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Ramalinga Reddy to resign as Karnataka minister, unhappy with portfolio allocation

I cannot work against conscience," Mr. Reddy said at a press conference

Crack in DKS government? Minister unhappy with portfolio, may resign

Crack in DKS government? Minister unhappy with portfolio, may resign

US pharma giant is unhappy with Germany; CEO calls planned healthcare reform ‘terrible’

US drug maker Eli Lilly is cutting its investment in a German factory by half. This decision follows new healthcare cost-cutting laws in Germany. The company CEO called the reforms a bad signal for the industry. This move impacts Germany's industrial plans. The factory will now operate at reduced capacity with fewer jobs. Other companies are also reconsidering local investments.

The FIFA World Cup transit test

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.

Trinamool facing a split on the lines of Maharashtra: BJP leader Tapas Roy

This was inevitable... I am very happy that this has happened... TMC will cease to exist, Roy added

For mall outlets, it's time for some cool biz

New Delhi: Restaurants, fashion and beauty retailers, and multi-brand outlets in malls are raking it in as heatwave conditions, school holidays, and lesser travel combine to drive customers indoors into air-conditioned retail outlets and eating joints."Our restaurants have waiting periods stretching to hours at key locations like Mall of India in Delhi NCR even on weekdays. We have over 15 outlets across key malls in India, and the mall business is higher than last year. Our sales would be up by around 15-20% for outlets in malls compared to last year," said Saurabh Khanijo, managing director of Kylin chain of restaurants.Also read: After Zudio boom, Trent still has a long runway for growth: Noel TataPushpa Bector, group executive director at DLF Retail, said revenues for DLF malls should be up by around 10-11% for April and May compared to last year. “People are not travelling as much this summer,” said Bector. “Because of adverse weather conditions, disposable incomes are going into malls, and per capita spending seems to have gone up. We should be doing considerably well all the way till August. Categories such as F&B, beauty and fashion are doing well,” she added.The average time a family spends at the mall has increased since the start of summer vacations, said Ravinder Choudhary, vice president of Vegas & Unity Group that operates half a dozen malls in Delhi and Punjab.“We have also created activity zones in the malls that we operate. That crowd then spends time shopping and eating out as well. Food and entertainment zones are doing extremely well while there is a stable growth in fashion brands,” he added.Café Delhi Heights, which operates around 44 outlets across malls in India, is seeing a 10% uptick in sales over last year.For standalone outlets in local markets and high street areas, restaurateurs are running offers like extended happy hours to lure more crowds.Also read: The 9 pm rule inside India’s predictable summer shopping pattern"Extreme weather is increasingly becoming a factor in consumer decision-making. During periods of intense heat, air-conditioned malls gain a natural advantage as they offer a complete ecosystem of shopping, dining and entertainment in a comfortable environment,” said Shriram PM Monga, co-founder, SRED, a retail advisory firm.Monga said that it was not merely a seasonal spike in footfalls but a shift in ‘dwell-time economics.’“Based on what we are observing across our portfolio, mall footfalls increase by 15–25% during peak holiday and high-temperature periods, resulting in stronger sales for F&B and lifestyle brands,” he said. “As Indian cities continue to urbanise and temperatures grow more extreme, well-planned retail destinations are poised for sustained demand. The consumption story inside organised retail is only getting stronger."

Vinesh loses the bout but wins the fight

New Delhi: Defeat on the mat did not make Vinesh Phogat feel like a loser.After her comeback bid ended in the Asian Games selection trials on Saturday, the former world championships medallist declared that she had already won by returning to competition after motherhood and by standing up to a system she claimed had done everything possible to keep her away from wrestling."I have not failed at all. I am fighting the whole system and I am still standing with pride on the mat again," Vinesh toldafter her 4-6 semifinal loss to Meenakshi Goyat, while reiterating her ambition of competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Minutes after suffering defeat, Vinesh launched a scathing attack on the wrestling administration, alleging discrimination, mental harassment and attempts to block her return to competitive wrestling despite court orders in her favour.Also read | IPL 2026 Purple Cap winner list: Most wickets, updated standings and bowling rankings"They wanted to stop me from returning to the mat, but I am standing here again. I am proud of what I have achieved in these 10 months."I know the system will continue to create challenges for me, but I have hope that through hard work I can leave the system behind and move forward," she added, refusing to view the semifinal defeat as a setbackVinesh, who was competing for the first time since her heartbreaking disqualification from the Paris Olympics final in 2024, said her biggest achievement was returning to elite competition after childbirth. She said returning to competition after motherhood and after months of legal and administrative battles felt like a victory."It has been only 10 months since my son was born. I am standing on the mat again and competing against the younger generation. I am proud of myself. I hope I can inspire my son and many women wrestlers," she said.Vinesh described the Delhi High Court order that enabled her participation in the trials as a landmark moment for women wrestlers seeking to return after motherhood."A girl is coming back to the mat after becoming a mother. The path has opened. Sooner or later there has to be a policy. Women wrestlers who want to return after becoming mothers should get a fair opportunity and some relaxation," she said.The 31-year-old alleged that even after the court's intervention, officials continued to create obstacles for her.Also read | Liverpool sack Slot after title defence turns into European scrambleShe said that she spent nearly an hour arguing with officials on Saturday morning after being informed she would be allowed to compete only in the 50kg category despite wanting to participate in 53kg."When I should have been focusing on my recovery and preparation, I was arguing with officials. They gave me a letter saying I could compete only in 50kg. It was mental harassment," she said.Vinesh claimed that the entire process was designed to put her at a disadvantage, alleging that stronger wrestlers were deliberately placed in her draw and that scheduling decisions drained her energy before the semifinal."I was not given a fair deal. All the strong girls in my category were put in my path. The bouts were scheduled in a manner that affected my energy levels," she alleged.Despite the grievances, Vinesh accepted responsibility for her defeat and admitted that a lack of competitive exposure and endurance hurt her performance."I accept my defeat. I will work harder and return stronger. Fitness and endurance were issues, but more than that, I needed competitions. I had not competed for nearly two years. This was my first tournament after becoming a mother," she said.She insisted that Saturday's performance convinced her that she still has enough ability to compete with the country's best wrestlers."I was motivated today. I know I can beat the younger girls. I still have that courage and belief. If I work hard, I know I can come back stronger."Asked whether the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics remained a target, Vinesh replied in the affirmative."Definitely. I have come back to the mat for Los Angeles," she said.The wrestler reserved some of her strongest criticism for the sports administration, questioning why no institution had intervened despite repeated disputes surrounding her participation."The government, the Sports Ministry, the IOA -- nobody is taking a stand. This is very sad. If athletes have to survive despite the system, then something is seriously wrong," she said.She also alleged that many young wrestlers privately supported her but were afraid to speak openly against administrators."A lot of girls were happy to see me back on the mat. They come and talk to me but they are scared. They know what can happen if they speak against powerful people," she said.Vinesh, however, clarified that she has no complaints against fellow wrestlers and said athletes should not be blamed for the larger issues within the sport."The kids are not at fault. I don't have anger towards any athlete. The problem is with the people who manipulate and control the system," she said.

India's ASEAN Defence Outreach: BrahMos Deal With Vietnam Confirmed, Indonesia Next In Line

Defence Secretary Rajesh Singh Singh underscored that India has a strong commitment to the ASEAN nations and was happy to share advanced tech with friendly countries.

'Wish me happy birthday': Indian-origin woman falls from bridge during vacation in Mexico

Only 29% Indians happy with their salary, 81% want salary hike: Survey

Only 29% of Indian employees say they are satisfied with their current salary levels, while 81% plan to ask for a pay raise over the next 12 months, according to a new survey. The findings highlight growing concerns over rising living costs, with many workers expecting salary hikes of more than 10%.

How Nvidia, Google, and others may have made world's biggest chipmaker's staff very happy

TSMC employees are set for a windfall as the AI boom pays off. CEO C.C. Wei has told staff their profit-sharing bonuses will jump more than 30% on average this year, beating last year's increase. The reason? Surging demand from Nvidia, Google and other Big Tech giants has driven the world's biggest chipmaker to record profits—and after workers aired frustrations online over pay, some of that money is now flowing back to them.

5 Tamil Nadu tourists injured as amusement park ride collapses Keralam capital

The mishap occurred at Happyland Amusement Park around 2 pm during peak holiday rush.