Dave Fiji and his wife Jessani (Image/X@ATLNewsFirst)

An Indian-origin pilot has died in a helicopter crash just hours after marrying his long-time partner in the US, turning a joyous wedding celebration into a tragedy. The helicopter pilot also lost his life in the accident, while the bride survived and is recovering in hospital.Dave Fizzy and his wife Jessani boarded a Robinson R66 helicopter after their wedding ceremony in Dawsonville, Georgia on Friday night. According to Atlanta News First, the helicopter was headed to DeKalb-Peachtree Airport as part of a special farewell held after the wedding. However, shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed in a densely forested area near the wedding venue.About 400 guests attended the couple’s wedding at The Revere in Dawsonville.Recalling the celebration, Dave’s father George Fiji said that his son was very happy on his wedding day.He said, “My son was very happy. I was standing there looking at my son and admiring him. He was looking very handsome.”According to family members, Dave and Jason met through church connections in South Carolina and Georgia before their friendship eventually blossomed into a relationship. George described the couple as, “Friends who decided to become life partners.”The helicopter crashed before reaching its destination, following which a major search operation was launched in the forested area.George Fiji said it took several hours for rescue teams to locate the wreckage. “It took them a while to locate the helicopter,” he said.According to the family, Jessani was trapped inside the debris for nearly six hours before emergency responders found her.Describing the heartbreaking scene narrated by his daughter-in-law, George said Jessie realized her husband had died next to her.He said, “When she woke up she saw my son Dave resting on her chest. She saw blood on him and by then his body was completely cold. She’s a nurse, so she knew he was gone.”George said Jason was hit and bruised but survived without any broken bones. “She’s broken, but she’s recovering,” he said.Dave Fiji dreamed of becoming a pilot since childhood and later fulfilled that ambition by joining Delta Air Lines as a first officer, according to his father.Before the helicopter took off, George said his son had expressed concerns about deteriorating weather conditions and poor visibility.“Since my son was the pilot, he told the pilot there was zero visibility and when there’s zero visibility like this, we never fly,” George said.According to George, Jesse later told him that the helicopter pilot responded by saying they would fly at a higher altitude.The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the accident and has not yet determined the cause of the accident.As the family mourns the passing of Dave Fiji, George said his Christian faith is helping him cope with the tragedy.He said, “Without God there would be many questions – why? God gave us a perfect marriage, and in a matter of hours everything turned into tragedy. The only place we can find answers and peace is in God.”

Rajat Patidar (BCCI/IPL Photo)

New Delhi: When emotions, cheers and roars echoed around the Narendra Modi Stadium Rajat Patidar The move was stepped up for the post-match presentation after Royal Challengers Bangalore clinched their second consecutive IPL title with a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad.RCB, which won its maiden IPL title in Ahmedabad in 2025, successfully defended the title a year later, becoming only the third franchise after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings to achieve the feat. The victory also extended the streak of Qualifier 1 winners lifting the trophy to nine consecutive seasons. The win put Patidar in elite company, making him the third captain in IPL history to win two consecutive titles.MS Dhoni achieved the feat with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, while Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians to glory in 2019 and 2020.The moment he won the title, Patidar took to social media and expressed the achievement in four words.Patidar wrote, “Ee Saala Cup Namdu”.Reflecting on the campaign, Patidar admitted that the pressure this season was very different from what the team experienced a year ago.“Last year was a lot of pressure, this year was more calm because the way we played throughout the tournament, we dominated this year,” Patidar said after the match.“So we were confident that if we play like this we will definitely win the second title for RCB.”Speaking about his captaincy style, Patidar said that his calm nature should not be confused with lack of awareness.“I am not expressive but at the same time I am aware of the playing situation. Of course you need support, which as I said was a lot of support by the management and the players as well.”

Patidar also gave special praise Virat KohliHe said that the former captain’s influence on and off the field continues to inspire the team.Kohli played an unbeaten inning of 75 runs while chasing RCB’s target of 156 runs against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad and led the team to victory with two overs to spare.The star batsman finished the season with 675 runs, which included one century and five half-centuries.“If I speak about Virat Kohli, I don’t have words to explain him. He is used to doing great things,” Patidar told reporters.“He is a great player, everyone knows him – the way he bats. We all get a chance to learn from him on and off the field. We spend a lot of time with him and try to learn everything he says about cricket or anything else,” the RCB skipper said.

Photo Credit: AP

Ukraine on Sunday rejected Russian claims that it had carried out a drone strike on the Russian-held Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, as both sides accused each other after fresh attacks amid the ongoing war.The denial came after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a drone attacked the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, citing information from the facility’s Russian-established operator. On Saturday, a drone hit the turbine building, “reportedly leaving a hole in its wall”, according to the operator.Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhia, was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of the 2022 invasion and remains near the front line in southern Ukraine.Russia’s government nuclear energy company Rosatom has accused Ukraine of deliberately attacking. Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev said, “This afternoon, a Ukrainian kamikaze combat drone attacked the turbine hall building of power unit No. 6, resulting in an explosion.” He said the main equipment of the plant was not damaged.Kyiv immediately denied the allegation, with Ukraine’s military calling it “another propaganda ploy”. It said it neither attacked nor targeted the facility and stressed that it understood “the consequences of any action targeting nuclear facilities” and adhered to international humanitarian law.“In the relevant part of the front line, there was no active fighting at the time of the incident, and no weapons were used,” the army said.Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry also rejected the allegation, saying it lacked “logic”.“It is not clear why Ukraine would attack its own nuclear power plant located on its own territory, which it itself wants to acquire under its sovereign control,” the ministry said.IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi expressed “grave concern” over the reported attack and reiterated the need to protect nuclear facilities during conflict.“There should be no attacks of any kind on behalf of or against the plant,” Grossi said. “Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire,” he said.Ukraine’s state nuclear supervisory agency said the reported damage should be independently verified by IAEA experts deployed to the plant as part of the agency’s long-term monitoring mission.The Zaporizhia facility has remained a focal point of concern throughout the war, with both Moscow and Kiev repeatedly accusing each other of attacks around the site, raising fears of a possible nuclear accident.The incident came as Ukraine and Russia reported fresh attacks overnight.Russian officials said drone debris caused a fire at a fuel storage facility in the Rostov region, forcing nearby residents to evacuate. Damage to civilian infrastructure was also reported in the Saratov region. Independent Russian outlet Astra reported that a fire broke out at an oil refinery in the regional capital, according to the AP.Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 212 of the 299 drones launched by Russia overnight. It said 14 drones reached their targets, while debris fell at five locations.Russian drone strikes also hit the city of Dnipro and an oil refinery in Ukraine’s Rivne region, causing fires. Rivne regional governor Oleksandr Koval said no injuries were reported at the refinery.

New Delhi: The government is considering cutting the list of vehicles exempted from toll payment on national highways, and vehicles belonging to senior central and state government officials are likely to be taken out of the “exempted category”, TOI has learned.A high-level committee constituted by the Central Government has recommended the Road Transport Ministry to amend the National Highway Fee Rules to “eliminate the exempted category”. Officials said the proposal is under discussion with various stakeholders and there is a possibility of reducing the exempted category of vehicles in a systematic manner.“The proposal to start this exercise is under active consideration with the government authorities. The focus is on ending VIP culture as it does not appeal to common citizens,” said a person aware of the development. The Road Transport Ministry has written to various government institutions and states to motivate their employees to purchase Fastag annual passes instead of asking for discounts. “They can work out a mechanism to reimburse the amount of Fastag annual pass, which is much less than reimbursement of mobile phone bills,” he said. Discussions are also going on with the defense forces,” said an officer.At present, vehicles transporting people working in 25 public offices and accompanying them are exempted from paying toll. Vehicles used for official purposes by central and state armed forces in uniform, including defense personnel, paramilitary forces, executive magistrates, fire departments, inspection of highway projects and emergency purposes (ambulances, funeral vans) are also exempted from paying toll.‘Exempt FASTags’ are issued by IHMCL under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to vehicles legally exempted from paying toll charges. Even if these vehicles do not pay toll, they must still have a valid exempted FASTag.People involved in the discussions said that with the implementation of the Fastag annual pass, people can now buy it online and get reimbursement of the amount from their respective department. With an annual pass of Rs 3,075, a vehicle can cross 200 toll plazas, costing a little more than Rs 15 per plaza, and can be renewed multiple times in a year.

Virat meets Vaibhav (Image: X)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defend their IPL crown, and win back-to-back titles with no help from anyone else Virat Kohli Sealing the win with a trademark six. As the celebrations began, the most heart-touching moment of the night came when Kohli met 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the teenager who not only broke records this season but also etched his name in IPL history.It was a night that belonged to two of the biggest stars of IPL 2026, one who led his team to glory and the other who enthralled the cricket world with a dream season. After RCB’s win, Kohli was seen congratulating Vaibhav, who rocked the awards ceremony by winning the Emerging Player of the Season, Super Striker of the Season, Super Sixer of the Season, Orange Cap and Most Valuable Player awards. Kohli also had a lot to celebrate. The RCB veteran was named the player of the match after his match-winning unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, completing the chase with a six to spark wild celebrations among the Bengaluru faithful.After the presentation ceremony, Kohli and Vaibhav were seen having a light-hearted conversation on the field, which was one of the most memorable images of the season. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore continued their dominance and won back-to-back IPL titles by defeating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.GT scored 155/8 in their 20 overs, but RCB’s disciplined bowling attack kept the dangerous batting lineup in check. Despite a few late boundaries, Gujarat never managed to build significant partnerships and finished with a lowly score. In reply, RCB chased the target with ease and reached 161/5 in just 18 overs. Virat Kohli started the innings with a brilliant unbeaten 75 off 42 balls and ensured there were no late interruptions. His innings proved decisive as RCB crossed the finish line with two overs to spare and sealed their second consecutive IPL title.

The win further cemented RCB’s position as the team to beat in the tournament, while GT finished as worthy runners-up after an impressive campaign under skipper Shubman Gill.

television actor Parth Samthaan Recently shared a heart touching post for comedian and actor. Krishna Abhishek Parth with the actress after visiting the sets of Laughter Chefs: Unlimited Entertainment Season 3 Deepika Singhrecently shot for the popular reality show and gave fans a glimpse of their fun time on set through a series of behind-the-scenes photos.While sharing the pictures, Deepika did not say anything except praising Krishna. Calling him one of the rare talents in the entertainment industry, she wrote, “In our industry, there are many good actors, but combining that talent with a kind and pure soul is a deadly combo.. @Krishna30 Baba you were amazing as always… Cheers.” Her heartfelt words instantly caught attention and showed the strong bond she had with the comedian during the shoot.Parth also wrote a special note for Krishna, praising him. Describing him as an extraordinary artiste and an even better human being, Parth wrote, “Krishna is an amazing actor. We first met during an awards ceremony in Kolkata in 2020 and clicked instantly. Great talent across TV, films and web. Amazing listener with knowledge and warmth. Our ‘Sheela Ki Jawaani’ dance + Laughter Chef’s act = pure entertainment.”The post immediately caught the attention of fans, who loved seeing the camaraderie between the actors. Many users flooded the comments section with heart emojis and appreciation posts. Many fans agreed with Parth and Deepika’s description of Krishna, and described him as one of the most entertaining personalities on television. One fan wrote, “Krishna deserves all the love,” while another commented, “Two pure souls appreciating another pure soul.Many expressed excitement over Parth’s appearance on the show and said that they cannot wait to watch the episode.Fans were particularly surprised by Parth’s mention of her “Sheela Ki Jawaani” dance performance, with many users requesting to see more glimpses from the set. Others praised the chemistry shared by the stars and said the photos perfectly captured the fun atmosphere of the show.Currently, Laughter Chefs 3 continues to entertain audiences with a mix of comedy, cooking challenges and celebrity pranks. This season includes popular names like Krushna Abhishek, Kashmira Shah, Elvish Yadav, Karan Kundra, Tejasvi Prakash, Aly Goni, Jannat Zubair, Abhishek Kumar, Samarth Jurel and other popular names.

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Sunday said the country’s border issues with India will be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic efforts, while also proposing the United Kingdom’s participation in talks, citing Britain’s role in shaping the region’s modern boundaries during the colonial era.Addressing Nepal’s House of Representatives for the first time since taking office following elections in March, Shah stressed the need for dialogue to resolve long-standing territorial disputes.He said the border issue with India would be resolved “through table talks and diplomatic efforts”. Calling for Britain’s involvement in the process, Shah said Britain should also be concerned about the issue as the present-day borders date back to colonial times.“When they were leaving British India, the problem was passed down through the generations, which is why we believe England also needs to be concerned about it,” he said.“All these issues will be resolved through table talk and diplomatic channels,” news agency ANI reported.According to Shah, Nepal has already exchanged diplomatic notes with India and agreed on a roadmap involving historians, surveyors and regional experts from both sides to examine geographical and historical records related to the disputed areas.His comments come amid ongoing differences over areas including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. Nepal published a revised political map in 2020 laying claim to the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region, while India rejected the move and said the map included parts of Indian territory.Earlier this month, India reiterated its willingness to engage with Nepal on all bilateral issues, including unresolved border issues, through dialogue and diplomacy.Responding to questions regarding Nepal’s claims regarding the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Lipulekh Pass has been a long-term route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1954 and the Yatra through this route has been going on for decades. This is not a new development.”On Nepal’s territorial claims, he said, “With regard to territorial claims, India has consistently stated that such claims are neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence. Such unilateral artificial expansion of territorial claims is unsustainable.”India had similarly rejected Nepal’s revised map in 2020 under the KP Sharma Oli-led government, saying the move was contrary to the bilateral understanding that pending border issues should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.

New Delhi: Indians were the third largest number of applicants for Schengen visas globally in CY 2025, with 11.5 lakh people doing so with a rejection rate of 15.8%. According to data released by the European Commission (EC), the Chinese were the largest applicants with 18 lakh with a rejection rate of 4.1%, followed by Turkish nationals (12.5 lakh) with a rejection rate of 14.6%. “The top five applicant countries remained largely unchanged,” the EC says, adding that Russia (6.8 million) and Morocco (6.2 million) are applicants to the Court and in fifth place.Despite rising international airfares and the rupee’s steep depreciation since last year, which has made traveling abroad more expensive, 4% more Indians applied for a Schengen visa in 2025 compared to 2024. The rejection rate for Indian applicants also increased from 15% to 15.8% during this period.Rajesh Mago, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “After the budget-friendly and close to home Middle East and South East Asia, Europe tops the list of Indian globetrotters with its diverse attractions, including Switzerland, Greece, Amsterdam, France and others. We are now seeing a growing trend of sports tourism and a large number of Indians are going there to watch matches.”Among the EU and Schengen associated consulates, Switzerland sees the maximum number of applications in India at around 2.3 lakh and the country-specific rejection rate is no more than 13.6%. This is followed by France with more than 2 lakh, Germany with 1.5 lakh, Netherlands with less than one lakh and Sen with around 91,000. Other big attractions for visa applicants included the embassies of Italy, Austria, Greece, Belgium and Sweden.“Switzerland and France (the top two embassies in India in terms of receiving Schengen visa applications) have really made the visa application here easy in terms of dates and then getting the passport stamped back. While the total turnaround time for the Schengen states is 15 working days, Switzerland and France return in 7-10 days. Availability of dates in Italy is a big issue,” said a leading travel agent on condition of anonymity. At 46.5%, the highest rejection rate for Indians was in SloveniaOverall, 3.3 crore Indians were expected to travel abroad in CY 2025 – 6% more than 2024 and 21.5% more than pre-Covid 2019. According to government data, their top five destinations were: UAE (86 lakh), Saudi Arabia (34 lakh), Thailand (22 lakh), USA (20 lakh) and Singapore (15 lakh).According to the European Commission, EU and Schengen-affiliated consulates globally received approximately 12 million applications for short-term visas in 2025 and granted more than 10 million visas. While over CY 2024, both the number of applications and visas granted were below pre-Covid levels.“More than 10 million visas were issued in 2025 – an increase of 3% from 2024 (97 million), but still down from 15 million granted in 2019. The global denial rate remained stable at 14.8%, unchanged from 2024, although some countries saw significant fluctuations. Denials declined in Russia (6.4%, down from 7.5%), Algeria (31%, down from 35%), and Ethiopia (34%, down from 36.1%), but faster increases in Cape Verde (21.4%, up from 13.4%), Democratic Republic of the Congo (40.1%, up from 29.9%), Senegal (51.9%, up from 46.8%), and Burundi (53.4%, up from 40%). Happened,” says EC.