British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office has issued an apology after some Hindu community members objected to the serving of non-vegetarian foods and alcohol during the recently held Diwali event.
In a statement, first reported by Politico as quoted by BBC, a Downing Street spokesman said “a mistake was made in the organisation of the event”.
“We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and so would apologise to the community and assure them it will not happen again,” he added.
Several top politicians and British Hindu leaders attended the event.
According to a post on X published by Insight UK: “This year’s Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, hosted by PM Keir Starmer has sparked significant backlash after reports surfaced that alcohol and meat were served at the event. Without wanting to be named Hindu guests have reportedly expressed their shock and dismay at being served meat and alcohol during a religious celebration.”
The Insight UK is a social movement of British Hindus and Indians.
During former PM Rishi Sunak’s Diwali event last year, meat and alcohol were not on the menu.
Satish K Sharma, a prominent British Hindu pandit, earlier said the food served during the event left him disappointed.
He said no meat and alcohol had been served during Diwali celebrations on Downing Street for the past 14 years.
KSB Limited, a pioneer and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of Pumps and Valves announced their third Quarter results which has seen a significant growth in the period July to September 2024. The company prioritizes innovate technology and delivering excellent service.
The sales value of INR 616.5 crores achieved for this quarter is 9.37% increase over the previous year
The Sales value for 3 quarters of 2024 is INR 1,806.7 crores which is about 9.86% increase over the same period last year
Major Highlights
Secured significant orders for solar pumps 430 million INR.
Achieved high employee engagement score of 88% in KSB voice survey, with strong alignment and commitment within the organization.
Expanded product portfolio with the launch of VT pump, a new pump at IFAT expo.
Installed a new electropolishing facility at the foundry, enhancing corrosion resistance and quality.
Implemented an Advanced Planning and Scheduling tool to optimize production tracking and ensure on-time delivery.
Completed digital transformation projects, including a Mobile Warehouse Management system, improving real-time inventory visibility, data accuracy, and decision-making.
Business Highlights
(All amounts in INR Crores)
Particulars
Q3 – 2024
Q3 – 2023
Jan’24-Sept’24
Jan’23-Sept’23
(Jul’24-Sept’24)
(Jul’23 -Sept’23)
Sales
616.5
563.7
1,806.7
1,644.6
Expenses
528.9
493.4
1,567.6
1,431.9
Operating Profit
87.6
70.3
239.1
212.7
OPM %
14.21%
12.47%
13.23%
12.93%
Other Income
6.6
8.4
31.3
29.8
Interest
0.6
2.0
2.3
3.7
Depreciation
13.7
12.3
39.9
36.0
PBT
79.9
64.4
228.2
202.8
PAT
59.3
48.1
171.0
151.8
Mr. Prashant Kumar, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at KSB Limited
Summarizing the Q3 2024 performance, Mr. Prashant Kumar, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at KSB Limited, said, “This quarter’s performance has been satisfactory with impressive numbers in energy segment.
Beyond business performance, one of our proudest achievements has been our employee engagement index delving into the realm of passion, dedication, job satisfaction and employee experience. We are dignified to hold the place amongst the top 4 KSB companies worldwide, flagging our Employee Engagement score at 88% at KSB Limited. This strikes an upbeat direction to foster continued enthusiasm and engagement towards highly potential-filled future for KSB.
Alongside this, we expanded our product portfolio with the launch of the VT pump at the prestigious IFAT expo held in Mumbai. Looking ahead, KSB remains focused on sustaining this growth by pursuing excellence, driving innovation, and delivering lasting value to all stakeholders.”
About KSB Limited
KSB Limited Founded in 1960 in India is a part of KSB SE & Co KGaA., – one of the world’s leading suppliers of pumps, valves and systems. Combining innovative technology and excellent service to provide intelligent solutions, the company has been offering innovative and sturdy solutions to cater to the myriad needs of the Indian Customer may it be in power, oil, building services, process engineering, water treatment, water transport, etc. The activities of KSB’s in-house research centre focus on the areas of hydraulics, sealing technology, materials, production technology and automation.
Today the KSB group has a presence on all the continents with its own sales and marketing companies, manufacturing facilities and service operations. More than 15,000 employees generate annual consolidated sales revenue of over Two billion Euros.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul had the last laugh against boxing legend Mike Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, USA on the night of November 15. The much-awaited bout between the former undisputed world champion and the 27-year-old Paul finally ended in the latter’s favour, who won it via a unanimous decision.
The two boxers hugged it out after the end of eighth round. Photo courtesy: x.com/netflix
The fight, streamed exclusively on Netflix, was initially tilted in Tyson’s favour, who kept the upper hand in the first two rounds. However, age soon caught up with the 58-year-old, who slowed down considerably, giving his opponent, aged less than half his age, an advantage.
The fight, hyped for months, wasn’t without the usual pre-fight drama. During the weigh-in, Tyson slapped Paul, who stepped on his opponent’s feet.
The video of the incident has now gone viral on the Internet.
This, however, wasn’t the first time that Tyson, known for his intense character and brutal boxing skills, lost his cool. On 28 June 1997, Tyson bit off a portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear during their bout at the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena in Nevada, US. This led to Tyson losing his license and being fined at least USD 3 million plus legal fees.
The license was, however, reinstated in 1998 following an appeal.
As per reports, Paul won the bout 78-74.
This was Tyson’s first professional boxing match after 19 years.
Eva Longoria shifts her family out of US. Photo Courtesy: Eva Longoria Instagram page
Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria, who endorsed Kamala Harris in the recently held US Presidential polls, has revealed that she and her family members do not live in the USA any longer.
She said they are splitting time between Mexico and Spain.
The popular Hollywood actor cited the election as one reason for the finality of her conviction.
Reacting to Donald Trump’s victory in the USA polls, she was quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter: “The shocking part is not that he won.”
“It’s that a convicted criminal who spews so much hate could hold the highest office,” she said, targeting the President-elect.
“If he keeps his promises, it’s going to be a scary place,” she said.
She further acknowledged that she is “privileged” to be able to make the decision to move away.
“I get to escape and go somewhere,” she said.
“Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them,” the actress told the news portal.
Eva, her husband José Bastón and their 6-year-old son now live in Mexico and Spain.
The actress, who had gained international fame for her performance in the series Desperate Housewives, often ends up elsewhere in Europe and South America for work.
She does not frequently return to Los Angeles.
Trump returned for his second term after beating Harris in the crucial Presidential polls.
Trump clinched the election by winning 295 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election.
His Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who joined the presidential race midway after President Joe Biden backed out, won 226 votes.
Trump previously served as the US president from 2016 to 2020.
Indian economy is in a sweet spot, with a mix of solid growth and moderating inflation, Moody’s Ratings said, forecasting a 7.2 percent GDP growth in the 2024 calendar year and 6.6 percent in the next.
Representational image. Photo courtesy: Screengrab from YouTube.
In its Global Macro Outlook 2025-26, the rating agency said the global economy has shown remarkable resilience in bouncing back from supply chain disruptions during the pandemic, an energy and food crisis after the Russia-Ukraine war began, high inflation and consequent monetary policy tightening.
“Most G-20 economies will experience steady growth and continue to benefit from policy easing and supportive commodity prices,” it said.
However, post-election changes in US domestic and international policies could potentially accelerate global economic fragmentation, complicating ongoing stabilisation. The aggregate and net effects of trade, fiscal, immigration and regulatory policy changes will expand the range of outcomes for countries and sectors.
On India, Moody’s said the real GDP expanded 6.7 percent year-over-year in the second quarter (April-June) of 2024, driven by a revival in household consumption, robust investment and strong manufacturing activity.
High-frequency indicators – including expanding manufacturing and services PMIs, robust credit growth and consumer optimism – signal steady economic momentum in Q3.
“Indeed, from a macroeconomic perspective, the Indian economy is in a sweet spot, with the mix of solid growth and moderating inflation. We forecast 7.2 percent growth for calendar year 2024, followed by 6.6 percent in 2025 and 6.5 percent in 2026,” it said.
Moody’s said household consumption in India is poised to grow, fuelled by increased spending during the ongoing festive season and a sustained pickup in rural demand on the back of an improved agricultural outlook.
Additionally, rising capacity utilisation, upbeat business sentiment and the government’s continued thrust on infrastructure spending should support private investment.
“Sound economic fundamentals, including healthy corporate and bank balance sheets, a stronger external position, and ample foreign exchange reserves also bode well for the growth outlook,” it added.
Sporadic food price pressures continue to inject volatility in the disinflation trajectory.
Headline inflation breached the upper end of the RBI’s 4 percent (+/-2 percent) tolerance band for the first time in more than a year in October, accelerating to 6.2 percent amid a sharp jump in vegetable prices.
“Despite the near-term uptick, inflation should moderate toward the RBI’s target in the coming months as food prices ease amid higher sowing and adequate food grain buffer stocks,” the agency said.
Even so, potential risks to inflation from heightened geopolitical tensions and extreme weather events underscore the RBI’s cautious approach to policy easing.
Although the central bank shifted its monetary policy stance to neutral while keeping the repo rate steady at 6.5 percent in October, it will likely retain relatively tight monetary policy settings into next year, given the fairly healthy growth dynamics and inflation risks.
Diljit Dosanjh will perform in Hyderabad on Friday. Photo Courtesy: Diljit Dosanjh Instagram page
The Telangana government has barred singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh from performing on songs promoting alcohol, drugs and violence at a concert, which is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on Friday, media reports said.
The government has barred Diljit after a resident of Chandigarh made a complaint.
The government notice has also barred Diljit from using children on stage during the concert, which will take place in Hyderabad’s high-tech area Cyberabad.
The Chandigarh resident has produced a representation with a video suggesting Diljit sang songs promoting alcohol, drugs and violence during a live show in New Delhi.
Diljit’s Hyderabad concert is a part of his Dil-Luminati Tour which is taking place in 10 cities of the country.
Who is Dijit Dosanjh?
Dosanjh began his career in 2002 and gained recognition in Punjabi music with his albums Smile (2005) and Chocolate (2008).
He played a cameo role in the Punjabi movie Mel Karade Rabba in 2010.
His debut as a leading actor was in the Punjabi movie titled The Lion of Punjab in 2011.
He entered Bollywood in 2016 with the crime drama Udta Punjab.
He earned the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, in addition to a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the movie.
This was followed by Good Newwz (2019), for which he received his second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Artist’s impression of the RWS waterfront at night, with the light sculpture in focus. Image courtesy: Resorts World Sentosa
Singapore tourism is getting yet another spectacular addition to its list of attractions — Resorts World Sentosa has today broken ground on a huge waterfront development; expected to open by 2030, it will have an incredible ‘light sculpture’ rising 88m from the ground level.
A CNA report on the waterfront development said that it would also have a promenade and a “mountain trail” under the “resort’s expansion plans”.
This new Resorts World Sentosa waterfront complex will be located near the SEA Aquarium and behind the Malaysian Food Street. The new promenade will be connected to the Sentosa Boardwalk.
When darkness falls, the light sculpture — it resembles a column of light rising from the water — will “come alive” for shows, said CNA quoting a press release.
“This striking structure will be set within a generous open waterfront park that will revitalise Singapore’s skyline,” said the press release.
The new waterfront promenade will be connected to the Sentosa Boardwalk. Image courtesy: Resorts World Sentosa
The new waterfront will offer 700 rooms in two new hotels. Image courtesy: Resorts World Sentosa
Alongside the retail and recreation that liven up any resort development, the new waterfront will offer 700 rooms in two new hotels as part of its hospitality package.
The “immersive, experiential mountain trail” of the new Resorts World Sentosa waterfront will take visitors up to a “summit”, also at 88m and similar in elevation to the light sculpture.
“At the peak, visitors will be rewarded with sweeping, breathtaking views of Singapore’s central business district from the south, as well as the Greater Southern Waterfront, Sentosa and beyond,” said Resorts World Sentosa.
RWS Chief Executive Officer Tan Hee Teck was quoted by CNA as saying at the groundbreaking ceremony that the new waterfront underscored the company’s “steadfast commitment to bolstering Singapore’s identity as a premier global lifestyle destination”.
The report also quoted Singapore Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan as saying that the new waterfront was an “exciting” addition. “I look forward to its completion and the unique experiences it will offer to both international and local visitors,” he said.
A law student committed to citizenship rights, a literature major who wants to pursue museum anthropology, a philosophy student who aims to study epistemological injustice, an aspiring astrophysicist from IIT-Bombay, and a veterinarian are among the Indians selected as Rhodes scholars for 2025.
2025 batch of Indian Rhodes Scholars. Photo courtesy: x.com/rhodes_trust
The quintet will head to the University of Oxford in October 2025 to join a cohort of more than a hundred scholars from around the world to undertake fully funded postgraduate studies.
The Rhodes Scholarship is the world’s oldest graduate fellowship, based at the University of Oxford since 1903. The scholarships for India began in 1947 and have been awarded to outstanding applicants each year.
“The Rhodes Trust is delighted to introduce the extraordinary 2025 Class of Rhodes Scholars Elect who represent cultures and perspectives from every corner of the world. For more than a century, the Rhodes Trust has brought exceptional individuals to Oxford and fostered a vibrant global community,” said Rhodes Trust CEO Elizabeth Kiss.
“We eagerly anticipate the invaluable contributions these scholars will make, not just during their studies, but throughout their lives as they join the community of Rhodes Scholar alumni who are creating a more equitable and sustainable future for the world,” added Kiss.
The Indians selected include — Rayan Chakrabarti, who is completing his master’s at the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Arts and Aesthetics; Vibha Swaminathan, a final-year law student at the National Law School, Bangalore; Avanish Vats, who conducted research on accessibility in education and health care for disabled individuals in Jharkhand; Shubham Narwal, pursuing a bachelor’s in veterinary science and animal husbandry at ICAR, Bareilly; and Pal Aggarwal, a final-year BTech engineering physics student at IIT-Bombay.
“It is heartening to see candidates from diverse disciplines, institutions, and parts of the country apply to the Rhodes Scholarship. We are always impressed by the level of intellect as well as the character and empathy that they all display. As is the case each year, we had a diverse and talented field of applicants,” the Rhodes India secretariat said in a statement.
“We are very grateful to all the selectors who assisted us through a rigorous selection process and very proud of the five Rhodes Scholars-Elect who have emerged from the process. They will benefit from the rich intellectual resources of the University of Oxford, and will join a lifelong community determined to change the world for the better,” it added.
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Thursday successfully completed the Flight Tests of Guided Pinaka Weapon System, which was recently exported to Armenia, as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) Validation Trials.
The flight tests have been conducted in three phases at different field firing ranges.
“During these tests, the PSQR parameters viz., ranging, accuracy, consistency and rate of fire for multiple target engagement in a salvo mode have been assessed by extensive testing of rockets,” read a statement issued by the Indian government.
Twelve (12) rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies have been tested.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO and the Indian Army for the successful PSQR Validation Trials of the system and stated that the induction of this Guided Pinaka Weapon System will further boost the artillery fire power of the Armed Forces.
According to reports, Armenia has already bought these systems from India.
France is also evaluating the Pinaka system with sources indicating that they are interested in the guided version, reported The Print.
Cash aid under Assurance Package helps alleviate cost-of-living pressures for Singapore households. Representative photo courtesy: Pixabay
In December 2024, eligible adult Singaporeans will receive various benefits to counter cost of living, manage health care expenses, and add to their retirement pot.
A media release from the Ministry of Health in Singapore said: “Under the enhanced [Assurance Package], about 2.9 million Singaporeans aged 21 and above in 2025 will receive SGD 200 to SGD 600 in cash in December 2024.”
The Assurance Package (AP) got an enhancement of SGD 1.9 billion in the Singapore Budget 2024. The cash aid under this package is meant to “help alleviate cost-of-living pressures for Singaporean households and provide more support for lower- to middle-income families”, said the release.
Detailing the health care expense support, the media release said: “Singaporeans born in 1974 to 2003 (inclusive) will receive a one-time MediSave Bonus to help offset health care costs and build up medical savings for old age. Eligible Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a MediSave Bonus and Retirement Bonus under the Majulah Package. The lifetime cost of the Majulah Package will increase from SGD 8.2 billion to SGD 9 billion, with the enhancements to the MediSave Bonus in October 2024.”
● About 1.4 million Singaporeans born in 1974 to 2003 (inclusive) will receive a one-time MediSave top-up of SGD 300 to SGD 500 in December 2024.
● About 1.6 million Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a one-time MediSave top-up of SGD 1,250 or SGD 2,000 in December 2024, under the Majulah Package – MediSave Bonus.
The release informed that “MediSave top-ups were enhanced in October 2024 as part of additional government support to offset MediShield Life premium increases, alongside upcoming enhancements to MediShield Life”. Collectively, these top-ups support health care costs of about 3 million Singaporeans.
Singapore cash benefits chart. Courtesy: Singapore government
Retirement Savings Bonus
As part of the Majulah Package, about 800,000 eligible Singaporeans born in 1973 or earlier will receive a one-time Retirement Savings Bonus of SGD 1,000 or SGD 1,500 in their CPF, depending on the amount of CPF retirement savings they have.
Eligible recipients will automatically receive their payments from December, depending on their mode of receiving the payment. Singaporeans can check their eligibility on the govbenefits website by logging in with their Singpass.
The beneficiaries will be notified via SMS after the payouts or top-ups have been credited. Those without a Singpass-registered mobile number will be sent a letter.
