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Here is why Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa included ‘Paul’ in their daughter's name

Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa have revealed their daughter's name as Parvati Paul Rao, a beautiful blend of both parents' identities. The couple welcomed their baby girl on their fourth wedding anniversary, November 15th, sharing their immense joy with fans. This heartwarming announcement follows a trend of celebrity baby reveals in 2025.

Times of India

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6 months ago

Hotel Blast Rocks Downtown Kabul, Multiple Casualties Feared

A powerful explosion rocked Kabul’s Shahr-e-Naw district on Monday, killing several people and injuring others, Afghan officials said. The blast struck a hotel in the downtown area, police spokesman Khalid Zadran confirmed, adding that multiple casualties were reported. Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said the explosion resulted in both deaths and injuries, but the exact cause was not immediately clear. “ Chinese Nationals Targeted, Probe On According to preliminary reports, a number of people were killed and injured,” Qani told Reuters, adding that further details would be released later. Authorities said an investigation has been launched, though no official casualty figures were available at the time of reporting. According to initial reports, the explosion occurred in front of a Chinese restaurant and targeted a vehicle carrying Chinese nationals. Some Chinese citizens were reportedly injured in the blast. Rival factions within the Taliban are suspected to be behind the attack, though officials have not yet confirmed responsibility. ISIL Threat Persists Despite Taliban Rule Blasts in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan have become less frequent since the Taliban returned to power following the US withdrawal in 2021. However, ISIL (ISIS) affiliates remain active in the country and continue to carry out sporadic attacks. Afghanistan witnessed two suicide attacks in 2025, highlighting persistent security challenges, despite the Taliban’s pledge to restore stability after reclaiming power.

ABP Live

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6 months ago

Neera Tanden roasted for believing ICE chased a 'Viking escaping in a wheeled bathtub' on Minnesota road

Times of India

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6 months ago

Bollywood actors who stay fit with early dinners

Shifting the focus to health, Bollywood icons such as Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anushka Sharma, and Shilpa Shetty are vocal about their nightly habits, promoting the practice of early dinners. These stars choose to dine by 6 or 7 PM, which they believe leads to superior digestive health, restful nights, and a more robust metabolism.

Times of India

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6 months ago

AR Rahman's daughters react to his 'communal' remark controversy

Music maestro AR Rahman faced backlash for his remarks on Bollywood's 'communal' undercurrent and 'Chhaava' film. His daughters, Khatija and Raheema, publicly supported him by endorsing composer Kailas Menon's plea to "disagree, don’t disgrace." Menon defended Rahman's right to express personal feelings, condemning the abuse and character assassination he received.

Times of India

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6 months ago

India On Track To Join China In Upper-Middle Income Group By 2030

India is set to transition to 'upper-middle income' country in next four years in 2030, joining the ranks of China and Indonesia, and become the third largest economy even earlier in 2028, an SBI Research report said on Monday. The World Bank classifies nations as low income, lower-middle income, upper-middle income and high-income countries based on their per capita GNI (Gross National Income) in US dollar. In 1990, of the total 218 countries classified by the World Bank, 51 belonged to low income, 56 to lower-middle income, 29 to upper-middle income and 39 to high-income categories. The latest data in 2024 shows only 26 countries as low income, 50 as lower-middle income, 54 as upper-middle income and 87 as high income. The transition clearly shows countries have moved up the income ladder over the years. India took 60 years to transition to lower-middle income in 2007 from low-income country. Its per capita GNI increased from USD 90 in 1962 to USD 910 in 2007, an annual growth rate of 5.3 per cent, said the report. It further said India took 60 years since Independence to reach USD 1 trillion, USD 2 trillion in another 7 years in 2014, USD 3 trillion in 2021, and USD 4 trillion in another 4 years in 2025. India is likely to be USD 5 trillion in another about 2 years, it said. The report further said India achieved USD 1,000 per capita income in 62 years since Independence in 2009, USD 2,000 per capita in next 10 years in 2019, and took another 7 years to achieve USD 3,000 per capita mark. "India is set to touch USD 4,000 per capita in another 4 years in 2030 to transition to an upper-middle income country and join China and Indonesia at current classification," the report said. According to the report, India’s growth journey in the last decade shows that its percentile rank in the cross-country distribution of average real GDP growth has increased from the 92nd percentile over a 25-year horizon to the 95th percentile implying a rightward shift in its relative position that places the country deeper into the upper tail of the global growth distribution. "If we consider the current per capita GNI threshold for high income country of USD 13,936 to be reached by 2047 (as per Viksit Bharat vision), India’s per capita GNI has to grow by a CAGR of 7.5 per cent. This seems achievable as India’s per capita GNI has grown by a CAGR of 8.3 per cent during the last 23 years (2001-2024)," the report said. However, it added that the threshold level for high income country will also get changed by then. If the threshold for high income country gets changed to USD 18,000 then India’s per capita GNI needs to grow by a higher rate, CAGR of around 8.9 per cent in the next 23 years for it to become the high-income country by 2047. Assuming 0.6 per cent average population growth and average deflator of China, Japan, the UK, the US and Euro area of around 2 per cent (average between 1992-2024), this translates into growth of nominal GDP in dollar terms of around 11.5 per cent for the next 23 years. "India should continue its reform agenda so that we can get higher incremental growth required to reach the high-income bracket," the report added. Clearly, it said India can and will transition to the upper-middle income country, which has the threshold per capita GNI of around USD 4,500. Growth of nominal GDP in dollar terms required to achieve this is around 11.5 per cent which is achievable as this growth has been around 11 per cent before the pandemic (FY04-FY20) and around 10 per cent during FY04-FY25, it said. SBI Research said that the US remains the biggest economy followed by China, with India transitioning to become the third largest economy beating Germany by 2028. India transitioned from 14th rank in 1990 to fourth in 2025. The report said India is likely to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2027/FY28 and USD 10 trillion by 2035/FY36. (Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

ABP Live

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6 months ago

Nayanthara and Trisha Krishnan twin in black in VIRAL yacht pics

Internet ablaze as Nayanthara and Trisha Krishnan share stunning sunset photos from a yacht, sparking joy among fans. Previously rumored to be estranged, the actresses' heartwarming reunion on social media has fueled hopes that any past differences are now resolved, with followers eagerly anticipating a renewed friendship.

Times of India

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6 months ago

Budget 2026 | Power Reforms Ahead: Electricity Amendment Bill To Be Introduced In Budget Session

Power Minister Manohar Lal on Monday said the Electricity Amendment Bill is likely to be introduced in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament. The bill seeks to bring reforms in the power sector and ensure the profitability of debt-ridden power distribution companies. The minister made these remarks on the sidelines of the inauguration of the IIT-Delhi-CERC-Grid India Centre of Excellence in the national capital. On Sunday, the power ministry said that power distribution utilities have jointly recorded a profit of Rs 2,701 crore in FY25 after having incurred losses for several years. However, about 50 discoms are still in losses, the ministry said. On strategies to make all discoms profitable, Lal said, "In the next Budget session, we are bringing amendments to the Electricity Act so that discoms don't face losses and receive timely payments". Also, a consultation meeting is being scheduled with the state representatives to discuss proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, a senior ministry official told PTI. As per a government document, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also aims to preserve the federal balance, promote cooperative governance, healthy competition, and enhanced efficiency of the sector. The amendments will not only strengthen the power distribution sector through financial discipline but also strengthen the framework for addressing the challenges of the power sector, as stated in the FAQ on the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The government's ongoing efforts to bring amendments to the Act have also attracted criticism from several sections. The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has opposed it, arguing that the bill proposes multiple distribution licensees to use the existing network of government dioscoms. "The bill seems to support privatisation motives. The central government continues to press ahead with its privatisation agenda through the Electricity (Amendment) Rules," AIPEF Chairman Shailendra Dubey said.  (Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

ABP Live

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6 months ago

'Double agent for Israel': Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro drops bombshell about Kamala Harris campaign

Shapiro writes that he pushed back immediately, calling the question offensive and absurd. What troubled him more than the question itself was what it suggested about the assumptions being made. He wondered whether similar scrutiny was being applied to non-Jewish contenders, or whether he was being treated as a unique risk because of his identity and his outspoken criticism of antisemitism on US college campuses after the October 7 attacks.

Times of India

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6 months ago

EPFO Rule Change: PF Withdrawals Via UPI To Be Enabled Soon; Here’s When & How Much You Can Withdraw

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is preparing to introduce a major convenience for millions of salaried employees: PF withdrawals through UPI. According to sources, the Centre is working on enabling EPFO members to transfer a portion of their provident fund balance directly into their bank accounts using UPI apps. The move is expected to reduce paperwork, speed up access to funds and make withdrawals far simpler than the current claim-based process. The facility is likely to be rolled out in the early phase of the next financial year. PF Withdrawal Via UPI: What’s Changing? EPFO members may soon be able to withdraw PF money using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), bringing the process closer to the ease of banking transactions. Sources said the facility is aimed at benefiting over 8 crore EPFO subscribers, allowing them to transfer eligible amounts without lengthy documentation. Under the proposed process, users will first need to link their PF account with UPI through a bank account that is already Aadhaar-linked. Once done, the member can initiate a transfer from the PF account to their linked savings bank account via a UPI app. The funds can then be withdrawn as cash through an ATM, or used digitally through standard UPI payments. In addition, the Labour Ministry is also expected to launch a dedicated application that supports PF withdrawals through UPI. EPFO’s member portal may also be upgraded to allow UPI-based transfers directly. Timeline & Limit As per sources, this UPI-linked withdrawal feature could go live in the early stage of the next financial year, shortly after the PF-UPI linking system is activated. On the withdrawal amount, the broad framework is said to be nearly final: up to 75% of the PF balance may be withdrawn using this facility without requiring supporting documents. Discussions are reportedly underway on setting limits for daily and monthly transactions to ensure the facility is used responsibly and retirement savings are protected. If implemented as planned, the update could significantly streamline PF access for workers, making withdrawals quicker and more user-friendly.

ABP Live

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6 months ago

ABP Live Your Money Your Life | Planning A Bank Visit This Week? Check These RBI Holidays First

India’s bank customers are in for a short but timely break this week, with a cluster of holidays creating a long weekend from Friday to Sunday in parts of the country.  As per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) official holiday calendar for January 2026, banks will remain closed on January 23, 24 and 25 in several states due to a combination of regional festivals, a public commemoration and regular weekly offs. For anyone planning branch visits, cheque clearances or documentation-heavy banking work, this is a week worth marking on the calendar. A Long Weekend for Banks From January 23 to 25 According to the RBI’s holiday list, banks will be shut on Friday, January 23, in West Bengal, Odisha and Tripura due to the Birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Saraswati Puja (Shree Panchami), Vir Surendrasai Jayanti and Basanta Panchami. This will be followed by the usual weekend closures: Saturday, January 24 - Bank holiday due to second Saturday Sunday, January 25 - Bank holiday due to Sunday This effectively creates a three-day banking break in the affected states, making it advisable for customers to complete branch-dependent tasks in advance. RBI’s January 2026 Holiday Count The RBI’s full schedule shows that there are 16 bank holidays in January 2026, including all Saturdays and Sundays. As per standard practice, all banks in India, public and private, including the State Bank of India (SBI), observe closures on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, in addition to all Sundays. However, customers should note that bank holidays differ across states depending on local festivals, regional observances and government notifications. The RBI advises customers to check with their local branch to confirm closures, especially around long weekends and regional festivals. Why Bank Holidays Are Declared by the RBI All annual bank holidays are notified by the RBI under the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which governs transactions such as cheques, promissory notes and bills of exchange. Transactions involving these instruments are not processed on declared bank holidays. This means activities like cheque clearing, branch-based account opening, loan documentation and physical verification processes are typically suspended on these days. What Services Continue When Banks Are Closed? Despite branch closures, customers are not entirely cut off from banking services. Online and mobile banking remain operational unless a bank notifies users of technical maintenance or downtime. UPI transactions continue to function as usual. ATM services remain available for cash withdrawals and basic services. This ensures that essential payments, fund transfers and bill settlements can still be carried out even during national and regional holidays. Why Customers Should Plan Ahead With a long weekend coming up in parts of eastern India, experts advise customers to plan branch-dependent work early. Tasks such as KYC updates, cheque deposits, locker access, demand drafts and loan documentation may face delays if left until the holiday period. For businesses and traders who rely on cheque-based settlements or physical banking interactions, the break could also impact cash flows and transaction timelines. The RBI’s January 2026 holiday calendar brings both festive breaks and practical challenges for bank customers. While digital banking cushions much of the inconvenience, branch-level services will remain unavailable during these closures. With a long weekend lined up from January 23 to 25 in several states, a little advance planning could save customers a lot of last-minute stress.

ABP Live

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6 months ago

UPI Payment Failed? RBI Says You Can Get Rs 100 Per Day For Delayed Refunds

Digital payments are part of daily life now. But when a UPI payment fails, and your money gets stuck, it becomes frustrating. You see “money deducted but not received” and don’t know what to do next. Most people just wait and hope the refund comes. What many users don’t know is that there is a clear rule for this. If your money is not returned on time, you are allowed compensation.  RBI guidelines say banks must refund failed UPI transactions quickly. If they don’t, you are entitled to Rs 100 per day for the delay. UPI Failed Transaction Compensation Rule Explained The Reserve Bank of India has set a strict timeline for failed UPI payments. The refund must be completed within T+1 day. This means the day of the transaction plus one business day. If the refund does not arrive within this time, the bank is responsible for the delay. From the second day onward, you become eligible for UPI failed transaction compensation. The amount is Rs 100 for each day of delay until your money is returned. This rule exists to stop banks and apps from keeping user money pending for long periods. This applies only to cases where your account was debited, but the other person did not receive the money. It does not apply if you sent money to the wrong person or made a mistake while paying. Most users never claim this because they are not aware of it. They assume waiting is the only option. But the rule gives you a clear right. How To Claim UPI Failed Transaction Compensation First, wait until the T+1 day is over. Many refunds are processed within this time. If your money is still not back, open your UPI app and raise a dispute for that transaction. Every app has an option to report a failed payment. If the issue remains unresolved or you get no proper response, file a complaint on the RBI Complaint Management System at cms.rbi.org.in. Enter your transaction details and clearly mention that the refund has crossed the allowed time limit. State that you are claiming UPI failed transaction compensation as per RBI rules. RBI complaints are taken seriously by banks. In many cases, refunds are processed soon after this step. Some users also receive the extra amount for the days of delay. This process is simple. It protects your money and ensures delays are not ignored. You do not have to stay silent when your funds are stuck.

ABP Live

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6 months ago

Karan Aujla announces P-POP CULTURE India run

Punjabi music icon Karan Aujla has just ramped up his 2026 India tour, adding five exciting new cities after an incredible surge in ticket sales and fan enthusiasm. The revamped P-POP CULTURE India Tour now covers 12 vibrant locations, with thrilling stadium shows set to redefine the landscape for Punjabi artists in India.

Times of India

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6 months ago

30-yo Indian Niki Poonacha set for Grand Slam debut at Australian Open

Indian doubles player Niki Poonacha will make his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open at age 30, partnering Pruchya Isaro. A late bloomer, Poonacha has risen through the Challenger circuit and earned a wildcard entry. Ranked 144 in doubles, he praised Melbourne’s player-friendly atmosphere and said the experience has motivated him to aim for regular Grand Slam appearances.

Times of India

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6 months ago

Bollywood stars who spoke about portion control

Bollywood's fitness icons, including Hrithik Roshan, Malaika Arora, and Tara Sutaria, champion portion control for a balanced lifestyle. Roshan showcases visually appealing, balanced meals, while Arora opts for smaller bowls to naturally limit intake. Sutaria emphasizes smart snacking, proving that mindful eating, not deprivation, is key to maintaining health and charisma.

Times of India

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6 months ago