"What's Your Skincare Routine," Harleen Deol Asks PM Modi. His Reply

As Prime Minister Modi met and commended the Indian women's cricket team for their "remarkable resilience and comeback" in the World Cup, he was asked a cheeky question: What is his skincare routine?

The question came from top-order batter Harleen Deol, who also told the Prime Minister that he "glows a lot". Her query had the entire room in splits. 

"I never thought about this much," PM Modi said, as he spoke to the players on Wednesday. A video of the interaction was broadcast on Thursday.

When all-rounder Sneh Rana said "it is the love of his countrymen" that makes the Prime Minister glow, the latter responded: "Of course it is. It is a huge source of strength. I have spent lots of years in the government."

He added: "Despite all this, the blessings keep coming in and it does have an effect on you eventually." 

Every Indian feels immense pride in Team India's World Cup victory. It was a delight interacting with the women's cricket team. Do watch! https://t.co/PkkfKFBNbb

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2025

On Sunday, the Indian women's cricket team beat South Africa to win their first-ever ICC Women's ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai.

It was a watershed moment for Indian women's cricket as years of toil and near-misses culminated to redemption and history, with the team defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final Sunday night to become only the fourth side to lift the ODI title.

"I still remember when we met you in 2017. At that time, we did not come with a trophy. But it is a matter of great honour for us that this time, for something we have been working so hard for so many years, we have brought the trophy here," skipper Harmanpreet Kaur told PM Modi.

"Our aim is that we meet you again and again in the future and take photos with you and your team again and again," she added. 

In their second appearance in the Women's World Cup final in 2017, India had lost to England by a mere nine runs after which the squad had met the Prime Minister.

In response to Kaur's remarks, PM Modi said: "You have done a great job. In India, cricket is not just a game. In a way, it has become the life of the people of India. If there is good happening in cricket, India feels good and even if there is a little bit of wrong happening in cricket, the whole of India feels bad." 

The Prime Minister also asked Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma about her Hanuman tattoo that has gone viral on social media.

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"Don't Send Me": Parents Say 9-Year-Old Who Jumped To Death Was Bullied

In a quiet Jaipur home, the voice of nine-year-old Amaiyra still echoes from a WhatsApp recording her mother made a year ago. In the clip, the Class 4 student can be heard sobbing: "I don't want to go to school... don't send me."

Her mother, Shivani Meena, recorded the audio and sent it to her daughter's class teacher, hoping it would alert the school to something troubling her child. 

"I would speak to the class teacher, I spoke to the class coordinator not once, but a number of times over the last one year, but they would either shrug me off or ignore me," the mother alleged. 

A year later, on November 1, the nine-year-old student of Jaipur's prestigious Neerja Modi School jumped from the fourth floor of the school building. She died on the spot. Her parents allege that repeated complaints of bullying, teasing, and verbal abuse with "sexual connotations" went unaddressed by the school authorities.

Her husband, Vijay Meena, recalled a Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) where, according to him, a group of children signalled towards Amaiyra and another boy. She hid behind Vijay, embarrassed. Vijay brought up the issue at the PTM. 

"The teacher told me this is a coed school and Amaiyra must learn to talk to all children, even the boys. I told the teacher that 'it is my daughter's choice if she does not want to talk to boys,'" Vijay said. 

CCTV footage from the classroom, reviewed by investigators, shows Amaiyra walking up to her teacher twice in the minutes before she climbed the railing and jumped. What she said is not known because, despite CBSE guidelines mandating audio recording in classroom surveillance, the footage has no sound.

"We want answers. We want to know from the school: with over 5,000 children and a six-floor building, how did they get permission to build the extra floors without having a grill or a net for safety? It's the most basic thing. How can you have open floors with so many children around? How come there is no audio available in the CCTV that should be there as per CBSE guidelines? In fact, 15 days of CCTV footage should be available. It's a prestigious school of Jaipur. They charge substantial fees, but where is the accountability?" said Amaiyra's uncle, Sahil. 

Jaipur's Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rajarshi Raj Verma, told NDTV that the police have taken the parents' statements and are verifying all details.

"We are taking everything on record and verifying. The parents were in a state of shock and unable to speak, but now whatever their concerns, we will take them on record and verify and investigate," he said.  

District Education Officer (Primary) Ramniwas Sharma confirmed that his department will record the parents' statements in the next two to three days in the presence of the police.

As far as the use of "bad words" is concerned, the officer said it had not come to his notice, but some children mentioned that she did not want to go to school that day, and some other students had complained about the use of bad words.

The school authorities have so far not commented on the matter.
 

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Bihar Saw Remarkable Growth, Now Stagnating Somewhat: Ruchir Sharma To NDTV

The first phase of voting is done in Bihar and, with just days to go for the second phase and the results, NDTV spoke to Ruchir Sharma about what the state needs to do to be on the fast track for growth and what investors would like to see the next state government do to attract global investment.

In an edition of 'Walk The Talk' straight from the hinterland of the state, including a makhana farm and a factory where it is processed, the global investor and author told NDTV's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal that the state saw remarkable growth between 2005 and 2015, but now appears to be struggling to take the next step.

He also spoke about the dangers of a welfare trap and how putting too much money into such schemes doesn't leave enough to invest in infrastructure and long-term growth.

Asked about what he had seen on his current trip to Bihar during the election season and how the state has changed, Sharma said, "I have been in Bihar for four days on this trip. My first trip was in 2005 and there has been a dramatic shift since then. Between 2005 and 2015, we saw a remarkable change in the state. Since then, Bihar has begun to stagnate somewhat. The kind of poverty I have seen on this trip has been heartbreaking. Even in places close to Patna, we saw young children trying to get fish from a pond filled with filth."

"I have consistently said about India that it is a country that disappoints both the optimist and the pessimist. After the optimism that I felt for Bihar, this trip has been a bit dispiriting. The change (in the past 10 years) has not been as dramatic as it should have been for what is the poorest state in India," he emphasised.

The investor said Bihar was "terrible in every way" in 2005 and things changed a lot in the next two terms of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP. There was a massive improvement in roads, infrastructure and law and order from 2005 to 2010, he said, and then in electrification in the next five years till 2015.

"After 2015, the next step should have been the creation of new industries and employment. I think that's where the state is stalling and struggling to find its next growth model," he said.

Delving into numbers, Sharma said Bihar's per capita income began to close the gap to the rest of India between 2005 and 2015, rising from roughly 30% to about 35%. But it has begun to widen again in the past 10 years.

"Bihar's per capita income today, at about Rs 70,000 a year, is less than 30% or approximately 30% of India's per capita income, which is about Rs 2 lakh," he pointed out.

Issues, Way Forward

To a question on what a new government would have to do to give global investors the confidence to invest in Bihar, the author said the state has a lot of talent, but the education system is still weak. He said finding talent that stays in the state is difficult, and real estate and construction have also not picked up.

"My big fear about Bihar is that the state seems to be getting stuck in a welfare trap. Even in this election, nearly 3% of GDP has been announced in pre-poll welfare schemes. When China was at a similar stage of development, it was investing everything in infrastructure and nothing in welfare, because it was practising ruthless capitalism. In India, we are still investing a lot in welfare," Sharma said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to shift the balance towards infrastructure, but it seems to me the amount being spent on welfare by states has gone up significantly. It is a welfare trap. A big factor in this election is the Rs 10,000 given to women by Nitish Kumar's government, but now Tejashwi Yadav is promising Rs 30,000. That's the kind of vicious loop states get stuck in," he cautioned.

Women Factor

Sharma said digitisation has ensured leakages have gone down significantly in welfare schemes and noted that while the election in Bihar seemed close three to four months ago, the NDA now appears to be in the lead. He said the leading reason for this is the Rs 10,000 given to women.

"Nitish Kumar's superpower has been how popular he has been with women and even the BJP has figured out that one possible way to cut across caste lines is to consolidate the women's vote," he said.

Sharma also said there is no visible anti-incumbency in Bihar this time and that he noticed more of it in the 2020 Assembly elections. "Nitish Kumar still enjoys a lot of goodwill," he said.

Prohibition

Asked about the ban on the sale of liquor and the move's popularity, Sharma said good politics is not always good economics.

"When we travelled, we realised drug abuse has gone up and the illegal liquor business has also picked up. In Bihar, hardly any revenue is being generated by state activity and, by implementing prohibition, you have taken another source of revenue away. This is a balance that every state has to get correct. It's one thing for a state like Gujarat to do it and another for Bihar, which does not have that much of a local economy," he said, adding that women still seem happy about the move.

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Man Robbed, Loses Leg. Cops Take Him To Hospital, Leave Limb Behind

A labourer was robbed of Rs 500 by four men and his leg was held on a railway track until a train ran over it, severing the limb, in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain on Wednesday. He lost consciousness after that and says personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) arrived a few hours later and took him to a hospital, but left the severed leg behind despite him pleading with them.

It was only the next morning that the man managed to convince a different set of personnel that the leg was near the tracks and it was fetched. Over 12 hours had elapsed by then and it was too late to even attempt a surgery to reattach it.

When senior GRP officials were asked about the incident, they denied the man was robbed but had no explanation for why they had left the leg behind or why it took half a day to get it.

From his hospital bed in Ujjain's Charak hospital, Lakha, a resident of Palduna village, recalled the horror: "I work as a labourer near the station. Around 8 pm, I was returning to Dewas Gate after buying food when four men stopped me, beat me and robbed me of Rs 500... When I opened my eyes, one leg was gone and the other was bleeding. I shouted, but no one came. The police came after two hours and put me in an ambulance. I begged them to take my leg too, but they didn't listen."

Lakhan was admitted to the hospital and spoke to a different set of GRP personnel on Thursday morning, telling them about the severed leg. It was only then that an assistant sub-inspector brought the limb back in a plastic bag.

GRP officials allegedly delayed registering a case, saying no robbery took place and they would do so only after speaking to Lakhan's sister. Asked why the leg was not recovered earlier and whether the crime was being downplayed, a GRP officer refused to reply.

When reporters pressed Superintendent of Police Padmavilochan Shukla about the incident and asked whether there was any negligence, he merely responded, "Provide proof, and we will take action."

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Gwalior Girl Fights Off 3 Men Who Tried To Kidnap Her Near Police Station

A shocking incident in Gwalior has once again raised alarming questions about women's safety. This time, right under the nose of the police. Three men in an autorickshaw allegedly tried to kidnap a first-year student in broad daylight, barely 50 steps away from the women's police station in Padav.

The incident was captured on CCTV. According to the police, it happened at 11 am when the girl was walking to college. An autorickshaw parked nearby suddenly pulled up behind her. One of the men inside grabbed her hand, while another jumped out and tried to lift her by the leg. The auto driver reportedly shouted at the others to force her inside the vehicle.

Showing remarkable courage, the minor fought back, freed herself from their grip, and ran toward the women's police station for help. However, before assistance could reach, the men abandoned the autorickshaw and fled on foot.

The girl, terrified and shocked, returned home and came to the police station later to file a complaint.

The police have seized the autorickshaw. They are searching for the accused.

The area where the incident took place is between a women's polytechnic college and a police station for women - a location that should have been the safest for any young student.

"We have filed a case against the unidentified men and are close to identifying them through CCTV footage. Arrests will follow soon," inspector Shailendra Bhargava of Padav police station said.

The incident has sparked outrage and fear among residents, with many questioning how such a brazen attempt could happen in one of the city's most crowded areas and so close to a police station.

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IPL Champions RCB Put On Sale; Deal Likely To Be Finalised By March 31, 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 champion, has been put on sale. United Spirits Limited - the current owners of the side, which plays in both the IPL and the Women's Premier League (WPL) - have already initiated the sale process and are confident of completing the sale by March 31, 2026. RCB, which has been part of the IPL since 2008, won the top franchise league for the first time in 2025. They also won the WPL in 2024. RCB has in its roster big players like Virat Kohli, Smriti Mandhana, and Josh Hazlewood, among others.

Reports suggest that Diageo, parent company of United Spirits Limited, is seeking a valuation of around USD 2 billion for RCB. The sports business accounted for 8.3 percent of the company's total profit in the last financial year ending March 31, 2025. There are reports that vaccine king Adar Poonawalla is interested in securing the sports business. While the sale is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026, the franchise will be seen bidding for players and participating in the WPL auction on November 27.

In a communication to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Wednesday, Diageo called it a 'Strategic Review of the Investment Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL),' a wholly owned company of United Spirits Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of Diageo.

"United Spirits Ltd. ("USL") is initiating a strategic review of the investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, RCSPL. RCSPL's business comprises ownership of the "Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)" franchise teams that participate in the Men's Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) cricket tournaments hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annually," the company stated in the disclosure.

Most importantly, the disclosure said it 'expected the process will conclude by March 31st, 2026.'

"Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director & CEO, United Spirits Ltd, commented: "RCSPL has been a valuable and strategic asset for USL, however it's non-core to our alcobev business. This step reinforces USL's & Diageo's commitment to continue reviewing its India enterprise portfolio to enable sustained delivery of long-term value to all its stakeholders, while keeping RCSPL's best interest in mind".'" the disclosure added.

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China-Built Hangor Submarines To Join Pakistan Navy Fleet By 2026: Report

Pakistan's ambitious Hangor-class submarine programme, a centrepiece of the China-Pakistan naval partnership, is on track for induction in 2026, according to Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy.

According to the Global Times, Ashraf said the project was progressing smoothly, noting that the recent launch of the second and third submarines in China marked "a major milestone for naval collaboration between China and Pakistan."

Eight-Submarine Deal Driving Technology Transfer

Islamabad first signed the contract with Beijing in 2015 to acquire eight Hangor-class conventional submarines. Four of them are to be built in China, and the remaining four are to be assembled in Pakistan. The arrangement aims to boost local shipbuilding capacity and advance technical self-reliance.

Under the current schedule, all eight vessels will be delivered between 2022 and 2028. The first submarine was launched in April 2024, followed by two more this year.

Ashraf described the programme as a dual success. It will enhance Pakistan's undersea warfare capabilities and also enable homegrown expertise at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works. 

Chinese Frigates Strengthen Multi-Mission Capabilities

Beyond the Hangor project, Pakistan's partnership with China has also produced the Type 054A/P multirole frigates, now in active service with the Pakistan Navy. Ashraf praised them as "among the most advanced surface combatants."

He credited these ships with elevating the Navy's operational versatility, particularly in air defence, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime surveillance.

"These platforms are playing a key role in ensuring maritime security in the North Arabian Sea and the broader Indian Ocean region, which is critical for global economy," he said.

By protecting vital trade routes, including those tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Ashraf said, the Navy helps sustain trade and investment that benefit not only Pakistan but the entire region.

Chinese Systems 'Reliable, Advanced and Well-Suited'

The Pakistani naval chief praised the quality and consistency of Chinese-origin defence systems. He noted that Chinese-origin platforms and equipment have been reliable, technologically advanced and well-suited to Pakistan Navy's operational requirements.

He also said that the Pakistan Navy's experience with them has been very positive, both in terms of performance and technical support.

Future Tech Collaboration and Joint Exercises

Ashraf also highlighted the growing focus on unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronic warfare in areas where Pakistan plans deeper collaboration with Chinese industries.

He pointed to the expanding scope of China-Pakistan naval cooperation, which now includes frequent joint exercises such as the Sea Guardians series, covering missions from counter-terrorism to maritime search and rescue.

"Most importantly, such engagements demonstrate our shared resolve to promote peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the region," Ashraf said.

'A Trusted Partner in Modernisation'

Looking ahead, the admiral described the China-Pakistan naval partnership as one grounded in "friendship, mutual respect, trust and shared strategic interests."

"In the coming decade, we expect this relationship to grow stronger, encompassing not only shipbuilding and training, but also enhanced interoperability, research, technology sharing and industrial collaboration," he said.

He added that "there is immense potential for cooperation in advanced technologies, unmanned systems, marine scientific research and maritime industry development."

"Together, we aim to ensure a secure and stable maritime environment that supports regional peace and prosperity," he said.

Ashraf summed up the partnership by calling China "a trusted partner in the Pakistan Navy's modernisation journey."

"This cooperation goes beyond hardware; it reflects a shared strategic outlook, mutual trust, and a long-standing partnership," he said.
 

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