An earthquake of 3.8 magnitude was recorded in Haryana's Jhajjar with tremors in Delhi and surrounding areas on Sunday morning, the first day of the new year, the National Center for Seismology said.
There were no reports of any injuries or damage.
The World Health Organization urged China to regularly share specific and real-time data on the COVID-19 situation in the country. This development comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases which was an after-effect of Beijing's relaxation of its strict 'zero-COVID' policy. The global health agency asked Chinese health officials to share data on genetic sequencing, hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations. A high-level meeting took place between officials from WHO and China on the current surge in COVID-19 cases to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO's expertise and further support, a WHO statement said on Friday.North Korea fired a ballistic missile over the sea to the east of the Korean Peninsula in the early hours of Sunday, Yonhap news agency reported citing the South Korean military.
The move comes not even 24 hours after North Korea launched three ballistic missiles on Saturday.
The short-range ballistic missile was fired around 2:50 a.m. local time from Pyongyang, Yonhap said, citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The launch follows an unprecedented number of missile tests conducted by North Korea this year, as Pyongyang presses on with weapons development amid speculation it could test a nuclear weapon for a seventh time.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The World Health Organization urged China to regularly share specific and real-time data on the COVID-19 situation in the country. This development comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases which was an after-effect of Beijing's relaxation of its strict 'zero-COVID' policy. The global health agency asked Chinese health officials to share data on genetic sequencing, hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations. A high-level meeting took place between officials from WHO and China on the current surge in COVID-19 cases to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO's expertise and further support, a WHO statement said on Friday.The World Health Organization urged China to regularly share specific and real-time data on the COVID-19 situation in the country. This development comes amid a surge in coronavirus cases which was an after-effect of Beijing's relaxation of its strict 'zero-COVID' policy. The global health agency asked Chinese health officials to share data on genetic sequencing, hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations. A high-level meeting took place between officials from WHO and China on the current surge in COVID-19 cases to seek further information on the situation, and to offer WHO's expertise and further support, a WHO statement said on Friday.A delicate pashmina yarn holds promise for hundreds of women in Kashmir valley. Powered by a modified charkha, over 200 women spinners have ended the year 2022 with doubling their output and income.
The modification in the age-old charkha has changed the life of Shaesta Bilal. Since the income is based on output of spinning, the foot pedal charkha has come to her aid.
In Srinagar's downtown area, women like Shaesta are spinning the finest yarn in the world and modified charkha has given them confidence and self-reliance.
"This (modified charka) has given us the means to make a living so that we are self-reliant. Thank God we are earning more and we are not dependent on anybody. Now I'm not financially dependent on my husband," said Shaesta Bilal.
Ms Shaesta was given a new charkha and training by a pashmina shawl trader in Srinagar a year ago. Since then she has graduated to a resource person for other women.
Over the last one year, more than 200 women have been trained and given modified charkhas. The initiative is part of an effort to protect and preserve the genuine age-old craft of pashmina shawls, which is facing a massive invasion of fake and machine-made shawls.
The government has also started GI (geographical indicator) tagging of Kashmiri shawls to preserve its unique character and value in the market.
Over the years, the number of women spinning pashmina has come down drastically in Kashmir valley, mainly due to low wages and less output on the traditional charkha.
According to Mujtaba Qadri, who owns the training centre for women spinners and equip them with the new charkha, the modifications in the tool were made by Shere-e-Kashmir Agricultural University a few years ago.
"I started training with a few women initially. Once we saw the results that we were able to double the produce, which in turns doubles the income of women, I decided to run this programme," said Mujaba, who runs a family shawl business.
Besides providing modified charkha for free, Mujtaba also give a-15 day training course to women spinners. "From our centre, over 200 women have been trained in the last one year and we have provided them modified charkha as well," he said.
At the centre, Nusrat Begum says life has become a bit easier for her after she was trained to use the new charkha. From squatting on the floor to sitting on a chair, her spinning production has doubled.
"It has helped me a great deal. I used to spin three gram of yarn on the old charkha. Now I can spin six grams," said Ms Begum.
For centuries, the secret behind Kashmir's elegant pashmina shawls is fine spinning by women. It further goes to master artisans for weaving. For making some shawls with intricate work, it takes months and even a year to weave.
While the new charkha helps women spin more and earn more, the wages are still less. For a knot, which is 10 threads of yarn, they are being paid Re 1.5. They want more.
"The charkha is very useful to us. We are thankful to Qadri sahib as he gave us this charkha for free and we are doing very well on it. We work at home and also train others. We requested him if could increase our wages," said Yasmeena.
Pakistan's atrocities against minorities: Amid soaring atrocities against minority communities in Pakistan, another case of brutality emerged on Wednesday, where a 40-year-old Bheel woman reportedly gang-raped and brutally murdered in Sindh province. According to Krishna Kumari, whose Twitter handle describes her as a Senator of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) From Tharparkar Sindh, the woman was identified as Daya Bheel (40), who was brutally murdered on Wednesday. China's health officials on Friday discussed with the WHO experts on the current massive surge of the COVID virus in the country after the organisation's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asked Beijing to share more information and defended the decision of countries like India to screen travellers from the pandemic affected country.
The Chinese officials and World Health Organisation experts exchanged views on the current COVID-19 situation, treatment, and vaccinations, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement after the online meeting.
They agreed to continue technical exchanges to help end the epidemic worldwide as soon as possible, it said.
Millions of Chinese were infected in the current surge of Omicron variants in China, causing alarm over the world.
Earlier on Thursday, Tedros tweeted: "As I said at our most recent press conference -- in order to make a comprehensive risk assessment of the #COVID19 situation on the ground in #China, @WHO needs more detailed information." The WHO chief also defended various countries, including India, to take protective measures against people arriving from China to prevent the virus from spreading.
"In the absence of comprehensive information from China, it is understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations," he said.
"We remain concerned about the evolving situation and we continue encouraging China to track the Covid-19 virus and vaccinate the highest-risk people. We continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system," he said.
"We continue to call on China to share data and all hypotheses about this pandemic remain on the table," Tadros said, referring to the origin of the coronavirus which was first reported in Wuhan city of China in late 2019.
Tedros' remarks come against the backdrop of China criticising the countermeasures taken by various countries including the US, Japan and India requiring travellers from China to undergo the required tests.
Beijing's decision to lift all travel restrictions, including scrapping of quarantine for inbound travellers from January 8 ahead of Chinese New Year, has caused alarm around the world.
Millions of Chinese are expected to travel to various parts of the world for holiday during this period.
Asked about Tedros comments saying that the protective measures taken by various countries are understandable, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told media here on Friday that for all countries, COVID response measures need to be science-based and proportionate without affecting normal travel and people-to-people exchange and cooperation.
Over the past few days, authoritative medical experts from different countries have said that entry restrictions on travellers arriving from China are unnecessary.
"We need to underscore that since the start of COVID-19, China has been sharing relevant information and data in an open and transparent manner with the international community, including the WHO," he said.
China shared the genome sequence of the virus at the earliest opportunity, making important contributions to drug and vaccine research and development in countries around the world, he said.
"China's relevant departments have shared the genome data of the virus from the latest COVID cases in China via the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID). The departments will continue to closely monitor whether the virus would mutate, share information on COVID in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with the law, and work with the international community to address the COVID challenge", he said.
Chinese official media criticised the screening of travellers from China.
"A small number of countries and regions, such as the US and Japan see China's reopening as another chance to defame Beijing," a report in the state-run Global Times said.
"They have imposed travel restrictions on arrivals from China, citing what experts called 'unfounded' and 'discriminatory' measures to defend their moves, but the real intention is to sabotage China's three years of COVID-19 control efforts and attack the country's system", it said.
A negative Covid report will be a must for passengers arriving in India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from January 1, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan's atrocities against minorities: Amid soaring atrocities against minority communities in Pakistan, another case of brutality emerged on Wednesday, where a 40-year-old Bheel woman reportedly gang-raped and brutally murdered in Sindh province. According to Krishna Kumari, whose Twitter handle describes her as a Senator of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) From Tharparkar Sindh, the woman was identified as Daya Bheel (40), who was brutally murdered on Wednesday. An 18-month-old child suffered serious injuries all over the body after a pack of stray dogs attacked him in front of his house in Kollam district of Kerala on Friday.
The boy, a native of nearby Mayyanadu, is undergoing treatment at the district hospital, family members said.
The incident happened when the child was playing in front of the house and his grandmother had just stepped inside the house after giving him food, they said.
Hearing the screams of the child, the woman rushed to the front yard of the house and got shocked seeing around 25 stray dogs mauling him.
"The incident happened when I just went inside the house for a while to take something. There were at least 25 dogs around the child. I somehow chased them away with a wooden plank and rescued him," she said.
The child was rushed to the hospital with the help of neighbours and he is being treated now, she added.
Several places in Kerala have been facing stray dog menace for some time and over 20 people have succumbed to rabies this year alone, according to figures.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Doctors working despite being infected, beds filled with dozens of elderly straining to breathe -- on the front lines of China's worst-ever Covid outbreak, hospitals are struggling.
Many Chinese were jubilant after Beijing announced the end of mandatory quarantines this week, effectively drawing the curtain on years of hardline virus controls that had isolated the world's most populous country.
But as China opens up, cases are surging. The healthcare system is straining and crematoriums are struggling to deal with the influx of bodies.
At Nankai Hospital in Tianjin, around 140 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of the capital Beijing, AFP on Wednesday saw more than two dozen mostly elderly patients lying on gurneys in public areas of the emergency department.
Most were hooked up to intravenous drips, and some appeared to be experiencing breathing difficulties. A few seemed to be unconscious or not fully responsive.
"Yes, they all have Covid," a doctor told AFP.
"The problem is that there aren't any beds at the moment," another doctor could be heard telling the guardian of a patient.
China's National Health Commission (NHC) last week said that it would no longer release an official daily Covid death count.
But with the end of mass testing -- and China's decision to reclassify Covid deaths in a move analysts said would dramatically downplay the fatalities -- those numbers were no longer believed to reflect reality.
A doctor in Tianjin said his emergency room was much busier than usual "because of the outbreak".
Medical staff are "pretty much all" expected to continue working despite testing positive for the virus, he added.
In the hospital's separate fever clinic, AFP saw doctors in hazmat suits attending to around 30 mostly elderly patients, some of whom were clutching printouts of CT scans.
"Try not to move too much," murmured a man to a groaning elderly woman on a gurney in an emergency department corridor, as patients and medical personnel streamed past.
- 'Four-hour wait' -
At the nearby Tianjin First Center Hospital, an AFP reporter saw at least one dead person being wheeled out of a ward.
AFP counted more than 25 patients of advanced age lying on makeshift beds in the emergency department's narrow corridors. Staff and carers were seen wheeling elderly patients in wheelchairs and on gurneys, trying to avoid bumping into others.
Many patients were attached to IV drips and several lay inert. Others shivered and coughed in face masks, woolly hats and thick blankets. Next to some gurneys sat bright blue oxygen tanks.
In a resuscitation room, an AFP reporter saw a group of doctors gathering around an intubated elderly patient attached to machines monitoring vital signs.
Security guards stood at the doors to some consultation rooms to ensure the long lines of patients remained orderly.
Hospital staff confirmed to AFP that the majority of emergency room patients were experiencing complications related to Covid.
In a corner next to the pharmacy window, a man used a cotton bud to dab water around the parched lips of an elderly woman on a gurney who was visibly struggling to breathe.
Several ambulances ferried more patients into the department through the afternoon.
"It's a four-hour wait to see a doctor," staff could be heard telling an elderly man who said he had Covid.
"There are 300 people in front of you."
AFP journalists have witnessed similar scenes at hospitals in other parts of the country, including Shanghai and Chongqing where hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The internet giant Google asked its users to share and discuss their first search on the search engine, as the countdown to New Year's 2023 has already started around the world. Similar to other Google products, the post quickly gained a lot of traction on social media.
On its Twitter handle, the search engine giant asked the users, "What's your first Google search of 2023 going to be?"
what's your first Google search of 2023 going to be?
— Google (@Google) December 29, 2022
The post became an instant hit since the popularity of the tech giant is greater than any other tech company; within an hour, the post received over 350,000 views and more than 2000 likes. The number of comments is steadily increasing as people express their desires for what they want to search for in 2023.
"How to become a billionaire without doing anything," wrote one user. Another user commented, "Would Russia become a world power at the end of this year?"
"Mine will be in the form of a question: "Why do browsers put users at risk from hackers, scammers, and malware producers"?" commented a third user.
Meanwhile, Google, the world's most popular search engine, is working on making text and voice internet search available in over 100 Indian languages.
Its India-born CEO, Sundar Pichai, who was in India this month, said the pace of technological change in the country has been extraordinary, and Google is supporting small businesses and startups, investing in cybersecurity, providing education and skills training, and applying AI (artificial intelligence) in sectors like agriculture and healthcare.
"I'm here to see progress being made from our $10 billion, 10-year India Digitization Fund (IDF), and share new ways. We're helping to advance India's digital future at our Google for India event."
Floods & year 2022: The year 2022 gave a straight message— adapt a nature-friendly life style to mitigate flood damage or face a cycle of destruction. Devastating floods hit every continent claiming hundreds of lives and laving a trail of destruction behind in 2022. Communities were being pushed into a reckoning onset by climate change. As shell shocked Congolese sift through rubble, looking for bodies and belongings in flood-ravaged Kinshasa, it feels like an eerie repeat of the deadly floods that brought Pakistan to its knees just months ago.Georgiy Yatsenko was hiding in the basement trying to comfort his anxious grandchildren on Thursday morning when an explosion rocked his normally sleepy street in southern Kyiv.
The blast blew out all his windows but the scene that greeted him when he stepped outside was even more frightening -- half a dozen houses almost completely destroyed by Russia's latest missile barrage targeting Ukraine.
"The main thing is that people are alive," he said as he watched excavators try to clear the resulting mess of bricks, wooden planks and power lines.
Ukrainian officials said air defence systems downed all 16 missiles that targeted Kyiv on Thursday -- part of a broader assault that also hit the second city Kharkiv in the east and the western city of Lviv on the border with Poland.
Multiple witnesses said the explosion on Yatsenko's street in Kyiv's southern Bortnychi neighbourhood was probably caused by a missile fragment, not a direct hit.
It made little difference to Tetiana Denysenko, who rushed to the scene after receiving a distressing call from her young granddaughter.
"She said, 'Grandma, our house is on fire. We've been hit. My mother (Denysenko's daughter) was thrown to the ground. She's lying unconscious,'" the 62-year-old recalled.
"That's all I could hear."
By the time Denysenko arrived, her daughter was being hauled off in an ambulance for emergency surgery.
"Thank God the children are alive," Denysenko said through tears. "Thank God my granddaughter only had an injured leg."
- 'We heard a bang' -
Sergiy, who lives in the same neighbourhood and gave only his first name, said that despite an air raid siren early on Thursday morning, he had spent a leisurely few hours having breakfast and walking his dog.
Once he heard reports of explosions elsewhere in Kyiv he decided to go to a local shelter for cover, but he and his wife had only reached their front door when the explosion occurred at around 9:00 am.
"We heard a bang, very strong, and there was a second explosion, but less powerful," the 59-year-old said.
"We went outdoors and saw the windows in our house were broken and the house opposite ours was destroyed."
He and his neighbours must now race to repair their houses as they prepare for the depths of winter amid persistent blackouts.
Close to half of Kyiv's population was left without power after the attacks on Thursday, as was 90 percent of Lviv, officials said.
Yatsenko said he planned to cover his window frames with plastic in an attempt to warm the house where he lives with nine other relatives.
It was unclear what the options would be for those whose houses suffered heavier damage.
At Denysenko's daughter's house, neighbours helped cart out salvageable items including a fridge but the elderly woman had no answer when asked where the family would go.
"I don't know," Denysenko said, sobbing. "I don't know."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Mukesh Ambani is hosting Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's engagement party at his house Antilia in Mumbai. Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Ayan Mukerji led the celeb roll call. Shah Rukh Khan arrived with his manager Pooja Dadlani, while Alia and Ranbir were pictured arriving with Ayan. The star couple were pictured walking hand-in-hand. Janhvi Kapoor looked pretty in a pink saree. Ranveer Singh looked dashing in a blue ensemble, and the actor happily waved at the shutterbugs stationed at the venue.
Check out the pictures below:
Zaheer Khan and Sagarika Ghatge were also pictured arriving at Ambani's house in Mumbai.
The newly engaged couple, Anant and Radhika, was also pictured arriving at their house.
Check out the pictures below:
Mukesh Ambani's younger son Anant Ambani today got engaged to Radhika Merchant (the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, CEO of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company). The couple had a traditional Roka ceremony at the Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
Fights and arguments between airline crew members and passengers have become a common occurrence these days. However, in a welcome change, a new video has surfaced on Twitter showing an IndiGo air hostess administering mid-air medical assistance to a passenger.
A Twitter user named Irfan Ansari who was a passenger on the same flight recorded the video and shared it on his account. He wrote, "Dear IndiGo, please reward both cabin crew. I know it is their job but the way they are treated I believe our own relative also will not take care the way they did. Salute! Big respect to the girls and IndiGo."
According to the text inserted in the video, the airline was flying from Doha to Delhi on December 27. The 45-second clip shows an air hostess giving mid-air treatment to a passenger after he was injured by the lid of a baggage compartment. The crew member first gently puts ointment on the wounded finger and then goes on to put a band-aid on it. The passenger could also be heard thanking her for the assistance.
Watch the video here:
Dear @IndiGo6E Please reward the both cabin crew, I know its there job but the way they treated i believe our own relative also will not take care the way they did, Salute🫡, Big respect to the girls and @IndiGo6E 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💐🇮🇳💐@DGCAIndia pic.twitter.com/m1WmdEVa69
— Irfan Ansari (@irfanhasan1986) December 28, 2022
Internet users appreciated the air hostess for taking such good care of the passenger. One user wrote, ''Great work,'' while another heaped praises on her and commented, ''An excellent example of Angels in the sky.'' A third said, ''Kudos to crew.''
IndiGo also responded to the social media user's tweet and wrote, ''Thank you for sharing this with us and appreciating our crew, Mr. Ansari. They are truly angels in the sky, providing excellent care and attention to our customers.''
See the post here:
Thank you for sharing this with us and appreciating our crew, Mr Ansari. They are truly angels in the sky, providing excellent care and attention to our customers🙂. #WeCareForYou #Inspiration #PassengerDelight #GoIndiGo https://t.co/1wnLaQ3y6s
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 29, 2022
The heartwarming incident comes days after a video of a heated argument between a passenger and one of the crew members of IndiGo airline went viral on social media, making national headlines. The argument between the passenger and the air hostess was regarding meals served on board.
Japan on Wednesday recorded 415 COVID-19 deaths, the highest-ever count for a single day, health ministry data showed.
The country counted 216,219 newly confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, up 4% from a week earlier, the data also showed, approaching the record high of some 260,000 a day in August.
In the past seven days, Japan had the world's largest confirmed COVID-19 infections and the second-most deaths after the United States, according to a tally by the World Health Organization.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
As the year 2022 is about to end, Bollywood celebs have been sharing posts looking back at their journey of this year. The recent celeb to join the list is Kriti Sanon. The actress had a "fabulous year" as she won not one but two Best Actress awards in a lead role category for her film Mimi, one at the Filmfare Awards and another at International India Film Academy (IIFA) 2022. However, now she is kind of ready to "move on". On Instagram, the actress has shared a reel summing up her "2022 Memories." From her BTS moments from the shooting of films to her fitness regime, the video includes all the memories.
Sharing the post, Kriti Sanon captioned it as "2022 You were fabulous!! But.. I'm kinda ready to move on..." Soon after she shared the post, her fans flooded the comment section. A user wrote, "Ufff Cuteness Overloaded," while another wrote, "Blessed with bestest ever."
Here have a look:
Kriti Sanon had a great year as she won two awards and her film Bhediya, co-starring Varun Dhawan, was also well received by the audience. Also, she launched her fitness brand, The Tribe.
Meanwhile, the actress keeps her Insta family updated by sharing her pictures. A few days ago, she shared a post featuring her with Shahid Kapoor. In the caption, she wrote, "KS & SK," followed by a heart emoticon.
Here have a look:
A few days ago, she shared a video introducing her "Krack Team". "Meet my Krack Team! My people, my backbone, my home away from home, my friends like family! Its a Krazy Krack bunch of beautiful hearts! What would i do without you guys?! Watch the vlog on my YouTube Channel! Live Now!" read her caption.
Here have a look:
On the work front, next year, Kriti Sanon will be seen in three films Ganapath with Tiger Shroff, Shehzada with Kartik Aaryan and Adipurush with Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan.
One of the worst weather disasters in the history of the United States of America has claimed more lives in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 27 in New York's Buffalo area alone. 48 deaths have been recorded across the nation. Some people lost their lives while shoveling snow while some were found dead in their cars. Rescue and recovery efforts have been going on for some days now. Akshata Murty, the Indian wife of Rishi Sunak, plans to make 10 Downing Street a more accessible place during her tenure as UK First Lady and has offered a peek into the official residence of the British Prime Minister, according to a magazine feature released on Wednesday.
The February issue of 'Tatler', which hits the stands next week, features Murty on its cover and profiles the former fashion designer and venture capitalist daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and author Sudha Murty.
In 'No. 10's Chatelaine: Inside the Secret World of Mrs. Sunak', it goes behind the scenes with those involved in the flat's refurbishment as well as close friends and associates who have been given Murty's go-ahead to share some details of life at one of the world's famous addresses.
"There will be a different vibe now," a friend tells the magazine, with reference to Murty's plans to move away from the more closed style of her predecessor - Boris Johnson's wife Carrie Johnson.
"Akshata is putting her stamp on that and is rolling out plans for more events and meetings. She wants to open up the staterooms as much as possible so that the public gets to understand the building's history and significance. She is keen to celebrate the stories of Britain through Downing Street - whether the visitors are heads of state or members of the public," the friend is quoted as saying.
Challis Interiors in Richmond, Yorkshire, was chosen by the Sunaks, both 42, after the work the upholsterers did on their constituency home in northern England.
They were drafted in to fix up the flat above No. 10 Downing Street when Rishi Sunak was still chancellor and the family of four - including daughters Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, 9 - used that as their home.
When Britain got its first Indian-origin Prime Minister in October, the family decided to move back into the same flat - in a break from the trend since the 1990s when prime ministers used the larger flat above No. 11 Downing Street as their residence.
The magazine notes: "If alarm bells are ringing, given the Johnsons' opulent refurbishment at No. 11 - and their record of finding inventive ways to fund it - rest assured, all of this was paid for by the Sunaks, at a very substantial, undisclosed cost.
"It's almost as if the ambitious chancellor guessed he might return to Downing Street one day." Murty is said to have commissioned exquisite fabrics for the flat, which is "far less glitz" than that associated with the Johnsons' now-infamous ostentatious redecoration "We made long, fully interlined curtains for all five windows overlooking the garden, hand-pleated and held back with heavy coordinating tassels in red, gold, and the ivory of the damask," interior designer John Challis tells the magazine.
"The ornate cornicing was hand-gilded, as it would have been originally, and a rug was commissioned to almost fill the room. Akshata was very involved and keen to see how things are made. She is also not afraid of getting stuck in and helping either," he said.
The profile, which pegs millionaire Murty as striking a balance between thrift and luxury, traces her flair for numbers to her school days at Baldwin Girls' High School in Bangalore and goes on to highlight her Ivy League education.
It adds: "Her final call was Stanford in 2004, for an MBA to gold-plate her CV. It was also where she met her future husband."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Railways on Tuesday shared a video showing a new set of revamped train coaches. The 'coach facelift' initiative has been undertaken by the Sealdah Division of the Eastern Railway in order to revamp the otherwise-dull train coaches and make them more vibrant. The video shows a coach of a local train operating in West Bengal, facelifted with colourful art and bright LED lights. The walls of the coach can be seen adorned with murals and paintings, portraying India's diverse culture.
Sharing the video, Indian Railways wrote, ''Uplifting your Travel Experience! A coach facelift initiative has been undertaken by the Sealdah Division of @EasternRailway, where coaches are being adorned with art. Catch a glimpse of a train that runs on the Sealdah-Bangaon section.''
Watch the video here:
Uplifting your Travel Experience!
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) December 27, 2022
A coach facelift initiative has been undertaken by the Sealdah Division of @EasternRailway, where coaches are being adorned with art. Catch a glimpse of a train that runs on the Sealdah-Bangaon section. pic.twitter.com/9mfaajAxxb
Many users flocked to the comment section to appreciate the unique initiative and praised Indian Railways. One user wrote, ''Great initiative to showcase and save the rich Indian and especially regional culture in the form of art.I think trains on all local routes could be decorated like this and in other similar designs !!!'' Another said, ''Great initiative by team.''
However, not everyone was impressed with the art. Many found it unappealing and said that the Railways should focus more on improving its service and pay heed to problems faced by commuters.
A third user reacted to the video and wrote, ''Gaudy Awful Claustrophobic... Graffiti Artists do better JobsDo some Good Maintenance n Improve Services n Coach Quality instead.''
A fourth commented, ''Please!! Employ good and professional artists for this. Else leave it as is. This is not a facelift. Its a spoiler!!'' A fifth added, ''Painting uplifts the travel experience? A waste of money in my books.''
India G20 Presidency: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished him a successful G20 Presidency and hoped for India's participation in implementing his 'peace formula'. Zelenskyy also thanked New Delhi for its humanitarian aid and support in the United Nations.
China's military sent 71 planes and seven ships toward Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the island, Taiwan's defence ministry said Monday after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a US annual defence spending bill passed on Saturday. China's military harassment of self-ruled Taiwan, which it claims is its own territory, has intensified in recent years, and the Communist Party's People's Liberation Army has sent planes or ships toward the island on a near-daily basis.
China-India relation: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, today (December 25), said that China is ready to work with India through steady and sound growth of the relations, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry website. While addressing the reporters on China's relations with India, Wang said, "China and India have maintained communication through the diplomatic and military-to-military channels, and both countries are committed to upholding stability in the border areas. We stand ready to work with India in the direction toward steady and sound growth of China-India relations."China-India relation: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, today (December 25), said that China is ready to work with India through steady and sound growth of the relations, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry website. While addressing the reporters on China's relations with India, Wang said, "China and India have maintained communication through the diplomatic and military-to-military channels, and both countries are committed to upholding stability in the border areas. We stand ready to work with India in the direction toward steady and sound growth of China-India relations."
Capitol attack: In a major setback for former US President Donald Trump, a final report released by the House January 6 committee, indicted him as the main accused behind the massive attack on Capitol Hill. According to the 18-month-long findings of the Committee, it charged Trump as the main culprit and termed it a “multi-part conspiracy” with the aim of overturning his 2020 election defeat.Capitol attack: In a major setback for former US President Donald Trump, a final report released by the House January 6 committee, indicted him as the main accused behind the massive attack on Capitol Hill. According to the 18-month-long findings of the Committee, it charged Trump as the main culprit and termed it a “multi-part conspiracy” with the aim of overturning his 2020 election defeat.
Ukraine-Russia war: Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia wants an end to the war in Ukraine and that this would inevitably involve a diplomatic solution, reported news agency Reuters on Friday. The development came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to US seeking more support from the Biden administration. Welcoming Zelenskyy, US President Joe Biden promised him to provide more defence and financial assistance. 
United States: Ahead of Christmas holidays, more than 2,270 US flights were cancelled on Thursday (December 22) due to heavy snow and freezing temperatures, reported CNN. Snow, rain, ice, wind and frigid temperatures are disrupting air travel plans across the United States and bus and Amtrak passenger train service.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said the money given to his country was not charity but an investment in global security and democracy. 
Volodymyr Zelenskyy US visit: In a major development, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zeleneskyy on Wednesday met his US counterpart Joe Biden during his first foreign trip to the United States after the escalation of the "brutal war". US President Joe Biden vowed to step up support for Ukraine as he welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House. The US announced more support for Ukraine, including a Patriot missile defence system to fight Russia.
Earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck Northern California on Tuesday, jolting residents awake, cutting off power to thousands, and damaging homes and roads, officials said. No injuries were immediately reported.Earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck Northern California on Tuesday, jolting residents awake, cutting off power to thousands, and damaging homes and roads, officials said. No injuries were immediately reported.
China Covid news: China is grappling to handle enormous Covid surge mounting further pressure on the country's healthcare facilities since the government lifted its stringent anti-virus control following public protest against the zero-Covid policy. 
Pakistan: At least 4 policemen were killed while several others were injured when terrorists opened fire in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, officials said. Heavily-armed militants had attacked the newly constructed Burgai police station in Lakki Marwat bordering the South Waziristan tribal district. Pakistan: At least 4 policemen were killed while several others were injured when terrorists opened fire in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, officials said. Heavily-armed militants had attacked the newly constructed Burgai police station in Lakki Marwat bordering the South Waziristan tribal district. 
Yearender 2022: The year 2022 witnessed some of the most significant events that fetched major transitions around the globe. The changes were definitely the worst ever following the COVID-19 pandemic and World War II. The pandemic has already brought the world economy to a crawling state, but the new shifts in global order have brought them to the stage of collapse. 
Russia-Ukraine war: In one of the biggest attacks, Russia on Friday showered a series of missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital city, killing at least three people and injuring more than 100. According to the local administration, it was the first time when Kyiv was targeted in such a brutal way, wherein the "aggressor fired at least 70-80 missiles within hours. Some of the missiles hit the electricity facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporhizhzhia, resulting in citizens living without electricity and water. According to an official, the subway system was out of service and unlikely to be back in operation Saturday.Russia-Ukraine war: In one of the biggest attacks, Russia on Friday showered a series of missile attacks on the Ukrainian capital city, killing at least three people and injuring more than 100. According to the local administration, it was the first time when Kyiv was targeted in such a brutal way, wherein the "aggressor fired at least 70-80 missiles within hours. Some of the missiles hit the electricity facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih and Zaporhizhzhia, resulting in citizens living without electricity and water. According to an official, the subway system was out of service and unlikely to be back in operation Saturday.
China is reeling under a massive coronavirus wave, with a Chinese diplomat blaming "foreign forces" for the anti-government demonstrations on Thursday. The development came nearly a fortnight after China lifted the much-despised 'zero-Covid' restrictions following a spate of protests. China is reeling under a massive coronavirus wave, with a Chinese diplomat blaming "foreign forces" for the anti-government demonstrations on Thursday. The development came nearly a fortnight after China lifted the much-despised 'zero-Covid' restrictions following a spate of protests. 
US on India-China Arunachal border clash: While addressing a press conference in United States, the Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder today said that we fully support India's efforts to control the situation amid the India-China Arunachal border clash. US on India-China Arunachal border clash: While addressing a press conference in United States, the Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder today said that we fully support India's efforts to control the situation amid the India-China Arunachal border clash. 
The G-7 countries on Monday came out in support of India’s presidency of G-20 countries and reiterated its commitments towards an equitable world. In a joint statement issued on Monday, the leaders of the G-7 countries said they endorse a sustainable future for all. “Under the German Presidency, we, the G7, together with other international partners, have demonstrated our resolve to jointly addressing both major systemic challenges and immediate crises of our time. Our commitments and actions pave the way for progress towards an equitable world,” leaders of G-7 countries said in a joint statement.