounding airspace, our flights to and from Jeddah, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi scheduled for 24th and 25th November 2025 have been cancelled." IndiGo also issued a public message on X: "Following the recent eruption of the #HayliGubbi volcano in #Ethiopia, ash clouds are reported to be drifting towards parts of western India. We understand that such news may cause concern, and we want to reassure you that your safety remains our highest priority." It added: "Our teams are closely tracking the situation in coordination with international aviation bodies. We are fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations." Sources said IndiGo cancelled flights to the Middle East, while KLM cancelled its Amsterdam–Delhi service on Monday. In another update, Air India said: "Following the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, ash clouds have been observed over certain geographical regions." "We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with our operating crew. There is no major impact on Air India flights at this time." Flight cancellations at Kochi airport Two international flights from Kochi were cancelled on Monday as a precaution. According to Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), Indigo flight 6E1475 (Cochin–Dubai) and Akasa Air flight QP550 (Cochin–Jeddah) were cancelled due to the volcanic ash situation. Authorities said operations will resume once conditions improve.

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CSBC Bihar Police Constable PET Admit Card 2025 Released: Offline Hall Ticket Download Soon
Technology

CSBC Bihar Police Constable PET Admit Card 2025 Released: Offline Hall Ticket Download Soon

The Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC) has issued the Bihar Police Constable Physical Efficiency Test (PET) 2025 admit cards for candidates who qualified the written examination. Applicants can now download their hall tickets from the official website, csbc.bihar.gov.in, by logging in with their registered credentials. According to the official schedule, the Bihar Police Constable PET 2025 will be held on December 15, 2025. Candidates must bring their admit card to the venue for entry. This year, a massive 99,190 candidates are expected to appear for the PET, conducted to fill 19,838 constable vacancies across the state. Admit Card Download Steps Visit the CSBC official website at csbc.bihar.gov.in. Select the ‘Download e-Admit Card’ option on the homepage. Enter the required details (registration ID/roll number or mobile number and date of birth). Check and download the PET admit card for exam day. For candidates unable to download their hall tickets online, CSBC will issue duplicate admit cards at its office on Harding Road, Patna, on December 12 and 13, 2025, between 10 AM and 5 PM. The Physical Efficiency Test carries 100 marks and consists of three events: running, high jump, and shot put. Running carries the highest weightage with 50 marks, while high jump and shot put hold 25 marks each. Performance in all three events will be considered while preparing the final merit list. Find the admit card download link here.

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Delhi's air stays toxic; state govt orders offices to work at 50% capacity
Technology

Delhi's air stays toxic; state govt orders offices to work at 50% capacity

Delhi’s air quality continued to stay in the ‘severe’ to ‘very poor’ zones on Tuesday, with several monitoring stations reporting the Air Quality Index (AQI) above safe limits. At 8 am, the Anand Vihar station registered an AQI of 400, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), as smog covered the city through the morning. Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 362 at 8 am, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category for another day. The CPCB categorises AQI readings between 300 to 400 as ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 as ‘severe,’ signalling potential respiratory impact even on healthy individuals.Key hotspots reported alarming levels:Anand Vihar: 400Bawana: 389Ashok Vihar: 385Rohini: 416Wazirpur: 399Under CPCB classifications, AQI levels between 0–50 are considered “good”, 51–100 “satisfactory”, 101–200 “moderate”, 201–300 “poor”, 301–400 “very poor” and 401–500 “severe”.NCR sees mixed readingsNeighbouring regions showed varying conditions. Noida logged a ‘very poor’ 397, though with slight improvement. Greater Noida recorded comparatively lower levels at 382. In Gurugram, AQI stood at 286 (‘ poor’), while Manesar was at 342.Volcanic ash from Ethiopia reaches DelhiA cloud of volcanic ash from a rare eruption in northern Ethiopia reached Delhi around 11 pm on November 24, forming a thin, hazy layer over parts of the city. The ash originated from the Hayli Gubbi volcano, which erupted for the first time in thousands of years. Over the past day, the plume travelled across the Red Sea and West Asia, with meteorological agencies closely tracking its movement toward northwest India. ALSO READ: Ash cloud from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano reaches India: Key detailsWill the volcanic ash affect Delhi’s air quality?According to IndiaMetSky Weather, the plume contains mostly sulphur dioxide, along with small to moderate amounts of volcanic ash. It is drifting from the Oman-Arabian Sea region toward northern and central India. While it is unlikely to affect air quality at ground level in India, sulphur dioxide levels may rise over Nepal’s hills, the Himalayan region, and the nearby Terai belt, as parts of the plume could interact with the mountains before moving onward toward China.Update06: The Ash plume mostly consists of Sulphur Dioxide with low to moderate concentrations of Volcanic Ash. Its now stretching from Oman-Arabian sea region into Plains of North & Central India. Its will not impact AQI levels but it will impact So2 level at #Hills of #Nepal,… https://t.co/f95r95mLMi pic.twitter.com/WQOOhKmyHM— IndiaMetSky Weather (@indiametsky) November 24, 2025Govt orders offices to operate at 50% capacityThe Delhi government on Monday directed all government and private offices to operate at 50 per cent staff strength, with the remaining employees working from home, as pollution levels continued to worsen. The order was issued under the revised Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently shifted several Stage IV measures, including work-from-home directives, into Stage III to prevent further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR. ALSO READ: As toxic air chokes Delhi, govt orders offices to operate at 50% capacity Under the new order, administrative secretaries and department heads must attend office, but only half of the staff can be physically present. Private offices must follow the same cap.Cold and foggy weather in Delhi todayDelhi’s minimum temperature is set to remain between 8-10 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The sky will remain mostly clear, but fog and mist are expected to persist especially during the morning hours. The maximum temperature may reach around 23-25 degrees Celsius.

Apexa Rai
Zubeen Kshetra emerges as cultural pilgrimage for test match visitors
Sports

Zubeen Kshetra emerges as cultural pilgrimage for test match visitors

Guwahati, Nov 25: As Guwahati welcomes a wave of fans and journalists for the ongoing Test match, many of the visitors have found them-selves drawn to a place that has quickly taken on the aura of a cultural shrine. Zubeen Kshetra at Sonapur, the memorial site of musician Zubeen Garg, has quietly become one of the most visited spots for those arriving in the city. Among the early visitors was Rupesh Singh, a journalist from New Delhi. He made his way to the site on Thursday and said the experience left a deep impression. Singh grew up in Barak Valley and remembers listening to Zubeen as a child but never imagined the scale of admiration the musician commanded. "I was awestruck while speaking to the cab driver on my way to Guwahati. I could realize that more than a musician, Zubeen was a great human being. That says a lot about why people love him so much," Singh told The Assam Tribune. For weeks now, people from across Assam have been visiting the memorial, often in steady streams, leaving flowers, pausing in silence or simply standing for a moment to take in the feeling of being close to someone they admired. The place has be-gun to take on the character of a pilgrimage, drawing those who seek to connect with the legacy of an artiste whose appeal has spread far beyond the State. That growing recognition has reached many of the visiting journalists as well. Kushan Sarkar, a senior sports journalist, admitted he had not understood the depth of Zubeen's following until he arrived in Guwahati. He recalled listening to a few of Zubeen's Hindi numbers and said 'Hum Khushi Ki Chah Mei' from the movie Life Mei Kabhi Kabhi remained his favourite. He heard the Assamese classic 'Mayabini' only after Zubeen's death. "I was not aware of his cult image. I am truly amazed to see the overflow of love and emotion that people have for him," Sarkar said. He hopes to visit the site once the match concludes. The interest is not limited to those covering cricket. Ramesh Ganguly, a businessman from Kolkata who is in the city for work and spending his Sunday at the ACA Stadium, said he too plans to visit Zubeen Kshetra before returning home. "Some of my friends in Bengal were discussing about visiting Zubeen memorial site. But as I had to come for some work, I decided to visit with my partner. My friends will come in December. Zubeen was also popular in Bengal and we love many of his songs," said Ganguly. For many arriving in Guwahati over the past few days, the Test match has been the primary draw. Yet for an increasing number, the journey feels incomplete without a quiet stop in Sonapur, where the legacy of one of Assam's most beloved sons continues to resonate in the most personal of ways.

Abdul Gani
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