Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan recently shared an interesting memory from Sonam Kapoor’s wedding celebrations, revealing that she had gifted the actress something truly unique for her big day.In a recent episode of her YouTube vlog featuring actor-dancer Shantanu Maheshwari and reality TV personality Shruti Sinha, Farah opened up about her involvement in Sonam Kapoor’s wedding festivities. During the conversation, Shruti recalled assisting Farah during the preparations, prompting the choreographer to reveal a lesser-known detail about the star-studded event.Farah disclosed that instead of a conventional wedding present, she had offered her expertise as a choreographer and took charge of the entire sangeet ceremony.“At Sonam Kapoor’s wedding, my wedding gift was that I would choreograph the sangeet.” She also remembered how her longtime assistant Firoz and Shruti had worked closely with her while putting together performances for the celebration.“So, Firoz, my old assistant was with me, and I think Shruti came with Firoz.” Recalling the rehearsals, Farah revealed that several well-known faces from the Kapoor family and the film industry were part of the performances and were being guided by Shruti.“There was Sonam, there was Arjun Kapoor, there was Masaba, there was Rhea Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez… everyone was being taught by Shruti.”The discussion then shifted to Shruti’s experience working with Farah during the event. Looking back on the hectic rehearsal schedule, Shruti remembered receiving praise from the filmmaker, who had highlighted her work ethic in front of the rest of the team.“There were two assistants, and I remember Farah Ma’am scolding the other one a lot. Pointing at me she said, ‘this girl is doing well, everyone follow this girl’,” recalled Shruti.For those unaware, Sonam Kapoor married businessman Anand Ahuja on May 8, 2018, in Mumbai. The wedding became one of the most high-profile celebrity events of the year, drawing some of the biggest names from the Hindi film industry.The lavish sangeet ceremony featured energetic performances by several Bollywood stars, including Karan Johar, Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor, making it one of the most memorable pre-wedding celebrations in recent years.Farah Khan, meanwhile, continues to be regarded as one of Bollywood’s most accomplished choreographers and filmmakers, having choreographed countless iconic songs and directed several successful films over the course of her career.

BENGALURU: Karnataka Examination Authority has launched an app to connect students participating in this year’s KEA counselling with senior students who secured seats through KEA counselling last year.Called KEA Connect, the app has been developed to help students navigate through the counseling process. “Currently, there are many middle men who are taking advantage of the vulnerable students and charging them for helping them with the counseling process. We want to eliminate such middlemen and make the process hassle free for students,” said H Prasanna, executive director, KEA.These senior students will serve as mentors, guiding aspirants through the counselling and admission process. This guidance and support can be provided virtually, and each senior student may mentor up to five candidates. Female candidates will be guided only by girls, and boys by boys. Incase, a student is not happy with the mentor, he/she can reject and apply for a new mentor. No personal data will be shared and the student will be chatting through the app. The mentoring will be done between 5pm-7pm, as the mentors are also pursuing their own education and academic responsibilities.KEA, using its data base from last year, has sent a message to all the previous candidates seeking interest in it. It has also circulated the link for students to register for the programme through all engineering colleges. Participation in the initiative is voluntary. Mentees,will have a pop up question, once they log in, on whether they want to apply for this service. So far, 1372 candidates have agreed to become mentors. 1,724 current students have sought help and have become mentees. Around 89 pairs have been set up so far. KEA has also installed chat bot kiosks in its revamped office. “Students can ask any doubts at the kiosks. It responds in the preferred language,” said Prasanna. Meanwhile, KEA is also offering free wifi service for students who are visiting their office for admission purposes.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s much-anticipated return to competitive cricket for India A ended in a brief stay at the crease as the teenage sensation managed 14 runs in the Tri-Nation A Series opener against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Tuesday.The young batter, who attracted widespread attention following his stellar IPL 2026 campaign, walked in with plenty of expectations but could not convert his start into a big score. Sooryavanshi struck only three fours during his 12-ball knock before being caught by Sahan Arachchige off the bowling of Mohamed Shiraz. His dismissal left India A at 16-1 in the fourth over.India A had opted to bat first after winning the toss. Alongside Sooryavanshi, wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh also departed early for just two runs. However, Priyansh Arya and Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the innings with a useful partnership before Arya was run out for 32. Gaikwad remained unbeaten on 46, while captain Tilak Varma was unbeaten on 18 as India A reached 118-3 after 28 overs.Ahead of the match, Sri Lanka A vice-captain Niroshan Dickwella had spoken about the excitement surrounding Sooryavanshi and the challenge of facing the youngster.“I’m glad to be a wicketkeeper, because I won’t be getting many of the balls when he is batting. He’s an exciting talent, and everyone loves the way the BCCI is handling him at this age and giving him opportunities in the ‘A’ team to perform. He’s not only a motivation for young Sri Lankan cricketers, but for youngsters all over the world. He hasn’t played a lot of List ‘A’ cricket, but this is a good opportunity for him to showcase his talent, explore, and show that he’s a very good short-format player. And, you know, we’re looking forward to this contest,” Dickwella told TOI.When asked about plans to contain the Indian batter, Dickwella said: “We’re not trying to stop him, but, we’ll try to execute our basics first. We’ve some plans for him and for the whole Indian batting line-up. But, on that day, on the merit of how he is going to take the bowlers on, we will try and keep him down. The conditions here are different… I think in the IPL they have flatter pitches, but here in Sri Lanka we have huge grounds.”

Zoji La tunnel, said to be the world’s longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at such a high altitude, has achieved a major milestone on Tuesday. The 13.153-km-long Zoji La Tunnel saw breakthrough which marked a landmark moment.The tunnel, a key strategic project that will ensure year-round connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh, saw a scheduled “breakthrough” blast. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday took part in the breakthrough ceremony marking the symbolic excavation of the final rock barrier inside the Zoji La Tunnel.Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accompanied the minister during the event.Just three metres of rock now separate the two ends of the tunnel. The final blast will remove this remaining section, linking the Sonamarg (Baltal) side in Kashmir with Minamarg in Ladakh.

Zoji La Tunnel: All you want to know

The tunnel is being constructed in the Zoji La sector between Baltal (Sonamarg) and Meenamarg (Drass and Kargil), spanning the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

The project aims to deliver all-weather connectivity through one of the most difficult Himalayan stretches, a route that remains inaccessible for extended periods every year due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and severe weather.The tunnel, being built at an altitude of around 11,578 feet above sea level, involves an investment of Rs 6,500 crore. The tunnel stands among the most notable engineering feats undertaken in India’s mountain infrastructure landscape.The project is targeted for completion in 2028. As part of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway, it is expected to significantly improve both civilian travel and military movement in the region.Once the tunnel is connected from end to end, ventilation will improve and construction on the remaining portions can move ahead at a faster pace. The overall project is expected to be completed within the next two years.When operational, it will rank among the world’s longest single-tube, bi-directional road tunnels at such a high altitude.

Said to be one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, the tunnel will provide a reliable year-round connection between Ladakh and the rest of the country.The project features advanced safety infrastructure, a semi-transverse ventilation system to ensure consistent airflow inside the tunnel, and a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system built using the New Austrian Tunneling Method.It is equipped with CCTV monitoring, radio communication systems, uninterrupted power supply and modern ventilation facilities. The use of advanced construction technologies has helped generate savings of more than Rs 5,000 crore for the government.On Monday, Gadkari posted on X: “India’s most challenging infrastructure taking shape in the remote heights of the Himalayas — Zoji La Tunnel!”Harpal Singh, Joint Chief Operating Officer of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd. (MEIL), which is building the tunnel, told TOI that following the blast, a small number of vehicles will be permitted to pass through the tunnel as a symbolic gesture.Around 1,400 workers have been engaged on the project, enduring harsh conditions with temperatures dropping between -20°C and -30°C for nearly 100 days every year.

The site also experienced five major avalanches, including two that damaged machinery and workshop facilities. “Nearly 80% of our workforce is from Kashmir. They have done a wonderful job,” Singh said.Yusuf, Authority Engineer for the Zojila Project, told ANI, “I am from Iran. I am proud of it. I can say I am proud that about 80% of the project is already finished; the remaining 20% might take another two years or so to complete fully. Regardless, the breakthrough is a major event for the tunnel, and we are happy that, under the current system, we have managed to execute this project effectively. It will take roughly another two and a half years for the tunnel to fully open. However, in a dire emergency, especially if the Army needed to use it, it might be possible to utilise the tunnel for a short period, although under normal circumstances, it is not feasible to use it yet…”

You don’t need a TED Talk at the office kitchen counter. You need two or three clear sentences, a calm tone, and enough confidence to say, “This matters to my family, so I’ll be doing things a bit differently today.“That is the real situation for many Hindu families in the US and UK. You’re not refusing tradition. You’re trying to keep it while answering Slack messages, packing school lunches, and figuring out whether the local primary school will allow a child to miss an afternoon for Diwali assembly. Some festivals fall on weekdays. Some fasts begin or end according to sunrise, which means New Jersey and London won’t match Delhi. Some colleagues are curious. Some are awkward. A few will ask strange questions. All of that is normal.

The line that works in most workplaces

Start simple. Most colleagues do not need a full theological explanation. They need a plain-English version that is accurate enough and easy to hear.You can say, “I’m observing a Hindu fast today, so I won’t be joining lunch, but I’m fine.” Or, “It’s one of our festival days, based on the Hindu calendar, so my family will be praying this evening.” That is often enough.If someone asks for more, add one sentence about purpose. “A fast, or vrat, means a religious observance that can include food restrictions, prayer, and self-discipline.” Or, “This festival follows the Hindu lunisolar calendar, so the date changes each year on the Western calendar.”That last point helps. Hindu festivals are not random family inventions. Their dates are usually set by tithi, a lunar day in the traditional panchang, a Hindu calendar and almanac. That is why the date can shift year to year, and why timing can vary by location. Even parana, the formal breaking of certain fasts, may depend on sunrise and tithi. For Ekadashi, the eleventh lunar day fast observed in many Vaishnava, Vishnu-devotee, and other Hindu traditions, some sources for 2026 note that parana should be done on Dwadashi, the twelfth lunar day, after sunrise and within a prescribed window, with city-based variation because sunrise differs.

Don’t over-explain your plate

Food questions come fast. Why no grains? Why no onion and garlic? Why fruit only? Why fasting at all if you’re still drinking tea?You do not owe everyone a defence. You can answer without sounding apologetic. “Different Hindu fasts have different rules.” That is true. “In our family, today’s fast means no grains until tomorrow morning.” Also true, if that is your practice. “Some people keep strict fast, some take fruit or milk, and some modify it for health.” Again, true.Keep it specific to your observance. Hindu fasting is not one uniform system. A Shivaratri vrat, a fast observed for Shiva, is not the same as Navaratri fasting in every household, and that is not the same as Ekadashi in every sampradaya, a lineage or devotional tradition. If you present one family rule as universal Hindu law, you’ll create confusion for others and pressure for yourself.

What changes and what does not

This matters, especially abroad. What does not change is the core intention, prayer, timing-consciousness, and the family or sampradaya framework behind the observance. If your family marks Ekadashi with japa, mantra repetition, simple food rules, and parana the next morning, that core can travel well from Leicester to Long Island. If your family lights a diya, an oil lamp, for Diwali and offers Lakshmi puja, worship of Goddess Lakshmi, with sincerity and care, the heart of the observance remains.What changes is the setting and sometimes the scale. A suburban semi-detached house is not a joint family home with a courtyard. A rented flat in Wembley is not your grandparents’ house in Ahmedabad. You may use a tea light in a safe holder where an open flame is not practical. You may do evening puja after the commute, not at the ideal family hour back in India. You may explain a school absence with an email instead of taking part in a whole-day community celebration.Be honest about categories. Canonical ritual means practices set by scripture, sampradaya teaching, or established temple procedure. Family custom means what your family has long done, such as a certain prasad, an offering of blessed food, or a story read after dinner. Pragmatic adaptation abroad means what you change because of time zones, apartment rules, school schedules, or access. These are not all the same things.A practical adaptation is not automatically a scriptural equivalent. If you cannot get to a temple and do a short home puja instead, that may be the right thing for your life abroad. It does not mean home and temple are identical in every tradition. If you substitute available ingredients because specific items are hard to source, that can be sensible. Confirm with your family elders or priest, because not all substitutions are accepted across all sampradayas.Finding words for children and colleagues at the same timeMany parents in the US and UK are doing two explanations at once. One for colleagues. One for children who were born abroad and don’t want to feel odd at school.Use language your child can repeat. “We’re fasting because today is a prayer day.” “We’re celebrating because this day remembers God’s victory, protection, or blessing.” “The date moves because we follow a different calendar for many festivals.” If a child can say it in one breath, they can use it in class without panic.For colleagues, it helps to separate “What are you doing?” from “What do you believe?” You can answer the first without opening the whole second question. “We’re doing evening prayers at home.” “I’m avoiding lunch today because of a fast.” “We’ll celebrate after sunset.” That keeps the exchange respectful and manageable.

When to mention dates, and when not to

In office settings, exact timing matters more for logistics than for religious authority. If you’re requesting time off or shifting a meeting, explain that many Hindu observances follow local sunrise, sunset, moon phase, or temple timing. That is why different calendars sometimes show slightly different dates or observance windows.For example, 2026 listings for Parama Ekadashi, a rare Ekadashi in Adhika Maas, an intercalary or added lunar month, place it on June 11, 2026, in some sources, with parana on June 12 after sunrise, and one source gives a morning parana window from 5:23 AM to 8:10 AM. You do not need to tell your manager all that unless they need to understand why breakfast timing matters after a fast. But it can help you feel less self-conscious. There is a system behind this.

Boundaries are part of cultural confidence

Not every question deserves a long answer. Some deserve a short one. Some deserve none.If someone asks, “So is this like your version of Ramadan?” you can say, “There are some broad similarities in fasting, but the practice and meaning are different.” If they ask whether Hindus “all do the same thing,” say, “No, practice varies by region, family, and tradition.” If they push into debate, you can stop. “I’m happy to explain what my family does, but I’m not looking to argue religion at work.” That sentence saves energy. Use it.

Ask your temple, not just the internet

Diaspora life makes everyone search first and confirm later. Try to reverse that when you can. Your local temple often gives the most useful guidance because it works in your time zone. In the UK, many temples publish festival timings in GMT or BST with local sunrise considerations. In the US, temple calendars often differ by coast, and a New York timing may not suit California.If your family follows a specific sampradaya, ask there first. A Swaminarayan temple, an ISKCON temple, a Shaiva, Shiva-focused, temple, and a Smarta family priest may guide fasting details in different ways. None of that has to be embarrassing. It is just how Hindu practice works.If you need a practical office script, write it once and keep it in your notes app. “I’m observing a Hindu fast today, so I may skip team lunch.” “I’ll be offline this evening for a family festival prayer.” “My holiday follows a lunar calendar, so the date shifts each year.” These lines travel well. So do a small tilak, a forehead mark, before the morning commute, a fruit box in your bag, and the decision not to make your faith sound smaller than it is. Tomorrow morning, when someone asks why you passed on the office doughnuts, you’ll have your answer ready before the kettle boils.

Britain’s driving test system is undergoing its biggest overhaul in years as authorities attempt to tackle widespread no-shows, booking abuse and record waiting times that have left hundreds of thousands of learner drivers struggling to secure appointments.The latest changes, introduced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), come after thousands of driving test slots went unused and concerns grew over automated bots, third-party booking services and appointment resellers exploiting the system. The reforms are designed to ensure test slots reach genuine learners while helping reduce lengthy waiting lists across England, Scotland and Wales.

New UK driving test rules explained

The final phase of the DVSA’s booking reforms comes into force on 9 June, bringing significant restrictions on how learners can manage their driving test appointments.Under the new rules, learners who wish to move a booked driving test can only transfer it to one of the three nearest test centres to their original booking location. Previously, appointments could be moved to almost any test centre in the country if availability existed.The latest measure follows two major changes already introduced this spring. Since 31 March, learners have been limited to just two changes per booking instead of six. Since 12 May, only learner drivers themselves have been allowed to book, change, cancel or swap driving tests. Driving instructors and third-party companies are no longer permitted to do so on a learner’s behalf.The DVSA says the restrictions are intended to make the booking system fairer and prevent misuse of valuable test slots.

Why are authorities taking action?

The changes come as Britain continues to grapple with severe driving test backlogs that emerged during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.According to DVSA figures, average waiting times for a practical driving test have risen to more than 22 weeks in many parts of the country, compared with around five weeks before the pandemic. At the same time, authorities have been battling a growing market of unofficial booking services and automated bots that secure appointments before reselling them to desperate learners.Transport officials say these practices have made it harder for genuine candidates to find tests and have contributed to inefficiencies in the booking system. Thousands of appointments are also lost each year because candidates fail to attend or repeatedly move bookings. The tighter rules are intended to ensure available test slots are used more effectively.In a statement announcing earlier reforms, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood said the measures were aimed at putting learners back in control of the booking process while reducing opportunities for exploitation.

What learners need to know?

The DVSA is urging learners to choose their test centre carefully from the outset because future transfer options will now be limited.Before booking, learners are advised to speak with their instructor to ensure they are ready for the test and to obtain their instructor’s reference number, which can be added during the booking process. Candidates must also confirm they are the person taking the test and agree to new terms and conditions.Anyone who uses both permitted changes and later needs to alter their appointment will have to cancel the booking and arrange a new test. However, a full refund remains available if a cancellation is made with sufficient notice.The new restrictions apply only to car driving tests and cover England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland operates under separate arrangements.

Will it solve UK’s driving test backlog?

While the reforms represent one of the most significant attempts yet to improve the system, experts and learner drivers remain divided over whether booking restrictions alone can solve the wider shortage of test appointments.The government has already recruited additional driving examiners and introduced measures to increase testing capacity, but demand continues to outstrip supply in many regions. Industry observers argue that reducing abuse and preventing reselling should improve fairness, but they warn that long waits may persist unless testing capacity rises significantly.For now, the message from the DVSA is clear: learners should book only when they are genuinely ready, avoid unnecessary changes and make the most of increasingly valuable test appointments as authorities attempt to bring Britain’s driving test system back under control.

India’s options for acquiring a sixth-generation fighter aircraft may have taken a step back. One of the two European programmes that New Delhi has been closely watching for future requirements now faces uncertainty.The two leading European sixth-generation fighter projects are the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and the UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Reports suggest that France and Germany, the principal partners in FCAS, have agreed to part ways on the ambitious programme.It remains unclear whether the project has been shelved entirely or whether either country will seek new partners and continue development independently. Airbus, which represents Germany in the collaboration, had earlier projected that an FCAS demonstrator aircraft would take flight by 2028.Earlier this year, former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that India was examining opportunities to engage with one of the international sixth-generation fighter programmes.“For sixth-generation aircraft, we are looking at two types of consortia. One is a consortium of the UK, Italy and Japan, while the other is a consortium of France and Germany. Both are developing aircraft. In this context, so that we do not fall behind, we will try to associate with one of these consortia and start thinking about sixth-generation fighters from now itself,” he said.

What makes sixth-generation fighters different?

Sixth-generation fighters are expected to represent a significant leap beyond today’s fifth-generation combat aircraft.They are designed with all-aspect stealth, making them difficult to detect from multiple angles rather than primarily from the front. Digital-first engineering and model-based design are expected to improve resilience and allow faster upgrades throughout the aircraft’s life cycle.Advanced propulsion technologies, including variable-cycle engines, are expected to provide both fuel efficiency and high performance. Future weapons suites could include long-range stand-off missiles and directed-energy systems.Artificial intelligence, advanced networking and cyber capabilities are expected to play a central role in decision-making and battlefield awareness. Pilots may operate through highly integrated virtual cockpits, while the aircraft themselves are expected to work alongside autonomous “loyal wingman” drones in manned-unmanned teaming operations.

Global race for sixth-generation air power

Several countries are already pursuing sixth-generation fighter programmes.The United States is developing the F-47 under its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme, while the US Navy is working on the F/A-XX programme.China is believed to be testing two next-generation fighter prototypes, commonly referred to as the J-36 and J-50.US President Donald Trump, while unveiling the F-47, said Washington could be willing to sell a toned-down export version of the aircraft to friendly nations in the future.As the race for sixth-generation air power accelerates, India will eventually have to decide whether to partner with an international programme, pursue an indigenous solution, or adopt a combination of both approaches.