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Pournami Murali from Kerala Wins the Title Miss India Glam World 2026

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The grand finale held on January 6th in Kerala, India, became a vibrant celebration of culture and elegance as Pournami Murali from Kerala was crowned Alcazar Watches Miss India Glam World 2026. Organized with distinction by Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd, the national pageant brought together exceptional women from across the country, highlighting diversity, talent, and beauty with purpose.

Accompanying the winner on the podium were Soumya S Thomas from Kerala, who was named first runner-up, and Sanjana Akasam from Telangana as second runner-up. The title winner was crowned by former Miss India Glam World Shwetha Jayaram, while the first runner-up was crowned by Deepthi Vijayakumar, Managing Director of Aiswaria Advertising, and the second runner-up was crowned by Preethi Parakkat, Managing Director of Parakkat Jewels, in the presence of Dr. Ajit Ravi, Founder & Chairman of Pegasus Global Pvt. Ltd.

Presiding over the judging process were a distinguished panel of experts from around the world: Archana Ravi (Model and Actress), Harmeet Singh Gupta (Managing Director, U&I Entertainment), Ankita Kharat (Miss Queen of India 2016, Singer & Model), and Nikita Thomas (Miss South India 2019 & Model).

Regional Titles:

Miss India Glam World North – Saumya Shukla (UP)

Miss India Glam World West – Aditi Tambe (Maharashtra)

Miss India Glam World South – Srushti S (Karnataka)

Subtitle Winners:

1. Miss India Glam World Solidarity – Aiswarya Padmakumar (Kerala)

2. Miss India Glam World Fashionista – Shrutika Rathod (Maharashtra)

3. Miss India Glam World Popularity – Juhi Singh (Telangana)

4. Miss India Glam World Congeniality – Ritu Jaiswar (Maharashtra)

5. Miss India Glam World Humaneness – Meenakshi Unnikrishnan (Kerala)

6. Miss India Glam World Inspiring – Meenakshi Unnikrishnan (Kerala)

7. Miss India Glam World Vivacious – Nishita Tahilramani (Kerala)

8. Miss India Glam World Talent – Sanjana Akasam (Telangana)

9. Miss India Glam World Ramp Walk – Aditi Tambe (Maharashtra)

The crown worn by the winners was handcrafted by Preethi Parakkat of Parakkat Jewels, symbolizing beauty with cultural depth. The event was powered by FICF, SAJ Group, Unique Times, Parakkat Resorts, JVK Motors, DQ, DQUE Watches, and Vedha Architects, while the main partner was Alcazar Watches.

Co-partners who contributed to the event’s grandeur included DQUE Soap, VeeKayVees Caterers, Aiswaria Outdoor Media, Europe Times, UT World, Times New, uniquetimes.org, Kalpana International Salon & Spa, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, VPS Lakeshore, Akshay Inco, and Green Media.

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Dr Siddeek Ahmed Receives Manappuram Unique Times MBA Award

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The 20th edition of the Manappuram Unique Times Multibillionaire Business Achiever (MBA) Award was conferred upon Dr Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman and Managing Director of ERAM Holdings, on 6th January. The honour was presented by Shri Gokulam Gopalan, Chairman, Sree Gokulam Group of Companies and FICF, Dr A V Anoop, Managing Director of AVA Group of Companies, in the presence of Dr Ajit Ravi, Founder of Pegasus Global Pvt Ltd, the MBA Award, and the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF).

Dr Siddeek Ahmed, a visionary leader who has transformed innovation into impact. From humble beginnings to leading a global conglomerate across 16 countries, he has championed initiatives in technology, sustainability, skill development, healthcare, and education — guided by a core belief that true progress empowers communities and inspires future generations.

With this remarkable achievement, Dr Siddeek Ahmed joins the elite ranks of the Federal International Chamber Forum (FICF) — one of the world’s most prestigious business clubs. FICF membership is exclusive to business leaders who possess a minimum of ₹1,000 crore in assets and demonstrate a strong commitment to social responsibility. The forum represents excellence in business accomplishments and encourages its members to channel their innovative ideas and leadership to promote societal progress. FICF aims to be a platform where entrepreneurial success meets impactful social contributions.

The MBA Award, instituted to recognize exceptional business leaders with significant social involvement, has previously been bestowed upon a number of iconic entrepreneurs, including Shri V.P. Nandakumar, Shri Joy Alukkas, Shri M.A. Yusuff Ali, Shri T.S. Kalyanaraman, Shri P.N.C. Menon, Shri Gokulam Gopalan, Dr Ravi Pillai, Shri M.P. Ramachandran, Shri Kochouseph Chittilappilly, Shri Sabu M. Jacob, Dr Viju Jacob, Dr A.V. Anoop, Dr Varghese Kurian, Adv. P. Krishnadas, Dr Hafeez Rahman, Shri Soundararajan Bangarusamy, Shri V R Muthu, Shri V C Praveen, Dr Arun N Palaniswami, Shri C K Kumaravel, Shri T.K. Chandiran, Sir Sohan Roy SK and Dr Vijay Sankeshwar.

The MBA Award stands as a distinguished symbol of recognition, celebrating visionary entrepreneurs who drive transformative change in both business and society.

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Macron Brings Ukraine and Allies Together to Push Security Guarantees

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French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from more than 30 allied nations in Paris as efforts intensify to secure long-term security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. The meeting includes members of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” as well as US mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, amid claims from Zelensky that a US-backed peace plan is largely agreed.

While around 90% of the proposed framework is said to be settled, the remaining disagreements centre on territorial concessions Ukraine is being asked to consider. Russia currently controls most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine and has shown little willingness to compromise, while continuing intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during winter. Ukraine, meanwhile, has stepped up drone strikes inside Russia, including on energy facilities.

Talks in Paris are focused on defining post-war security arrangements, including the possibility of a multinational reassurance force, long-term military and economic support for Ukraine, and guarantees in case of renewed Russian aggression. European allies are also seeking a clear US commitment to act if Russia breaches a future peace deal, though broader geopolitical tensions involving recent US actions abroad and disputes over Greenland risk overshadowing the discussions.

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Pope Leo Closes Holy Year, Calls for Compassion Toward Foreigners

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Pope Leo on Tuesday formally closed the Catholic Church’s Holy Year by sealing the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, urging Christians around the world to show greater kindness to those in need, especially foreigners and migrants. Speaking at a Vatican ceremony, he reflected on the record 33.5 million pilgrims who visited Rome during the jubilee, calling on them to recognise humanity in strangers rather than viewing people as commodities.

Highlighting themes that have defined the early months of his papacy, Leo criticised what he described as a distorted global economy that seeks to profit from everything, including human movement and aspiration. Dressed in gold-trimmed vestments, the pope shut the bronze Holy Door at 9:41 a.m., officially ending the jubilee year, which traditionally symbolises peace, forgiveness and renewal for Catholics.

The 2025 Holy Year was notable as a rare historical event, having been opened by Pope Francis and closed by his successor, following Francis’ death in April after 12 years as pontiff. Vatican officials said pilgrims arrived from 185 countries, led by Italy, the United States, Spain, Brazil and Poland. The next jubilee is not expected before 2033, when the Church may mark 2,000 years since the death of Jesus.

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Swiss Ski Bar Fire Exposes Safety Lapses After Years Without Inspection

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Authorities in Switzerland have revealed that Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana, where a devastating fire killed 40 people and injured 116 on New Year’s Day, had not undergone a safety inspection for five years. Mayor Nicolas Feraud said the council could not explain the lapse but expressed deep regret, acknowledging responsibility and apologising to the victims’ families.

The mayor announced that sparklers, believed to have ignited the blaze after being held too close to the ceiling, would be banned from all local venues. An external contractor will be appointed to inspect and audit all 128 establishments in the area. Feraud admitted that a small inspection team was responsible for overseeing more than 10,000 buildings, but said he had no explanation for why the bar had not been checked since 2019.

Swiss prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation, placing the two managers of the bar under scrutiny for suspected manslaughter and arson by negligence. While Feraud said it would be up to judges to determine whether local officials would also face investigation, the tragedy has raised wider questions about Switzerland’s decentralised safety enforcement system and whether warning signs were overlooked.

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Greek Airspace Blackout Raises Alarm Over Ageing Aviation Systems

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Greece’s air traffic control system suffered a major communications outage on Sunday, cutting contact between controllers and aircraft across much of the country and forcing authorities to suspend flights into and over Greek airspace. Controllers described radios falling silent mid-operation, replaced by a high-pitched noise, while internet systems also failed, disrupting coordination nationwide. The outage, which lasted several hours, stranded thousands of passengers before systems inexplicably came back online.

Officials have ruled out a cyberattack but admitted they do not yet know what caused the blackout or how it resolved itself. Controllers managed to find a limited number of functioning radio frequencies, but not enough to ensure safe operations, prompting the unprecedented shutdown. Neighbouring countries assisted using telephone communication, with aviation experts describing the episode as a “black hole” in Greek airspace that could have caused chaos during peak tourist season.

The incident has renewed scrutiny of Greece’s ageing and underfunded air traffic infrastructure, much of which dates back to the 1990s. Unions and experts warn that outdated equipment and staffing shortages pose ongoing safety risks, despite government assurances that modernisation plans meeting EU standards are underway and scheduled for completion by 2028. Critics argue that human expertise can no longer compensate for systemic weaknesses, warning of further disruptions if upgrades are delayed.

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EU, UK Slam X Over Grok’s Sexualised AI Images

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The European Commission has strongly condemned the spread of sexualised images of women and children on Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, calling the content illegal and unacceptable. The criticism follows reports that X’s AI chatbot Grok was generating non-consensual images of undressed women and minors through a feature previously referred to as “spicy mode.” EU officials said such content has no place in Europe and violates existing laws.

In Britain, media regulator Ofcom has demanded answers from X and its parent company xAI on how the AI system was able to create sexualised images, including of children, and whether the platform failed in its legal duty to protect users. Ofcom said it had contacted the company urgently to assess compliance with UK laws, under which the creation or sharing of non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material — including AI-generated content — is illegal. X has not formally responded, while Musk has publicly mocked criticism online.

Pressure on X is also mounting from other countries. French ministers have reported the platform to prosecutors and regulators, calling the content “manifestly illegal,” while Indian authorities have sought explanations over what they termed obscene material. Despite growing concern across Europe and Asia, US regulators have so far remained silent on the issue, with federal agencies declining or failing to comment.

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Louvre Reopens After Strike Delay, Some Sections Remain Closed

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Paris’ Louvre Museum reopened on Monday after a three-hour delay, though several sections remained closed as staff partially resumed a strike over pay and working conditions, according to Reuters. Employees had held a meeting earlier in the day to decide whether to continue rolling industrial action, which began last month and was paused during the Christmas period.

The labour dispute has added to the challenges facing the world’s most visited museum, which is still reeling from a major jewel heist in October. In that incident, four burglars stole jewels worth about $102 million in broad daylight, and the stolen items have yet to be recovered.

The Louvre has also been grappling with infrastructure issues, including a recent water leak that damaged ancient books and raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of the historic building. Together, the strike, security lapse, and maintenance problems have put renewed pressure on museum management and French authorities.

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Swiss Authorities Identify All 40 Victims of Crans-Montana Bar Fire

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Swiss authorities have identified all 40 victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. The victims, aged 14 to 39, included teenagers and young adults from multiple nationalities, including Swiss, French, Italian, Romanian, Turkish, Portuguese, Belgian, UK, and Israeli. A national day of mourning has been declared in Switzerland for 9 January. In addition to the fatalities, 119 people were injured, many with severe burns.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire started when sparklers on bottles came too close to the ceiling, potentially igniting acoustic foam. Prosecutors are investigating the French owners of the bar, suspected of manslaughter and negligence. Le Constellation was known as a popular venue for younger visitors, with the legal drinking age in the region at 16. Authorities have withheld further victim details out of respect for their families.

Several victims’ families have publicly mourned their loss, including Arthur Brodard and Charlotte Niddam. Emanuele Galeppini, a 16-year-old junior golfer from Italy, was also confirmed among the dead. The tragedy has shocked the international community, with tributes pouring in and authorities promising a thorough criminal investigation into the causes and safety violations linked to the fire.

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Ten Convicted for Cyber-Bullying Brigitte Macron

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A Paris court has found ten individuals guilty of cyber-bullying Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, for spreading false claims about her gender and sexuality and making derogatory remarks about the couple’s 24-year age difference. Most defendants received suspended prison sentences of up to eight months, while one was jailed immediately, and several had their social media accounts suspended.

The court noted that the eight men and two women acted with a clear intent to harm, issuing degrading and insulting online comments. Two of the defendants had previously been found guilty of slander in 2024 for bizarre claims regarding the first lady but were later cleared on appeal. The Macrons plan to take that case to the high court of appeal. Brigitte Macron’s lawyer emphasized the importance of preventive courses and account suspensions to curb future attacks.

The ruling highlights the personal impact of online harassment, with Brigitte Macron’s daughter testifying that the cyber-bullying affected her mother’s health and lifestyle and also disrupted her grandchildren’s lives. The verdict precedes a larger US defamation lawsuit the Macrons have filed against right-wing influencer Candace Owens, who has perpetuated similar conspiracy theories about the first lady’s gender.

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