Lifestyle

A bulk carrier traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was attacked twice by suspected pirates on Friday. Armed guards aboard returned fire, and the crew remained safe. The strait, linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, has seen piracy and Houthi attacks, though Houthi operations are paused under a Gaza ceasefire

Twinkle Khanna, daughter of Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, shares how childhood injuries shaped her humor and writing. Her bestselling columns inspired “Mrs Funnybones” and its sequel, while her fiction and disciplined routine reflect her mastery of craft and creativity

Banana farmers in Sangareddy district face severe losses as prices plunge to ₹3 per kg, far below production costs. Many are destroying crops amid middlemen dominance and poor market support, urging government intervention, cold storage facilities, and compensation for survival

A Babbel–Captioning Group list highlights the most mispronounced words in the U.S. in 2025, including names like Zohran Mamdani and terms like Louvre, acetaminophen, Murdaugh and Mounjaro. Linguists note rising pronunciation challenges as global news and culture influence language

IndiGo cancelled over 180 flights from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru due to crew shortages following new Flight Duty Time Limitations norms. DGCA is investigating, while the pilots’ body urges stricter oversight and potential reallocation of slots to other airlines

The US has expanded social-media vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, requiring all profiles be public from December 15. The move tightens immigration scrutiny amid broader restrictions, including paused Green Card processing for 19 countries following a deadly shooting involving an Afghan national

Veteran producer and AVM Studios chief M Saravanan died in Chennai at 86 after prolonged health issues. A key figure in Tamil cinema, he produced landmark films, revived AVM with Rajinikanth’s Murattu Kaalai, nurtured stars like Kamal Haasan, and expanded the iconic studio

IndiGo operations remained disrupted for the third consecutive day in Hyderabad, with 55 flights cancelled or delayed. The airline cited winter schedules, tech glitches, congestion and revised crew-duty rules, and said schedule adjustments over 48 hours aim to restore stability.

“The Family Man” season three becomes Prime Video’s biggest 2025 launch, trending globally as Manoj Bajpayee’s Srikant Tiwari turns fugitive, protecting his family while evading enemies and his own agency, racing to stop a national crisis in Raj & DK’s acclaimed spy saga

Priyanka Chopra Jonas says, as a producer, she backs stories that move her personally, highlighting the documentary 'Born Hungry' on chef Sash Simpson, and aims to support bold, unique filmmakers

Nicholas Hoult and Daisy Edgar-Jones will star in Disney+ comedy series Mosquito, created by Tony McNamara, exploring a young couple’s unraveling secrets triggered by an intrusive mosquito

Hyderabad hospitals are reporting a sharp rise in viral fevers and influenza-like illnesses amid overcast and chilly weather. Patients with high fever, body aches and cough are crowding clinics and major hospitals. The DPH has advised vulnerable groups to seek early medical care.

Aamir Khan announced *Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos*, a quirky spy comedy marking Vir Das’ directorial debut. Starring Das and Mona Singh, the film releases on January 16, 2026, under Aamir Khan Productions, blending comedy, action, romance, and spy elements

A major technical glitch affecting multiple IndiGo aircraft and other airlines caused chaos at Hyderabad’s RGIA from Tuesday night, leading to 33 flight cancellations. Nearly 1,000 passengers were stranded overnight, with disrupted schedules and missed international connections

A system outage disrupted check-in operations at multiple airports on Wednesday, delaying several flights. IndiGo, SpiceJet, Akasa Air and Air India Express were among the affected airlines. Airports switched to manual check-ins as Microsoft Windows reportedly faced a major global service outage.

Dr Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally selling ketamine to Matthew Perry before the actor’s fatal overdose, faces sentencing in Los Angeles. Prosecutors seek three years in prison, while his lawyers argue he’s already suffered severe personal and professional consequences

The Trump administration has halted immigration applications — including green cards and naturalisations — for migrants from 19 travel-ban countries, citing national security concerns after a National Guard troop was killed near the White House. USCIS will re-review all cases dating back to January 2021.

Malaysia will restart the deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on December 30, with Ocean Infinity set to conduct a 55-day operation in high-priority zones of the southern Indian Ocean under a no-find, no-fee contract.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of Bangladesh’s BNP, plans to return from London as his mother, former PM Khaleda Zia, remains critically ill on ventilation. Security around her Dhaka hospital has been tightened amid heightened political and electoral developments

Envoys from France, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria and the UK reaffirmed commitment to deeper ties with India during Nagaland’s Hornbill Festival, highlighting cooperation in tourism, education, green technologies, agri-business and cultural exchange as the event’s international profile and economic engagement continue to grow

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the mandatory pre-installed Sanchar Saathi fraud-reporting app can be deleted by users. The DoT has ordered all new and updated mobile devices to include the app, aiming to expand awareness and protection against phone-related fraud

Air India said it “regrettable” flew an Airbus A320 at least eight times last month despite an expired airworthiness certificate. The airline has suspended involved personnel and launched an internal probe, as the DGCA investigates the lapse. The aircraft remains grounded.

An IndiGo Kuwait–Hyderabad flight with 228 passengers was diverted to Mumbai on Tuesday after Hyderabad Airport received a bomb threat email. The aircraft landed safely, and emergency teams were deployed. The incident comes amid a rise in recent hoax bomb alerts nationwide.

Overcoming early health complications through water therapy, 23-year-old Pratyasa Ray has become one of India’s top swimmers, winning multiple KIUG medals. Despite a shoulder fracture, she returned strong and now aims for the 2026 Asian Games after continued national and international success