Author: Farid Salagame

This December, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar is inviting guests to experience the festive spirit with its exclusive Holiday Hideaway package, blending luxury, relaxation, and seasonal cheer into an unforgettable staycation. Perfect for those seeking indulgence or a tranquil retreat, the package offers a curated experience designed to inspire joy and relaxation. Guests can start their mornings with breakfast at JW Café and savour gourmet delights with a choice of lunch or dinner buffets. The thoughtfully crafted menus highlight the hotel’s commitment to culinary excellence. For those looking to rejuvenate, the Spa by JW offers exclusive discounts—couples can enjoy treatments at…

Dua Lipa’s visit to Mumbai on Thursday became chaotic when her bodyguard clashed with photographers while escorting her out of a popular restaurant. The incident occurred as the singer was leaving with her boyfriend, British actor Callum Turner, following a casual dinner. The couple, dressed in matching black outfits, had been enjoying a quiet evening before the paparazzi caused a scene. Fans were initially delighted by their smiles and waves, but the atmosphere quickly turned tense as photographers scrambled for photos. Dua Lipa is in Mumbai ahead of her performance at the Feeding India Concert on November 30. The concert,…

Sri Lanka is still reeling from an economic crisis largely caused by misgovernance and lack of accountability. Public protests in 2022 forced the president and the prime minister, brothers Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa, to step down. But instead of focusing on social justice and rights, the new government, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, is focused on suppressing dissent and limiting international attention on human rights. Although it is the Rajapaksas that nominated – and are propping up – their successor, many foreign observers, including in India and the United States, had hoped that things would change. Wickremesinghe, who had previously politically opposed the Rajapaksa-led party, was expected to…

Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will head the country’s interim government after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down and fled the country amid a mass uprising against her rule led mostly by students. The announcement early on Wednesday came from Joynal Abedin, the press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Abedin also said the other members of the Yunus-led government would be decided soon after discussion with political parties and other stakeholders. The leaders of the student protests, the chiefs of the country’s three divisions of the military, and civil society members, as well as some business leaders, held a meeting with…

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ousted as the president of Sri Lanka in a popular public uprising in 2022, on Thursday hinted that India was keen on his continuation despite the growing public discontent against him at the behest of certain Western powers. “There was, in fact, a major foreign power that was insisting that I should not resign and they had demonstrated their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep Sri Lanka with essentials,” Rajapaksa, 74, writes in his book without naming India. Titled The Conspiracy to oust me from the Presidency, Rajapaksa’s book was out for sale starting Thursday but there…

The European Union announced on Friday that it will begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to join the 27-member political and economic bloc starting next week. All 27 members agreed to the Ukraine and Moldova joining the European Union. Negotiations will begin for both countries on Tuesday in Luxembourg, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union said on X. The move comes at a critical time for both nations with Ukraine in the middle of an invasion by Russia and Moldova facing a Russian-led insurgence by a breakaway state. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the European Union for its “robust political…

The girder commenced its voyage on a 25,000 tonnes barge from Mazagon Docks on Wednesday at 12.30 pm and reached the Worli bay at 4 am the next day, awaiting the further process. In the first experiment of its kind in the country, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has successfully connected the upcoming Mumbai Coastal Road (MCR) with the existing Bandra Worli Sea Link (BWSL) using ‘tidal waves conditions’ in the Arabian Sea, officials said here on Friday. The significant milestone was achieved by successfully installing the first, gigantic 136 metres long Bow Arch String Girder, made of steel, weighing…

BENGALURU (Reuters) – Japan’s SoftBank is seeking to sell a 1.1% stake in the Indian food delivery platform Zomato through a block deal worth 11.28 billion rupees ($135.36 million), CNBC-TV18 reported on Thursday, citing sources. The floor price for Zomato’s shares is set at 120.50 rupees apiece, the report added, a near 1% discount to the stock’s last closing price. This is the third time since August that SoftBank will offload its stake in Zomato, India’s largest online food delivery service. It sold a similar stake in October. Zomato and SoftBank did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.…

Set to open towards the end of the month, Yi Jing offers a wide range of Chinese food, including hand-pulled noodles made using a 4,000 years old technique What does a Chinese meal comprise for you? Does a delicious portion of asparagus lightly battered, deep fried, and then tossed in spices and topped with a generous amount of red chilli, which looked very intimidating but didn’t hurt, hit the spot? We were confronted with this question at Yi Jing, ITC Maratha’s Chinese restaurant which is set to open to the public towards the end of this month. Acting on its…

The duration of the repair process will be determined post-excavation and an assessment of the pipeline’s damage extent. After a series of pipeline damage in the city last week, the BMC has now detected heavy underground leakage on 600mm dia. Pali hill Reservoir inlet near Balgandharva Rang Mandir at Bandra West. The repair work will be undertaken at three locations on Friday. However, the duration of repair work, exact cause and water cuts will be decided after excavation and assessment of the extent of damage to the pipeline. The BMC received a complaint of leakage at 24th road near Balgandharva…