Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu has weighed in on the ongoing language debate, emphasising that talent and adaptability matter more than language proficiency when it comes to professional opportunities. Speaking exclusively to IANS, the singer shared his thoughts on the language row, saying that everyone should have the freedom to work across the country, regardless of linguistic differences. Sanu remarked that the ability to pick up a language depends on an individual’…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) After making her Bollywood debut with “Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan,” opposite Vikrant Massey, Shanaya Kapoor has taken on a new exciting project. She took to her official Instagram handle and dropped a sneak peek of her life lately. The various photos posted by Shanaya on social media hint that she has been spending her time indulging in jewelry designing.The post further showed Shanaya getting her makeup and hair done – hinting that she is shooting for her next project. Fo…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) More than 1.3 lakh foreign tourists visited India for medical purposes till April, the Centre informed the Parliament on Thursday.In a written reply, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat underlined the steps undertaken to improve India’s rank in global wellness tourism markets.“The total number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) for medical purposes in India during 2025 (up to April) is 1,31,856,” Shekhawat said.“This constitutes approxi…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Life sciences company Hikal Limited on Thursday reported a net loss of Rs 22.4 crore for the quarter ended June 30 (Q1 FY26) — marking a sharp reversal from a net profit of Rs 5.1 crore in the same period previous year (Q1 FY25).The Mumbai-based company’s revenue from operations dropped by 6.5 per cent to Rs 380.4 crore, down from Rs 406.8 crore in Q1 FY25, according to its stock exchange.On a sequential basis, revenue also fell from Rs 552.4 crore reported in the previou…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Bajaj Electricals’ net profit for the first quarter of the current financial year (Q1 FY26) stood at just 1.64 crore, plunging over 97 per cent sequentially and 94 per cent year-on-year, according to an exchange filing on Thursday.The consumer durable arm of Bajaj Group had posted a net profit of Rs 57.69 crore in the preceding quarter (Q4 FY25), while in the same quarter a year ago, the net profit stood at Rs 27.98 crore.Meanwhile, the revenue for the quarter under review o…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s electronics exports witnessed a sharp rise in the first quarter of FY26, with a 47 per cent year-on-year growth led by a strong performance in mobile phone exports, industry data showed on Thursday.According to data compiled by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), electronics exports reached $12.4 billion in Q1 FY26, up from $8.43 billion in the same period last year.With this momentum, the industry body projects that electronics exports are ex…

Kabul, Aug 7 (IANS) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called on Pakistan to halt deportation of vulnerable Afghan refugees, warning that forcible repatriation, particularly of women, girls and people who are ill could violate basic human rights and protections. UNHCR has voiced serious concern over Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan refugees who have temporary residence permits and demanded protection of vulnerable people, leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press rep…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The recent development in India-Maldives ties is an important strategic move in India’s foreign policy. The move apart from being a goodwill gesture showcases India’s reassertion of primacy in the Indian Ocean, where China’s presence is evident by its persistent influence, a report highlighted on Thursday. Maldives through the reset of bilateral ties gets India’s economic assistance, robust security cooperation and people-to-people connection, pushing away China’s a…

Tokyo, Aug 7 (IANS) Torrential rain continued to lash Japan’s Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan coast on Thursday, prompting warnings from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) of potential landslides, flooding in low-lying areas, and rising river levels, particularly in regions still recovering from a powerful earthquake earlier this year, the local media reported. Bullet train services on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line were suspended for over five hours between Nagano and Kanazawa stations, …

Hyderabad, Aug 7 (IANS) AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday expressed apprehensions that the 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US on India will disrupt supply chains, deter Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and hit jobs hard.The Hyderabad MP, in a post on social media platform X, reacted strongly to the fresh tariff announced by US President Donald Trump.”Trump just slapped another 25% tariff on India, taking it to 50%, because we bought oil from Russia. This isn’t diplomacy, it’s bu…