Language Settings
Select Website Language

Latest

Race to Replace Daniel Craig as James Bond Heats Up

Speculation grows over who will play the next James Bond, with Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden and Callum Turner reportedly among the frontrunners. The search for the next James Bond has reached fever pitch, with reports suggesting an announcement about who will take over from Daniel Craig may be close. Craig was the last actor confirmed in the part, back in 2005 - a gap of 21 years since the role was formally handed to a new performer. Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden and Callum Turner are among the names reportedly in contention for one of cinema's most coveted assignments. The stakes are hard to overstate: across the entire official film series, only six actors have ever played 007, from Sean Connery through to Craig. That scarcity is what makes the part so unusual. As one measure of how rarely the role changes hands, the United Kingdom has cycled through more prime ministers in the past decade than the number of men who have played Bond on screen - and twice as many people have set foot on the Moon. Speculation over Craig's replacement has simmered for roughly six years, but it has grown louder as the reported announcement edges nearer. A crowded field of British and international actors has been floated, many of them known for recent breakout work in prestige television and major film franchises. The frontrunners Elordi rose to prominence as Nate Jacobs in the HBO drama Euphoria and took a leading turn as Felix Catton in the 2023 film Saltburn. Lowden currently plays River Cartwright in the Apple TV series Slow Horses, and has also appeared in the BBC's The Gold and in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Turner starred opposite Austin Butler in the Apple TV miniseries Masters of the Air and plays Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts films. Their names have surfaced repeatedly as the conversation has intensified. A deep bench of contenders Beyond the reported shortlist, a wider group of actors has been linked to the role. Paul Mescal, who first drew attention in the television adaptation of Normal People, has since reached a broader audience as Lucius in Gladiator II and as Will alongside Jessie Buckley in Hamnet. Jack O'Connell, who broke through as James Cook in the teen drama Skins, has more recently featured in 28 Years Later and SAS Rogue Heroes. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who appears alongside O'Connell in 28 Years Later, has also been seen in Nosferatu, The Fall Guy and Tenet. Henry Cavill, perhaps best recognised as Clark Kent in 2013's Man of Steel and as Superman in the DC Universe, brings franchise pedigree from Enola Holmes, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible - Fallout and The Witcher. Harris Dickinson, who played Carl in Triangle of Sadness and Samuel in Babygirl, is also in the mix, as is James Norton, whose credits span ITV's Grantchester, the BBC's Happy Valley and the role of Lord Ormund Hightower in House of the Dragon. Two lesser-known names round out the list. Tom Francis, better established on stage than screen, won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for Sunset Boulevard. Jack Barton, who appeared with O'Connell in SAS Rogue Heroes, has also taken roles in Poor Things, War of the Worlds and Heartstopper. For now, the studio has confirmed none of them. Until an announcement arrives, the identity of the seventh James Bond remains exactly what it has been for years - the subject of intense fan debate and no shortage of guesswork. next James Bond, Daniel Craig successor, Jacob Elordi Bond, James Bond casting, 007 actor, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Paul Mescal

How to Build a Defensible SEO Budget for 2027

With two-thirds of Google searches ending without a click in early 2026, marketers face a new challenge defending SEO spend for 2027. The case for spending money on search engine optimization used to fit on a slide or two: better rankings, more organic traffic, done. That argument is now much harder to make. In the first four months of 2026, more than two-thirds of U.S. Google searches ended without anyone clicking through to a website, and the arrival of AI-generated summaries is pulling clicks away from traditional results. According to the Pew Research Center, users clicked a standard search result on just 8% of Google visits when an AI summary appeared on the page. When no summary was shown, that figure rose to 15%. The gap points to a shift in how people find information, and it creates a direct problem for anyone trying to defend an SEO line item heading into 2027. The core difficulty is timing. Search behavior is changing fast enough that the assumptions behind an annual budget can break long before the year is over. A forecast built on last year's traffic patterns may no longer hold by spring. That instability pushes marketers to frame SEO in the terms a chief financial officer already tracks: business risk, customer acquisition costs, and sales pipeline. Treat the budget as a portfolio The recommended approach for 2027 is to stop treating SEO as a single channel with one lump-sum budget and instead manage it like a portfolio. The spending splits into two distinct categories, each judged by different rules. The first is the maintenance floor. A significant share of SEO money should go toward protecting assets the business already depends on. A mature website carries pages, local listings, technical infrastructure, and third-party references that generate qualified demand. Those assets do not sustain themselves. Search changes, and published information goes stale. Rather than relying on a growth forecast, marketers are advised to calculate the actual cost of keeping these existing assets in working order. That figure represents the price of protecting the value SEO already delivers. Fund growth where the evidence is Everything spent above that floor is a bet on future value. Funding a project last year does not entitle it to funding next year. The guidance is to translate each line item into the specific business problem it is meant to solve, and to fund growth only where there is evidence of a real problem or opportunity tied to a plausible business outcome. That means being honest about the difference between what can be proven and what the data only hints at. Some results connect cleanly to the business: qualified leads, revenue, and pipeline. Others merely suggest that search played a role. Appearing as a blue link or a mention in responses to high-value questions, a rise in branded search, and citations inside AI answers all signal that SEO is contributing, but none of them close the loop on their own. Google has started making some of these signals easier to observe. Its rollout of dedicated Search Console reports for generative AI features gives marketers more visibility into how their content surfaces in AI-driven results. Even so, those reports do not trace every step a customer takes from first encountering a brand to buying from it. Perfect attribution remains out of reach, and budgets have to be built with that limitation in mind. The practical upshot is a budget that leads with what the investment protects, justifies growth spending against measurable outcomes, and treats speculative bets as tests rather than commitments. In a search landscape where most queries never produce a click, that structure gives leadership a clearer view of what their SEO money is actually buying. SEO budget 2027, zero-click searches, AI search, Google Search Console, customer acquisition cost, organic traffic, Pew Research SEO, search marketing

TVS Tops Two-Wheeler Sales for Second Month in August 2026

TVS retained the No. 1 spot in August 2026 with 5,91,437 units, edging Honda and Hero as India's top six brands sold 24.40 lakh two-wheelers. TVS Motor held on to the top of India's two-wheeler sales chart in August 2026, recording total sales of 5,91,437 units and a 20.51% year-on-year rise. It was the second month running that TVS led the overall rankings, after first taking the No. 1 position by total sales in July 2026. The result gave TVS a 24.23% share among the country's six largest two-wheeler makers. Honda finished second with 5,79,162 units, up 8.28% year-on-year, while Hero MotoCorp came third at 5,68,398 units, a 2.65% increase. Just 23,039 units separated TVS and Hero, underlining how tight the contest at the top has become. Together, the top six brands sold 24,40,653 two-wheelers during the month, spanning both domestic and export markets. That was up 12.96% from 21,60,690 units a year earlier, and 4.77% higher than in July 2026. Hero Leads at Home, Honda Close Behind In the domestic market alone, Hero MotoCorp remained the largest manufacturer with 5,42,305 units. Its domestic sales rose 4.46% from 5,19,139 units a year earlier and were up 8.16% over July. Honda stayed within striking distance at 5,17,329 units, growing 7.55% year-on-year and 8.58% month-on-month. The gap between the two brands was just 24,976 units. TVS ranked third in the domestic market with 4,33,796 units. It posted a strong 17.60% year-on-year increase, though sales slipped 0.82% compared with July. Bajaj followed with 2,01,898 units, up 9.66% year-on-year and 21.81% month-on-month. Royal Enfield sold 1,14,204 units domestically, a rise of 11.01% year-on-year. Suzuki was close behind with 1,13,936 units, up 10.49%. Bajaj Dominates Exports The order shifts sharply once exports are counted. Bajaj was by far the largest exporter, shipping 2,41,850 units overseas in August. Its exports surged 53.28% year-on-year and 8.47% over July, handing Bajaj a 46.76% share of exports among the six brands. TVS was second in exports with 1,57,641 units, up 29.29% year-on-year but down 4.89% from July. Honda exported 61,833 units, a 14.85% year-on-year gain. Hero's exports fell 24.56% year-on-year to 26,093 units, and Suzuki's dropped 21.58% to 17,493 units. Royal Enfield exported 12,275 motorcycles, up 10.33% year-on-year. A Narrow Race at the Top The combination of solid domestic volumes and large exports is what pushed TVS ahead in the overall standings, even though Hero continues to lead the far bigger home market. Bajaj, buoyed by its export strength, ranked fourth overall at 4,43,748 units and recorded the strongest year-on-year growth among the top four at 29.79%. Suzuki finished fifth in total sales with 1,31,429 units, and Royal Enfield sixth with 1,26,479 units. With the leaders separated by tens of thousands of units and export performance now shaping the rankings as much as domestic demand, the monthly battle between TVS, Honda and Hero looks set to remain closely fought. two wheeler sales August 2026, TVS Motor sales, Hero MotoCorp, Honda two wheeler, Bajaj exports, Royal Enfield sales, Indian two wheeler market, Suzuki two wheeler

Kia Shows First Flex-Fuel Car for India: Syros E100 Concept

Kia has revealed its Syros Flex Fuel Concept in India, a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol demonstrator able to run on anything from pure petrol to E100 ethanol. Kia has unveiled the Syros Flex Fuel Vehicle Concept in India, its first flexible-fuel car aimed at the Indian market. The company presented the concept at its Sorento launch event, where it stood alongside the new Carnival Hybrid and Carens CNG. The demonstrator is built to run on pure petrol, pure ethanol, and any petrol-ethanol mixture in between, stretching all the way to E100 fuel. For now, the Syros Flex Fuel is only a technology showcase. Kia has given no date for a production model and has not confirmed that the car will ever reach showrooms. The company has framed it as proof that its powertrain can handle the higher ethanol content that India may adopt in the years ahead. What Kia changed under the bonnet The concept is driven by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder direct-injection turbo-petrol engine. Kia has kept power and torque numbers under wraps. To let the motor cope with fuel that swings between petrol and ethanol in varying proportions, engineers reworked the engine control unit, the transmission control unit, and the fuel system. The gearbox is also new. Where the regular Syros turbo-petrol pairs its engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, the flex-fuel version switches to a six-speed torque-converter automatic. Together, these revisions let the car read and adjust to whatever blend sits in the tank. A response to India's ethanol drive The reveal lands as New Delhi presses ahead with wider use of ethanol in road fuel. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has championed flex-fuel technology, tying it to the goal of cutting the country's reliance on imported crude oil. Regulation has begun to catch up. In May 2026, the government issued standards for higher ethanol-petrol blends. That was followed in June by the approval of rules governing E100-compatible vehicles. The Syros Flex Fuel Concept offers an early look at how Kia might react if such blends spread across the country. India's pumps currently supply E20 fuel, well below the levels the concept is engineered to accept. Rivals lining up their own flex-fuel models Kia joins a growing field. Maruti Suzuki has already put its Wagon R Flex Fuel on sale, and other carmakers are building comparable systems. Toyota has run flex-fuel demonstrations in India before, and Tata Motors is tipped to bring a flex-fuel model to market in late 2026 or early 2027. Hyundai, MG, and Mahindra are also studying or developing the technology. Kia sees the Syros as a natural test bed. The model already carries a compact turbo-petrol engine, which made it straightforward to adapt for alternative fuels. Even so, the company has stopped short of promising a production launch. The concept stands as a statement of intent, signalling that Kia wants to be ready should Indian rules one day require vehicles to run on far higher ethanol blends than they do today. Kia Syros Flex Fuel, flex fuel car India, E100 ethanol vehicle, Kia Syros turbo petrol, ethanol blended fuel, Nitin Gadkari flex fuel, India ethanol policy, flexible fuel vehicle concept

Creator Anamika Exits Mirzapur Movie Over 'Drunk' Crowd

Noida creator Anamika left a Mirzapur: The Movie screening, alleging drunk viewers and unhelpful theatre staff. Netizens backed her walkout. A Noida-based content creator named Anamika says she and a friend abandoned a screening of "Mirzapur: The Movie" midway on Saturday, blaming a group of allegedly drunk and disruptive audience members. The film opened in cinemas over the weekend. In a video posted the same day, Anamika stressed that the movie itself was not the problem. She said the pair stepped out of the auditorium because fellow viewers had turned up intoxicated. According to her account, several other unsettled patrons also left, demanding that the offending group be removed before anyone returned to their seats. She added that she and her friend had been enjoying the film before the disruption forced them out. A second video, filmed later that evening, described how the situation ended. Anamika said she and her friend chose to go home because staff at the venue offered no meaningful assistance and the hour was growing late. She took issue with the solutions on offer. Staff, she said, proposed moving her party to a different auditorium rather than ejecting the group causing trouble, and suggested she call the police helpline 100 herself. Anamika argued that handling the disturbance was the theatre management's job, not hers, and said the episode left her upset. She did not identify the cinema by name in her clip but tagged Wave Cinemas in the accompanying post. In further videos, she responded to both the encouragement and the pushback her original complaint attracted. Reaction online leaned in her favour. One commenter praised civility and civic sense as basic decency that makes shared spaces safer. Another said such scenes are common in theatres across tier-2 locations. "Mirzapur: The Movie" is positioned as an origin story, tracing the beginnings of the feud between the Tripathi and Pandit families that anchored the Amazon Prime Video series. Gurmeet Singh directed the film, with Puneet Krishna writing it. Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar produced the project under their Excel Entertainment banner. The film reunites Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu in their familiar roles. Jitendra Kumar steps into the part of Bablu Pandit, a character previously played by Vikrant Massey in the show. Mirzapur The Movie, Anamika Noida creator, Wave Cinemas, drunk moviegoers, theatre experience, Pankaj Tripathi, Excel Entertainment, Ali Fazal

Sabalenka Stops US Open Match Over Cannabis Smell on Court

Aryna Sabalenka paused her US Open clash with Kamilla Rakhimova over a strong cannabis smell, then won 6-3 6-4 to reach the fourth round in New York. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka stopped her US Open match against Kamilla Rakhimova to complain about a powerful cannabis smell drifting across the court, then recovered to win 6-3 6-4 and book a place in the fourth round in New York. The Belarusian raised the concern with umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore after opening a 3-0 lead in the first set on Louis Armstrong Stadium, telling the official that someone nearby was smoking marijuana and asking her to step in because the odour was overpowering. Asderaki-Moore contacted an official over her radio and signalled the problem before the match resumed. Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, said afterwards that she could not pinpoint where the smell had come from and urged spectators to show more consideration. "It's a bit tricky to handle that smell while you're trying to compete at your best," she said. "I don't know if it was coming from the crowd or was from the outside because the wind blows it into the stadium. I just hope they're going to be a bit more aware of that stuff." Smoking is banned across the grounds at Flushing Meadows, but the scent of cannabis occasionally drifts onto the courts from neighbouring Corona Park. In New York, adults aged 21 and over are legally permitted to smoke it. Sabalenka is not alone in raising the issue at this year's tournament. Britain's Katie Boulter described the smell as a distraction, and fellow players Harriet Dart and Francesca Jones both said they had noticed it. In previous editions, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev voiced similar complaints. The 28-year-old, chasing a fifth Grand Slam singles title, dominated from the outset. She leaned on her trademark power to lose only four points on serve in the opening set. Rakhimova, of Uzbekistan, offered stiffer resistance in the second, but Sabalenka broke to lead 5-4 before serving out the match. Sabalenka struck 10 aces to her opponent's two and did not concede a single break point. The result extended her unbeaten run at Flushing Meadows to 16 matches as she attempts to become the first woman since Serena Williams, who won three in a row from 2012 to 2014, to claim three consecutive US Open singles crowns. Her next opponent will be home favourite Taylor Townsend, who defeated Russian 15th seed Diana Shnaider 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 to set up a last-eight showdown. Elsewhere in the women's draw, Karolina Muchova became the highest seed to exit so far. The world number seven was beaten by Emma Navarro. American third seed Jessica Pegula kept her hopes of a maiden Grand Slam title alive by fighting back from a set down to overcome Canadian 31st seed Leylah Fernandez 1-6 6-4 6-3. Pegula lost the 2023 US Open final at Flushing Meadows to Sabalenka. Aryna Sabalenka, US Open 2025, cannabis smell tennis, Flushing Meadows, Kamilla Rakhimova, Taylor Townsend, Grand Slam, women's tennis

Tarot for Beginners: What the Major Arcana Cards Mean

A friendly beginner's guide to tarot's 22 Major Arcana cards, their traditional meanings, and how to read them for insight and reflection. If you have ever shuffled a deck of tarot cards and wondered what those striking images actually mean, you are not alone. Tarot has fascinated people for centuries, and today it is enjoying a fresh wave of popularity from Mumbai to Manchester. For many, it is less about predicting the future and more about pausing to reflect, ask better questions, and see a familiar situation from a new angle. A standard tarot deck has 78 cards, split into two groups. The 56 Minor Arcana cards deal with the everyday texture of life. The 22 Major Arcana cards - the focus of this guide - are the heart of the deck. In the tarot tradition, they are said to represent life's bigger themes, turning points, and inner lessons. If a reading were a story, the Major Arcana would be its chapter titles. It is worth saying clearly: tarot is a tradition and a tool for reflection, not a proven science. There is no evidence that cards can foretell events. Approached with that in mind, though, tarot can be a genuinely useful and enjoyable way to think things through. Here is what beginners should know. The Fool's Journey: A Story in 22 Cards Readers often describe the Major Arcana as "the Fool's Journey." The sequence begins with card zero, The Fool, who represents new beginnings, innocence, and a leap into the unknown. From there, the cards are said to trace a path of growth, with each one marking a stage of experience the Fool meets along the way. Thinking of the cards as a journey makes them far easier to remember than memorising 22 separate definitions. The Magician (card one) speaks to skill and willpower. The High Priestess (two) points to intuition and hidden knowledge. The Empress (three) is associated with nurturing and abundance, while the Emperor (four) suggests structure and authority. Read in order, the cards move from raw potential toward greater wisdom and wholeness. You do not need to learn them all at once. Many beginners start with just a handful and add more as they grow comfortable. Cards People Misunderstand A few Major Arcana cards have fearsome reputations that do not match their traditional meanings. Death (card 13) is the most famous example. Despite the skeleton and scythe, experienced readers almost never interpret it literally. In tarot tradition it symbolises endings that make room for new beginnings - the close of a chapter, a transformation, letting go of what no longer fits. The Tower (16), with its lightning and falling figures, is another card that looks alarming. It is usually read as sudden change or an unexpected shake-up that clears away shaky foundations. The Devil (15) is generally taken to represent feeling trapped, whether by habits, fear, or unhealthy attachments - not literal evil. On the brighter side, cards like The Star (17) offer hope and renewal, The Sun (19) suggests joy and success, and The World (21) - the final card - signals completion and a sense of things coming full circle. Learning that the scary-looking cards are often gentle in meaning is one of the most reassuring lessons for a new reader. How to Start Reading for Yourself You do not need to be psychic to use tarot for reflection. Begin by choosing a deck whose artwork you find appealing; the classic Rider-Waite-Smith imagery is a common starting point because so many guides reference it. Try a simple one-card draw. Shuffle while holding a gentle, open question in mind - something like "What should I keep in mind today?" rather than a strict yes-or-no. Turn over a single card, look closely at the image, and notice what stands out to you before reaching for a guidebook. Your own reaction is part of the reading. As you gain confidence, a three-card spread is a natural next step. A popular version reads the cards as past, present, and future, though you can also use them for situation, challenge, and advice. Keeping a small journal of the cards you draw and what was happening in your life can make patterns easier to spot over time. Keeping Tarot in Healthy Perspective Tarot is best treated as a mirror, not a map. The cards can prompt honest questions - Am I avoiding a difficult decision? What am I hoping for here? - but the answers and the choices remain yours. If a reading ever leaves you anxious, remember that no card dictates your fate. Used thoughtfully, the Major Arcana can be a rich, creative way to slow down and reflect. Learn a few cards, trust your instincts, and enjoy the story the images tell. That, more than any prediction, is where tarot's lasting appeal lies. tarot for beginners, major arcana meanings, tarot cards explained, how to read tarot, the fool tarot, learn tarot, tarot card meanings, beginner tarot guide

Roland Enters Generative AI Music With Melody Flip

Roland's Melody Flip is its first generative AI music tool a DAW plug-in with 250 genre Palettes that spark loops rather than finished songs. Roland just stepped into generative AI music with Melody Flip, a plug-in that sparks ideas rather than spitting out finished tracks. Here's what it actually does. Roland's First Generative AI Tool Melody Flip marks Roland's official foray into generative AI music. It's not the "push button; get song" approach of Suno. Instead, it runs as a plug-in inside your digital audio workstation, positioning Roland alongside AI rivals while keeping the human producer firmly in the driver's seat. About 250 Themed Palettes The tool ships with roughly 250 "Palettes" - themed collections of musical ideas sorted by genre. You can start from scratch and generate any combination of melody, chord progression, bassline, or drums. Or feed it a reference track and have Melody Flip build off that track's melodic ideas. Loops, Not Finished Songs Unlike Suno or Udio, Melody Flip won't produce polished songs with vocals and full arrangements. It offers simple musical loops meant as a creative spark for you to build on. There's fairly limited control over outputs - the tool hands you a starting point, not a final master. Kawaii Future Bass To 80s Disco Controls are basic: you pick genre, note density, BPM, and musical key, then take what you get. But genre options run fine-grained, from standard "80s disco" and "90s R&B" to esoteric picks like "Kawaii Future Bass" and "Anime World." No text prompts allowed here. Export The MIDI, Build Elsewhere Presets mostly use general MIDI tones reminiscent of '90s video games - further proof outputs aren't meant to be used raw. The intended workflow is exporting Melody Flip's MIDI data straight into your DAW, then manipulating it and pairing it with more powerful synth plugins. Roland's Comeback Meets AI Skepticism After its messy Roland Cloud subscription alienated customers, Roland rebounded with the P-6 Creative Sampler, SH-4d, Gaia 2, and last year's analog-tribute TR-1000. But given the music community's general response to generative AI, Melody Flip is unlikely to earn Roland much goodwill. Keywords: Roland Melody Flip, generative AI music, DAW plugin, AI music tool, Roland synthesizer, MIDI generator, Suno alternative, music production

'GPT-6 Astra Trends in India as OpenAI Talk Spreads

The term 'GPT-6 Astra' is surging on Google Trends in India, with over 2,000 searches tied to OpenAI and its ChatGPT models. A search term tied to OpenAI is climbing fast in India. "GPT-6 Astra" has broken onto Google Trends in the country, logging more than 2,000 searches under the query "chatgpt gpt astra." The phrase is circulating alongside the description "GPT-6 Astra: A new generation of intelligence," linked to OpenAI, the company behind the ChatGPT chatbot and its GPT series of language models. The surge points to strong public curiosity in India about the next step in OpenAI's technology. Beyond the name and tagline, concrete details remain scarce. The available information does not confirm a release date, technical specifications, pricing or an official product announcement attached to the "GPT-6 Astra" label. What is clear is the scale of interest: the query has gathered enough momentum to register as a trending topic across Indian searches. Google Trends measures relative search interest, and a spot on its India charts signals that a large number of users are looking up the same phrase within a short window. In this case, that phrase couples the ChatGPT brand with a name, "Astra," and a generational claim about intelligence. Until OpenAI issues verified details, readers should treat the "GPT-6 Astra" name with caution. The trend confirms the appetite for information, not the arrival of a product. For now, the story is the search spike itself and the questions it raises about what OpenAI may release next. GPT-6 Astra, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Google Trends India, artificial intelligence, GPT-6, AI models

Gold and Silver Prices Slide Sharply in India

Gold and silver prices fell notably in India, with both precious metals seeing sharp declines and new rates drawing wide attention among buyers. Gold and silver prices dropped sharply in India, with both precious metals recording notable declines and new rates drawing wide attention from buyers and traders. The fall came suddenly enough to spark heavy public interest, pushing "gold silver" into the trending searches on Google Trends in India, where the topic logged more than 100,000 searches. Gold, often treated as a safe store of value, gave up ground, while silver also slipped significantly. The combined move in the two metals prompted many shoppers and investors to check the latest quoted rates. The surge in searches points to strong interest from households and small buyers, for whom shifts in gold and silver prices can affect purchase decisions, wedding-season planning and savings. Any drop in rates typically draws fresh attention from those waiting to buy. Further details on the exact figures, the size of the decline and the factors behind the move were not immediately available. gold price, silver price, gold rate India, silver rate, precious metals, gold silver decline, bullion market

10 Home Remedies People Use to Guard Against Swine Flu

From tulsi leaves and raw garlic to turmeric milk and frequent handwashing, here are 10 everyday steps suggested to help ward off swine flu. With swine flu cases rising, many people are looking for simple, low-cost steps they can take at home to strengthen their resistance against the H1N1 virus and common flu. The advice below is not a cure. It is a set of everyday measures, and anyone already ill is warned they will help only to a limited extent. The steps do not need to be followed all at once. The suggestion is to pick a combination that suits you. Most of the remedies rely on herbs, kitchen staples and hygiene rather than prescription drugs, and several are aimed at keeping the throat, nose and lungs clear. Herbs and kitchen staples Tulsi, known in English as basil and by its medicinal name Ocimum sanctum, tops the list. The recommendation is to chew five properly washed tulsi leaves every morning. Tulsi is credited with a range of therapeutic properties, keeping the throat and lungs clear and supporting immunity against infection. Giloi, or Tinospora cordifolia, is a plant found easily in many areas. To make a kadha, or concoction, take a one-foot-long branch of giloi, add five or six tulsi leaves and boil in water for 15 to 20 minutes, long enough for the water to draw out the plant's properties. Season to taste with black pepper and sendha, rock or black salt, or add misri, crystallised sugar lumps, to sweeten it. Let it cool a little and drink while still warm. If the plant is not available, processed giloi powder from suppliers such as Hamdard can be used to make a similar drink once a day. Garlic and dairy also feature. Those who can tolerate it are advised to swallow two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning with lukewarm water, which is said to build immunity. People who are not allergic to milk can drink a glass of hot or lukewarm milk each night with a small measure of haldi, or turmeric. Aloe vera, known as gwarpatha, is another commonly available plant. Its thick, cactus-like leaves hold an odourless gel, and a teaspoon of that gel taken with water daily is said to help skin, joint pain and immunity. Camphor, homeopathy and Vitamin C A small piece of camphor, or kapoor, roughly the size of a tablet, can be taken once or twice a month, but no more. Adults can swallow it with water, while children may need it mixed into mashed potato or banana to get it down. The warning is clear: camphor is not for daily use, only once a season or once a month. On the homeopathic side, the remedies named are Pyrogenium 200 and Influenzium 200, taken as five tablets three times a day or two to three drops three times a day. Neither is described as targeting H1N1 specifically. They are presented only as a preventive against common flu virus. Citrus fruit and Vitamin C round out the diet advice. Amla, or Indian gooseberry, is singled out for its Vitamin C content. Because fresh amla will not reach the market for another three to four months, packaged amla juice, now widely sold, is suggested as an alternative. Breathing, movement and clean hands Daily pranayam is recommended, ideally under guidance for anyone not already trained in it, along with a regular morning jog or walk. Even in small amounts, this is said to keep the throat and lungs in good condition and improve the body's resistance to illnesses affecting the nose, throat and lungs. The final measure is the most conventional: frequent handwashing. The advice is to wash with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds, especially before meals and after touching any surface that might be contaminated, such as a door handle or knob. That applies particularly after returning from a public place or using public transport. Where soap and warm water are not immediately available, alcohol-based hand cleaners should be kept on hand and used in the meantime. The overriding message accompanying the list is not to panic. The remedies are framed as easy steps to tackle a flu virus of any kind, including swine flu, and can be combined to suit the individual rather than followed rigidly. swine flu remedies, H1N1 prevention, tulsi immunity, giloi kadha, home remedies flu, turmeric milk, amla vitamin C, handwashing flu  

Mbappe Rated 1/10 as Real Madrid Fall 1-0 to Betis

Real Madrid lose 1-0 at Real Betis, their first defeat of the season. Kylian Mbappe misses a late penalty and draws savage 1/10 ratings; Mourinho defends him Real Madrid lost for the first time this season on Friday, going down 1-0 at Real Betis, and Kylian Mbappe walked away with the sharpest criticism after missing a stoppage-time penalty. The French forward, expected to spearhead the attack, instead became the central talking point once the whistle blew at the Estadio La Cartuja. Troy Parrott decided the contest in the 81st minute. Thibaut Courtois pushed away a strong effort, but the ball dropped straight back into a crowded area, and the former Tottenham striker steered it home from short range. The goal handed Betis a memorable win and ended the unbeaten run Real Madrid had enjoyed under Jose Mourinho. The visitors twice went close to a leveller in the closing stages. Seven minutes after falling behind, substitute Carlos Espi produced a bicycle kick that beat the goalkeeper, only for officials to disallow it. Then, in the third minute of added time, Real Madrid were given a penalty. Mbappe stepped up and failed to score. Real Madrid argued the spot-kick should have been taken again, pointing to what they saw as encroachment from Betis defender Marc Bartra. Referees let the original outcome stand, and the home side saw out the remaining moments to secure the result. The 1/10 and 2/10 verdicts Media in both Spain and France turned on Mbappe. The French publication Journal du Real awarded him 2/10, saying he had not risen to the occasion or led the side, and calling it a display best forgotten. Le Parisien described it as an unusually flat evening, taking aim at his half-hearted pressing and the lack of sharpness in his play. Spanish coverage cut deeper. ELDesmarque gave the striker a bare 1/10, labelling him selfish with the ball in threatening positions and dismissing his finishing as careless. The scores rank among the worst Mbappe has received since joining Real Madrid. Mourinho points at the collective Mourinho declined to add to the criticism, instead spreading responsibility across the squad and questioning how his players handled the game. "The team played a great game," he told reporters. "Sometimes you lose and you don't know why or how to explain it." The manager suggested his opponents had simply been shrewder. "The Betis players are smarter than the Real Madrid players, who are pure, naive," he said. He was especially annoyed by early challenges, insisting Betis should have been booked for fouls on Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr. "In the first play of the game, it was a clear yellow card for a player who fouled Valverde, and then another yellow for a player who committed a serious foul on Vini Jr," Mourinho said. He felt his own players were too accepting when opponents tried to sway the referee, and he framed that restraint as a lack of cunning rather than a flaw in character. "We're naive in the sense that Betis players try to influence the referee's decision over the smallest things," he added. "Real Madrid players, in situations that should warrant a yellow card, like when he stepped on Valverde, stayed on their feet. That's worthy of a Real Madrid captain." Asked directly about the penalty, the manager refused to single out his forward. "And the missed penalty is like I always say: when one of us goes to take a penalty, we all go together," he said. He also credited the Betis crowd, describing a fanbase that pushes and pressures to help produce moments like these. The defeat leaves Real Madrid exposed at the top. Barcelona can open a three-point gap over their rivals if they beat Valencia on Sunday evening. Mbappe, meanwhile, will have to answer the ratings on the pitch, though his manager has already made clear he views the loss as a shared one rather than the fault of a single player.. Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, Real Betis, Jose Mourinho, Troy Parrott, penalty miss, La Liga, player ratings