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“When it comes to Svatantra, it’s a business with a heart,” says Ananya Birla at Davos

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Davos [Switzerland], January 22 (ANI): Aditya Birla Group Director Ananya Birla on Wednesday shared the success of her microfinance enterprise, Svatantra, on the World Economic Forum. She knowledgeable world leaders that, regardless of the business’s ups and downs, her firm has maintained the bottom degree through the use of sensible strategies.

Explaining how the corporate balances revenue with social influence, Birla mentioned, ‘When it involves Svatantra, it is a enterprise with a coronary heart. There’s plenty of worth creation and profitability, but it surely additionally comes with influence. We have the bottom NPAs in your entire business, The microfinance business goes by way of plenty of ups and downs however Svatantra has been capable of, and my staff and I’ve been capable of actually see past that and someway handle it with the proper disbursal and assortment methods in place.’

Speaking about Birla Estate, she mentioned, ‘I do not wish to exaggerate on the efficiency, however below 24 hours, we offered out in Gurugram, which was an awesome achievement for the staff.’

Beyond monetary inclusion, she additionally highlighted the large development within the group and informed CAGR of our Birla Estates has been 92 per cent. ‘We are the fastest-growing at the moment. We are very bullish on the NCR belt at the moment. Noida is a incredible market. We have a really particular venture, and it is luxurious. It’s referred to as the third tower within the Nihara collection, positioned in Worli. In phrases of facilities, we have now actually gone all out to provide our shoppers and individuals who purchase into the model and belief us to provide them the absolute best place to reside. We have Mitsubishi on board for a few initiatives as effectively. So it is about partnering with individuals who share related worth programs, who consider within the India actual property market,’ she mentioned.

The 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum is being held from January 19 to 23, 2026, at Davos-Klosters, welcoming practically 3,000 individuals from over 130 international locations, together with a document variety of world leaders, CEOs, innovators and policymakers, below the theme ‘A Spirit of Dialogue.’World leaders from authorities, enterprise, civil society, and academia will convene in Davos to have interaction in forward-looking discussions on world points and set priorities. The name for daring collective motion makes the assembly significantly related. India is Pitched as One of the World’s Fastest-Growing Renewable Energy Markets at Davos. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi urges world traders to companion with India in its fast enlargement of unpolluted vitality on the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos. (ANI)

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What to know concerning the 2026 Grammys, the place Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga go head-to-head

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The 68th annual Grammy Awards will happen Feb. 1 on the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. This 12 months marks a return to normalcy after the 2025 award present was altered to give attention to supporting aid efforts following the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfires.

“I think we will see some history-making moments,” Recording Academy CEO and President Harvey Mason jr. advised The Associated Press. “With artists being nominated in categories they haven’t been previously nominated in, and a new crop of talent coming through the system this year — I think we’re going to see some really exciting results.”

Here’s what it’s essential know concerning the 2026 Grammys, together with find out how to stream and the place you may see music’s greatest stars strolling the crimson carpet.

The most important present will air dwell on CBS starting at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 1.

The Grammys can be watched via dwell TV streaming companies that embody CBS of their lineup, like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and FuboTV.

Paramount+ premium plan subscribers will be capable to stream the Grammys dwell; Paramount+ important subscribers can have on-demand entry the subsequent day.

The premiere ceremony will happen simply forward of the Grammys’ ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific on the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It might be streamed on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on dwell.GRAMMY.com.

On Tuesday, the Recording Academy introduced Sabrina Carpenter will carry out on the Grammys. She’s the primary of many. Others will likely be revealed within the coming days.

Carpenter is a number one nominee at this 12 months’s ceremony, with six nods for document, album and tune of the 12 months in addition to pop solo efficiency, pop vocal album and music video.

Comedian Trevor Noah will host the present for the sixth consecutive time — and it is going to be his final.

“I am beyond thrilled to welcome Trevor Noah back to host the Grammys for his sixth, and sadly, final time,” Grammys’ government producer Ben Winston stated in an announcement. “He’s been the most phenomenal host of the show. He’s so smart, so funny, and such a true fan of the artists and music. His impact on the show has been truly spectacular, and we can’t wait to do it together one last time.”

The solely different individuals to host six or extra Grammy telecasts have been musical artists: Andy Williams hosted seven reveals, adopted by John Denver with six. Noah beforehand tied LL Cool J, with 5.

Noah himself is a four-time Grammy nominee and is up this 12 months within the audio ebook, narration, and storytelling recording class for “Into The Uncut Grass,” a kids’s story.

“He’s a special host. He really finds the right balance between being funny and smart and knowledgeable but also being a fan of music. And I love that. It’s so hard to find that combination,” Mason jr. stated.

As for his departure? “Every person at some point in their career, they decide they want to do something else,” Mason jr. stated. “And we’re so appreciative of the years that we got from Trevor. He’s really helped define the show and make the show what it’s become over the last six years.”

The Associated Press will stream a four-hour crimson carpet present with interviews and style footage. It will likely be streamed on YouTube and APNews.com.

Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with 9 whole. He’s up for document, tune and album of the 12 months — marking the third time he’s had simultaneous nominations in these huge classes — in addition to pop duo/group efficiency, melodic rap efficiency, rap tune and rap album. He’s additionally nominated twice within the rap efficiency class.

Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff and Canadian document producer/songwriter Cirkut comply with Lamar with seven nominations every.

Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, Serban Ghenea and the aforementioned Carpenter all boast six nominations. Andrew Watt, Clipse, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile and Tyler, the Creator have 5 every.

And in the most effective new artist class, Thomas, world woman group Katseye, Olivia Dean, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Alex Warren and Lola Young will go head-to-head.

There are plenty of first-time nominees as effectively this 12 months, together with Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, PinkPantheress, JID and … Timothée Chalamet. You learn that accurately.


For extra protection of this 12 months’s Grammy Awards, go to: www.apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.

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Kristen Bell returning as host to SAG's Actor Awards

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Kristen Bell is returning as host of the Screen Actors Guild’s Actor Awards for a 3rd time.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union that presents the annual awards, introduced Wednesday that Bell will emcee the March 1 awards, previously generally known as the SAG Awards. Though the ceremony has typically gone and not using a host, Bell was their first host in 2018 and she or he returned once more final yr.

“I’ve enjoyed hosting the show every time, so it was an easy decision to come back for a third,” Bell stated in a press release. “What I’m most excited for is the fact that I’ll be doing what every actor does best … sing.”

Netflix will once more stream dwell the awards from the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles. “One Battle After Another” leads all nominees with seven nods, together with for greatest ensemble. The different nominees for the guild’s high award are: “Sinners,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme” and “Frankenstein.”

“Having Kristen return to host looks like welcoming again a member of the household,” said Jon Brockett, showrunner and executive producer for the awards. “One you truly need to hang around with.”

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materials is probably not printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.

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Russian Strategic Bomber Flies Over Sea of Japan for More Than 11 Hours

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MOSCOW, Jan 22 (News On Japan) –
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated a long-range strategic bomber able to carrying nuclear weapons flew over worldwide waters within the Sea of Japan, in what seems to be a transfer aimed toward pressuring Japan.

The ministry launched footage on January twenty first exhibiting a Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber flying for greater than 11 hours over the Sea of Japan, escorted by fighter plane together with Sukhoi Su-35 jets.

Russia additionally claimed its bomber crews usually conduct flights over worldwide waters above areas such because the Arctic Ocean, the North Atlantic and the Pacific, insisting that the operations are carried out in accordance with worldwide guidelines.

By flying a nuclear-capable strategic bomber close to Japan, Russia is believed to be signaling its army presence and trying to discourage Japan by a present of drive.

Source: TBS

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In 'Mercy,' Chris Pratt is on trial with a synthetic intelligence decide

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It’s a daring filmmaking option to have a countdown clock on the display screen for many of your film.
In the best-case situation for a film like “Mercy,” in…

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New System for Disposing of Culled Bears

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HOKKAIDO, Jan 22 (News On Japan) –
A brand new disposal system that makes use of microorganisms to interrupt down culled bears is drawing consideration in Hokkaido, as Japan faces a rising problem not solely in stopping bear assaults but additionally in dealing with the stays after animals are killed.

Bear sightings surged throughout the nation in 2025, with human casualties reaching 230 nationwide, together with two deaths in Hokkaido.

Fukushima, a city in southern Hokkaido the place a newspaper supply employee was fatally attacked by a bear in July 2025, has launched a facility able to processing culled bears and different animals utilizing microbes, the one such system at the moment working in Hokkaido.

The facility is designed to cut back the quantity of animal carcasses by decomposing them virtually fully. The course of entails putting the animal in a tank, mixing in water and particular chips coated with microorganisms, and elevating the temperature to round 80 levels Celsius. With microbial exercise accelerated, the meat may be damaged down in about at some point, whereas bones and pores and skin usually take round per week, with many of the materials discharged as water and carbon dioxide.

In many areas, hunters are required to dismantle culled bears and deer themselves into items sufficiently small to be incinerated at native amenities. But in southern Hokkaido, the place wildlife-related crop injury has continued and requests for culling have elevated, hunters have been spending vital time on dismantling work, slowing down their skill to seize extra animals.

One native hunter stated the work may be overwhelming, noting that they’re typically requested to chop carcasses into items as small as 10 centimeters sq..

Fukushima invested about 100 million yen in 2024 to introduce the system, changing into the primary municipality in Hokkaido to undertake the know-how. In southern Hokkaido, the place the variety of bears captured rose sharply in 2024 and incineration processing started to fall behind, the city says the brand new system proved efficient by permitting bears to be dealt with extra rapidly.

Mayor Kiyoharu Narumi stated Fukushima is at the moment managing the system, however hopes it may possibly finally be expanded and collectively managed by 4 cities within the area: Fukushima, Matsumae, Shiriuchi and Kikonai.

Local officers say they purpose to stop one other tragic accident by strengthening resident security via using superior know-how.

Source: HBCニュース 北海道放送

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Crackdown on ‘Zombie Cigarettes’ in Osaka

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OSAKA, Jan 22 (News On Japan) –
Two international nationals have been arrested and indicted for allegedly smuggling an unlawful drug referred to as “zombie cigarettes” into Japan by way of Kansai Airport, marking the primary time a case involving the substance has been uncovered in Osaka, authorities mentioned on January twentieth.

Videos posted on Chinese social media present individuals trembling, staggering and collapsing on the street, unable even to face, after reportedly utilizing the drug. The substance is formally referred to as etomidate, an anesthetic that has been abused in liquid kind and inhaled primarily by way of e-cigarettes.

Reporter Saori Kato mentioned the suspects arrived at Kansai Airport on a flight from Thailand and are believed to have introduced the drug into the nation by concealing it inside a suitcase.

Police mentioned the drug could cause numbness within the limbs and impaired consciousness, whereas specialists warned that it carries a excessive danger of dependence and could be deadly in massive doses.

Masahiko Funada, a professor at Shonan University of Medical Sciences’ Faculty of Pharmacy, mentioned circumstances of dying linked to heavy consumption have been reported abroad, including that the drug’s quick length of impact can lead customers to take it repeatedly, rising the probability of habit.

The suspects, recognized as Thai nationals together with defendant Thura Ganwara, are accused of smuggling 1,002 cartridges containing a liquid combination together with etomidate for the aim of sale in November final yr.

Kato mentioned customs officers discovered the cartridges hidden inside baggage of dried fruit, and the 2 suspects allegedly tried to enter Japan claiming they have been on a “honeymoon.”

Authorities mentioned abuse of the drug was first confirmed in Okinawa, the place staff in leisure districts have reported seeing individuals staggering, stiffening up, or collapsing after utilizing it.

The drug has since been linked to a number of smuggling circumstances throughout Japan. Two Chinese nationals have been arrested for allegedly bringing the substance into Narita Airport from India in July final yr, and the Oita District Court handed down responsible verdicts on January ninth. In one other case this month, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a person in his 50s for allegedly smuggling the drug from Thailand, elevating issues that its use is spreading into the Kanto area.

Many individuals in Osaka mentioned that they had not heard of “zombie cigarettes,” whereas others mentioned that they had solely vaguely seen the time period within the news and described it as horrifying.

Police mentioned the drug is usually bought on social media underneath code phrases similar to “laughing gas” and are stepping up vigilance over its doable unfold amongst younger individuals.

Source: YOMIURI

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Grave Closures Increase in Japan

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OSAKA, Jan 22 (News On Japan) –
A rising variety of households in Japan are selecting to shut down their household graves, pushed by elements resembling fewer descendants to inherit burial plots and the problem of sustaining graves removed from the place they now reside.

A service that enables cremated stays to be saved indefinitely started in Nara City final month, with officers saying greater than 70% of functions are being made whereas persons are nonetheless alive, reflecting rising issues about who will look after graves sooner or later.

Reporter Bamba Nagisa requested residents how they really feel about graves, with one particular person of their 40s saying summer time visits may be exhausting as a result of excessive warmth and that preserving flowers and sustaining the positioning may be tough. A resident of their 60s stated they really feel they have to put aside cash to finally get rid of the household grave, whereas a pair of their 30s stated they plan to handle the grave they inherited however fear it might develop into a burden for his or her kids, making them think about closing it down.

The follow, generally known as “hakajimai,” entails eradicating a grave and relocating the stays, and it has been rising in recent times as Japan’s declining birthrate leaves fewer folks to take over household graves.

The variety of instances involving the relocation of stays, together with hakajimai, has roughly doubled over the previous decade.

At Terayama Cemetery’s columbarium, operated by Nara City, supervisor Nakano Misao defined that the ability is designed with cabinets to retailer as much as 20,000 units of stays. The metropolis started providing an indefinite storage service there final month.

For instance, Nara residents pays a one-time price of 80,000 yen on the time of software, with no further fees, permitting the stays to be saved completely.

The facility started accepting stays in October final yr, and in about 4 months it has obtained greater than 1,500 functions.

Among these visiting the columbarium have been the Nakayama couple, who plan to shut their mother and father’ grave and got here to position the stays of the spouse’s sister, who died in October final yr. A workers member instructed them they’d start putting the stays inside and requested them to see her off.

While the service has limitations, resembling not with the ability to take out particular person urns for private visits, inquiries proceed to rise.

The Nakayamas have already reserved house for their very own stays on the facility, and the columbarium says such pre-death reservations account for greater than 70% of all functions.

Masao Nakayama, 74, stated managing a grave remains to be potential whereas they’re alive, however he worries concerning the future. Masumi Nakayama, 67, stated there can be nobody left to take care of it, including that this will merely be the period they’re dwelling in.

As household constructions and existence change, extra persons are turning to new types of memorial companies that higher match their circumstances, increasing the alternatives obtainable for a way family members are laid to relaxation.

Source: YOMIURI

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Chinese automobile manufacturers closing showrooms in Russia Kommersant

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Over-expansion and weak demand have reportedly pressured sellers to close or rebrand many shops

Chinese automobile manufacturers have sharply lowered their showroom community in Russia after a number of years of fast growth, with a whole lot of retailers closed or rebranded amid low gross sales and better prices, Kommersant has reported.

In 2025, 643 showrooms promoting Chinese passenger automobiles and lightweight business automobiles had been shut in Russia, in line with estimates by Gazprombank Autoleasing and trade outlet AvtoBusinessReview cited by the newspaper on Wednesday. The determine is 1.4 occasions increased than in 2024. Over the identical interval, 459 new dealerships had been opened – 3 times fewer than a 12 months earlier.

As a outcome, the overall variety of Chinese-brand gross sales factors in Russia fell by 7% final 12 months to about 2,600, and their share of all automobile showrooms slipped from 67% to 64%, Kommersant wrote.

Gazprombank Autoleasing govt Aleksandr Kornev advised the paper that roughly one in 4 retailers promoting Chinese automobiles in 2025 was both closed or transformed to a different model, with greater than 100 retailers selecting to work as a substitute with new Russian manufacturers utilizing regionally assembled Chinese fashions.

The Russian Auto Dealers Association described the wave of closures as a correction after “too fast” development in earlier years, when many Chinese manufacturers “entered the market actively, opening a large number of showrooms, sometimes without understanding real demand and the economics of the dealer business.”

Chinese and home Russian manufacturers have dominated gross sales lately, filling the hole left by Western and Japanese automakers that exited the market following sanctions and geopolitical tensions.

Overall, the variety of showrooms for all automobile manufacturers in Russia fell by 85 in 2025 to round 4,070.

Kornev stated low gross sales and excessive borrowing, rental, logistics, and staffing prices had prevented sellers from assembly their preliminary plans and held again community growth. Other trade figures stated that solely three Chinese manufacturers working as monobrand dealerships – Haval City, Chery, and Geely – had been promoting sufficient automobiles per outlet to remain comfortably above break even.

Experts quoted by Kommersant count on the tempo of closures to sluggish, however say additional rebranding of Chinese showrooms underneath new Russian names is prone to proceed.

(RT.com)

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Tamagotchi’s 30-Year History Comes to Life in Roppongi

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TOKYO, Jan 22 (News On Japan) –
The handheld digital pet “Tamagotchi,” first launched in 1996, is marking its thirtieth anniversary with a particular occasion now being held in Tokyo.
The anniversary celebration is happening in Roppongi, the place guests can immerse themselves on this planet of Tamagotchi by themed rooms, together with areas the place followers can meet in style characters, in addition to a lineup of cute, photogenic meals impressed by the franchise.

Longtime followers on the venue expressed pleasure at seeing the exhibit, with some saying they didn’t need to depart and even wished they might stay there.

The occasion additionally highlights a traditional Tamagotchi actuality that many gamers nonetheless bear in mind all too nicely: when you neglect your digital pet, it dies. The exhibition even includes a “graveyard,” together with a wall full of relatable “Tamagotchi moments” that resonate with guests who as soon as misplaced a pet they’d tried to take care of.

One attendee mentioned they’d skilled conditions akin to leaving a Tamagotchi unattended for too lengthy, whereas one other recalled humorous outcomes like pores and skin hassle attributable to consuming too many snacks.

Some guests mentioned they provided a small prayer on the grave show, taking photographs whereas apologizing to their misplaced Tamagotchi, whereas others shared recollections of returning residence from faculty solely to search out their pet had died, leaving them feeling dissatisfied.

The “Big Tamagotchi Exhibition” will run by subsequent month 2nd.

Source: TBS

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