Paris: HS Prannoy of India (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)
New Delhi: HS Prannoy has withdrawn from the Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton tournament after sustaining a shoulder injury during last week’s Swiss Open in Basel. The veteran Indian badminton player was originally scheduled to face top seed Chou Tien-chen of Chinese Taipei in the first round.Prannoy first felt unwell heading into the Swiss Open and decided to withdraw from his match against Watanabe to avoid worsening the injury. Upon his return, scans revealed a minor tear in his shoulder.
Rahul Dravid on the rise of Indian cricket: Strong infrastructure, passionate fans, talent from small towns
“After playing the Swiss Open, the pain started in my shoulder. We didn’t know the cause at that time, so I decided to quit and fly back,” Pranoy told PTI.“The scan showed a slight tear. It’s a minor thing and hopefully I’ll be fine soon,” he added. The Indian star is now aiming to recover in time to participate in the upcoming Asian Championships in Ningbo, China.
With Pranoi out of the side, young players will spearhead India’s performance in this tournament. Rising star Ayush Shetty, seeded eighth and currently ranked 25th in the world, will be one of the main contenders after winning the US Open Super 300 last year. He started a campaign against Li Jiahao.Former world no.1 Kidabi Srikanth He will also face Denmark’s Magnus Johannessen. Other Indian players competing in the men’s singles include Tharun Mannepalli, who recently reached the quarter-finals at the Swiss Open, and Kiran George, who defeated former world champion Loh Kean Yew in Basel.
Focus on women’s and doubles events
In women’s singles, BWF World Youth Championship silver medalist Tanvi Sharma will take on Supanida Kettone. Malvika Bansod also returns after recovering from a long-term knee injury and will face Song Shuoyun.India will also participate in the doubles event. The pairings of Hariharan Amsarkarunan and Arjun in the men’s doubles and Dhruv Kapila and Tanisha Krastoo in the mixed doubles will be expected to put up strong performances to keep India’s hopes alive in the tournament.
JAKARTA: Indonesian police are looking for four people wanted in connection with an acid attack that injured an activist who criticized the military’s growing role in the government, an official said on Monday.Andrie Yunus, deputy coordinator of the KontraS human rights group, was riding a motorcycle last week when he was approached by two men on a motorcycle, one of whom threw acid at him, the human rights group said in a statement.He suffered injuries to his face, one eye, hands and torso.Jakarta police official Iman Emmanuddin told reporters on Monday that CCTV footage showed four suspects following Andri on two motorcycles before the attack.He added that authorities were conducting forensic tests on the motorcycle helmet and a container said to contain acid used in the attack.KontraS representative Jane Rosalina said Andry’s right eye was the most seriously injured and he was receiving specialized treatment in the intensive care unit.Andrie has been an outspoken critic of moves to increase the military’s influence in Indonesia’s government and had just finished recording a podcast on the subject when he was attacked.UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said last week that he was “deeply concerned” by the “horrible acid attacks”.“Those responsible for this cowardly act of violence must be held to account,” he told the X program.Human rights defenders “must be protected in their important work and be able to raise issues of public concern without fear,” Turk added.Mary Lawler, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, also called for a thorough investigation into the “unacceptable” attack.Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra vowed to bring those responsible to justice.Under President Prabowo Subianto, a former general who has been in office since 2024, Indonesia has “experienced further democratic backsliding, repression of protests, media censorship and intimidation of activists,” Human Rights Watch said in its latest report on Indonesia.
Jimmy Kimmel may not be at the helm of this year’s Oscars, but the late-night host still got some laughs when he took the stage to present the documentary award and make an apparent comment about US President Donald Trump. As he took the stage to present the documentary award, he said: “We hear a lot about courage on shows like this, but telling a story that might get you killed is real courage. As you know, there are leaders in countries who don’t support free speech. I’m not at liberty to say which one. Let’s leave that to North Korea and CBS.”He also said, “Well, I’m going to do it. No Oscars. Why, gentlemen?”The comments referenced CBS’s recent decision not to allow Texas Rep. James Talarico to appear as a guest on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” due to threats from the Federal Communications Commission. CBS earlier froze the “60 Minutes” segment that had been promoted.Kimmel has his own history with free speech issues, and he was abruptly taken off the air last fall after criticism from FCC Chairman Brendan Kahl, an action by Disney that became a rallying cry for free speech supporters.“Luckily for all of us, there is an international community of filmmakers committed to telling the truth, often taking huge risks to make films that teach us, call out injustice, inspire us to action, and there are documentaries that let you walk around the White House and try on shoes,” he added, taking a subtle dig at Amazon’s MGM’s “Melania.”Later, while presenting the Outstanding Documentary Award, Kimmel mentioned the film again and joked, “Oh, man, is he going to be mad that his wife didn’t get a nomination?”In the category, “All the Empty Rooms,” directed by Joshua Seftel and Conor Jones, won the Documentary Short Award, while “Nobody Against Mr. Putin,” by David Borenstein, Helle Faber, Alzbeta Karasková, Radovan Sibolt and Lucy Kang, won.
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament HD Deve Gowda on Monday wrote a letter to congress member of congress Sonia Gandhi Concern over what he described as “chaos” within Parliament and its premises. In his letter, Gowda said he was “very disturbed” by the developments in Parliament, which he believed were largely the fault of the opposition parties. The former prime minister also added that there had been excessive chaos in Parliament recently.“I am deeply disturbed by the certain chaos that has been unthinkingly introduced into Parliament and its wider community, largely caused by the opposition,” Goda wrote.He warned that such actions could have wider consequences for democratic institutions. “I’m not sure you can imagine the consequences of this kind of uncontrolled activity and negative energy circulation. I honestly think it could be very damaging to the foundations of our democracy and leave an indelible bitter mark,” he said.Gowda said he initially did not write because he hoped the situation would resolve itself. “I was unsure whether to write to you because I thought things might settle down over time. However, I’m afraid I don’t see any signs of correction,” he said.The former prime minister urged Sonia Gandhi to intervene and use her seniority and experience in the opposition ranks. “I do not want to belittle anyone, or diminish anyone’s role or enthusiasm. But I urge you, as the oldest person in the opposition ranks, to use your considerable political experience and maturity to speak to your party leaders and others,” he wrote.Gowda also looked back on his long political career, saying he spent most of his public life in the opposition party. “As you know, I began my career at the grassroots level of our democratic institutions and spent a total of 65 years of my life as a legislator and parliamentarian. This may well be the last session of Parliament in my life,” he wrote.He also said there had been excessive chaos in Parliament recently. “In recent years, there has been too much sloganeering, placard-raising and name-calling in Parliament. There is a non-serious attitude which attacks my philosophy and conception of Parliament and parliamentary democracy,” Gowda wrote.He said Gandhi could ask opposition leaders to reconsider their approach to the parliamentary protests. “In the long run, you might be able to ask them not to harm themselves, their careers and their political futures,” Gowda said.Gowda stressed that the protests were a legitimate part of parliamentary democracy and said they must not be conducted in a manner that “undermines what we have built together over more than 75 glorious years”.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Review: There are some phones that have made a cult following for themselves. Of course, this exists for the iPhone. Asus ROG phones are popular for their performance. Pixels are popular for their refiend software. Another phone that enjoys this status quo is Samsung’s Galaxy S series, which a few years ago replaced the Note lineup. Now Samsung’s S series, especially the Ultra variant, represents the top-end and the latest and greatest you can buy from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra in the hero colourway, Cobalt Violet. (Shaurya Sharma – HT)
Shaurya Sharma is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, covering consumer, gaming, and AI technology. He has previously worked for reputed media houses, including CNN-News18 and Guiding Tech, and has nearly half a decade of experience in tech journalism. He enjoys cinematography, reading sci-fi, and camping. Instagram and X: @barelysure
Naturally, people have a lot of expectations from Samsung’s top-end flagship. In fact, it is the de facto choice for most people on the Android side of things looking to buy a premium phone. In this case, it is quite premium at ₹1.4 lakh. Yes, Samsung is bundling offers, including the ability to get more storage for the same price. But at the end of the day, you are still going to be spending a lot of money to get the S26 Ultra.
On paper, you might think this is not enough to justify an upgrade. In many ways you would be right, but in many ways you would be wrong as well. The answer is much more nuanced. I have now spent more than 15 days with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra as my main phone of choice. I have done all kinds of things with it. I made videos, used navigation, shot photos, took calls, and more. While the phone sits at the top of the Android flagship food chain and does justify its position, there are several areas where Samsung should not play safe.
Samsung has nailed the weight balance on the S26 Ultra. (Shaurya Sharma)
Let’s address the elephant in the room first: The Privacy Display
I did talk about the Privacy Display in a separate article, so you can read about it in full detail here, where I discussed a popular use case I found, which was using the phone during flights to edit videos. Yes, it is about privacy, and it helps me get more done without having to worry about people peeking into my phone.
In many ways, it is genuinely useful. It is one of those features you have to use in order to understand how useful it can be. For me, I think this is definitely one of the most intuitive features introduced by any phone maker in the last few years and it solves a big privacy problem for many people.
Galaxy S26 Ultra in the Maximum privacy protection mode. (Shaurya Sharma)
Yes, the display does get a bit dim when you turn it on, but it is barely noticeable. The important part is that the phone’s brightness and peak outdoor visibility remain quite legible. In fact, I would say this is one of the brightest screens I have used outdoors. I remember using the phone in the bright Jaipur sun at around 3 p.m., and the phone was perfectly legible with direct sunlight falling on it. See the image below for reference.
Galaxy S26 Ultra allows for a peak brightness of 2600 nits but the more important part is – it can sustain it bright outdoor conditions, more than most phones out there. (Shaurya Sharma)
Yes, despite the Privacy Display, the screen remained quite legible, and I can confidently say that it does not hamper the display experience. But again, not everyone is going to take a microscope and inspect the display. If you are a normal user who wants functionality from their phone, wants a bright display with great colour accuracy and a flagship-grade panel, I do not think you can go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
So the Privacy Display is genuinely useful. It can actually block notifications from specific apps, and you can also tweak it accordingly. For instance, you can make sure it becomes active only while using apps such as WhatsApp. You may not want to use the privacy display while watching YouTube, and that is doable. This granular control is what actually separates the feature from simply toggling it on. This is exactly what separates it from using a traditional privacy screen guard.
Samsung displays are generally considered top-end, so is this one?
Well, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s display did have a bit of a controversy in the past. The phone features a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED panel. It is a top-end panel, supports 120Hz, and is what you would expect from a flagship Samsung phone.
As mentioned earlier, it was perfectly legible even in bright outdoor sunlight. The good thing about Samsung phones is that the display stays bright consistently without dimming. Yes, the iPhone can appear brighter in certain outdoor conditions, but the S26 Ultra stayed bright for as long as I used it under the sun.
This is definitely a real-world use case because many people use their phones outdoors and often complain that the brightness is not great despite high peak brightness claims. So yes, I have no complaints here.
When it comes to colours, Samsung has largely become a master at tuning its displays to strike a balance between being punchy and realistic. Here, the panel simply looks gorgeous. It is sharp, and I do not see any concerns where people were criticising it for not being as sharp as the S25 Ultra because of the new privacy layer or display arrangement.
Do note that by default the panel is set to Full HD+ resolution. It would be in your best interest to switch it to QHD+ as soon as you receive the phone. I tested the phone with both resolutions and the battery consumption was not significantly different. If you are paying ₹1.4 lakh, you might as well get the most out of it.
So yes, when it comes to the display, I have no complaints whatsoever. It is a really good panel and the cherry on top is Samsung’s anti-reflective technology, which disperses light and is far superior to most other Android phones out there. Yes, the latest iPhones also have this coating, but they are no match for the Samsung S26 Ultra in this regard.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn’t skip a beat and OneUI 8.5 is great
This is a Samsung flagship and it is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy. Let me make one thing clear. This phone absolutely flies in everyday operations. There are no skipped frames, no app crashes, and apps load almost instantly while remaining in memory for long.
I also tried my fair share of performance intensive tasks, such as editing in the Edits app for Instagram. Here I would say the experience was pretty smooth. Consistently, the phone rendered videos faster than the iPhone 17 Pro that I am also using. Yes, it is that fast. I exported the same video on both phones and the Samsung always finished faster.
This also shows in synthetic benchmarks. In our Geekbench testing, the phone scored 10963 in the multi core test and 3633 in the single core test (more than what you get with the A19 Pro on the iPhone 17 Pro models), which goes on to show how powerful this device is.
As for the software, the phone runs One UI 8.5 based on Android 16. The experience with One UI 8.5 is top-notch. It feels polished, the animations are slick, it looks modern unlike some recent Android skins, and there are several nifty AI features built in.
Now Brief has been a mainstay and I use it quite a lot, and it has become really handy to track my day. However, the Now Nudge AI feature barely came into play for me and I have not yet found a compelling use case for it.
Apart from this, there are several AI features built in, including Call Assist, which offers real-time translation during voice calls. I think this is a really handy feature. There is also Writing Assist, Interpreter, Browsing Assist, Creative Studio, and of course the full set of AI functionality built into things like the Gallery (wherein you can simply enter a prompt and accordingly make edits).
Powerful camera system but Samsung needs to take more risks
Samsung, like Apple, has been making reliable camera systems for a while now, especially on flagships such as the S series. The S26 Ultra is no different. There are meaningful upgrades over the S25 Ultra, including a larger aperture for the primary camera. However, the sensors largely remain unchanged.
You get a quad camera setup on the back with a 200MP primary. There is a 10MP 3x telephoto, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. Right at the beginning, let me tell you that the weakest link of this camera system is the 3x telephoto. It is not as sharp and not at the level of the other sensors on this phone. It sits somewhere between the primary and the 5x shooter, but this could be mitigated if Samsung decides to consolidate the telephoto setup into one larger sensor, similar to what Xiaomi has done with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and choose a focal length between 3-4.3x.
That said, the 5x telephoto lens consistently produced sharp results. I do not see a problem there. It offers good background separation and portrait shots from this lens are generally very sharp. Images have good depth and excellent detail with strong dynamic range.
Another thing I liked about this camera system is the colour consistency across lenses. You can expect a similar colour profile from the ultra-wide, the 5x telephoto, and the primary sensor. The 3x telephoto is slightly different, but overall your images and videos look consistent when switching lenses.
Now let’s talk about the primary sensor. I have quite a few inputs here. The images look very detailed. I tested it alongside the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and sometimes the Samsung produced even more detailed images. This was also reflected in our Instagram test, where many users preferred the S26 Ultra over the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in most situations. The images are typical Samsung. They are bright, punchy, and social media-ready, with excellent dynamic range and sharpness. You really cannot go wrong with the primary camera.
One underrated upgrade this year is on the video side. The phone now supports Log video recording along with the ability to apply LUTs. This allows you to change the look of the footage even after shooting, making the workflow much more flexible.
As for the quality of the Log video itself, it is right up there with the iPhone. I tried grading the footage and it came out really well. Combined with fast autofocus and Samsung’s signature look, this is a welcome addition to the S26 Ultra.
Portrait video is also dependable. This is one of the few phones that allows you to capture portrait video from both the front and rear cameras. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Pixel 10 do not support this. In this regard, Samsung is quite close to the iPhone.
The edge cut-outs are decent and the depth of field fall-off looks natural. In portrait photos as well, the edge detection is among the best in the Android world and the bokeh appears natural.
One thing I would want Samsung to improve is colour tuning. Sometimes the images appear slightly oversharpened, which makes them look more like typical phone photos rather than images from a dedicated camera, something phones like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra handle better.
So while this is definitely an A+ camera system, there is still room for improvement, especially considering the Ultra branding and the price tag.
The most comfortable Samsung Galaxy Ultra ever
Design has been one area where Samsung has made incremental upgrades over the years. The S26 Ultra marks a departure from titanium, which was first introduced with the S24 Ultra and continued with the S25 Ultra. The S26 Ultra now switches to aluminium, similar to what Apple did with the iPhone 17 series. Truth be told, I do not mind the change. This is one of the most comfortable Ultra phones Samsung has made yet.
The weight distribution is excellent and the phone does not feel heavy in the hand. In fact, it feels surprisingly comfortable despite the large 6.9-inch display. The corners are more rounded, which adds to the comfort and prevents the phone from digging into your palms.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra looks just like its siblings, and that is both a good and a bad thing. (Shaurya Sharma)
However, because of the rounded design, the S Pen can technically be inserted both ways, but if inserted the wrong way it will stick out slightly.
As for durability, the phone feels extremely solid. I used it without a case for the last 15 days and there are no scratches or dents at all, not even a micro-scratch on the display. This suggests that you may not even need a screen protector, especially considering the privacy display.
That said, not everything is perfect. The camera module is quite large and if you place the phone flat on a table, it does rock slightly. But this is easily fixable using a good quality case.
Battery life, cellular reception, and more – Dependable across the board
The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 5000 mAh battery, which Samsung has been using for quite some time now. On paper, an Ultra phone with a 5000 mAh battery might sound odd, especially when devices like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra come with a 6000 mAh battery and phones such as the Realme GT8 Pro or OnePlus 15 go upwards of 7000 mAh.
So on paper you might expect poor battery life, but in reality it is not that simple.
In my experience, the S26 Ultra delivered stellar battery life. Standby time is excellent and you can easily get around 8 to 9 hours of screen-on time over a full working day. It can even last a full day for light users, although I would not stretch it much beyond that.
So while the battery may seem concerning on paper, in practice the optimisation is quite good. It is not a silicon-carbon battery. It is a standard lithium-ion battery, yet it still delivers excellent endurance. That said, it is not quite on the level of phones like the OnePlus 15, which can deliver an extra hour or two of screen-on time.
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra should be the default Android flagship (for most)
Extremes are easy, but sometimes striking a balance is the key. I think Samsung excels here. The brand has time and again created a premium offering for Android lovers, and this S26 Ultra is not an exception. It nails the basics, delivers a solid camera experience (with room for improvement though), is comfortable in-hand, and even delivers industry-first features like the Privacy Display. That said, the price of entry is ₹1,39,999 now, and this is a big price hike over the last generation. So, if you don’t have budget constraints and want the absolute bleeding edge that Samsung has to offer, the S26 Ultra is a no-brainer. It should be the default Android flagship for most.
Donald Trump defended a controversial fundraising email from a pro-Trump political action committee that used a photo of a solemn military handover ceremony, ignoring criticism and lashing out at a reporter who asked about it.Many were outraged by the email, which used a photo of Trump from a stately turnout last week wearing a campaign baseball cap.The email, sent Thursday by the pro-Trump political action committee PAC Never Surrender Inc., included a photo of the president paying tribute to the casket of a fallen soldier during a solemn handover ceremony for six U.S. service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait last week. The message promoted a new “National Security Briefing Membership” and included several links asking supporters to donate, The Independent reported. In the email, recipients were told that members would receive Trump’s “private national security briefing” and “unfiltered updates on threats facing the United States,” including warnings about foreign adversaries, border security and what the message described as “deep state sabotage” and media cover-ups. The use of images of the transfer ceremony quickly drew backlash from Democratic lawmakers and veterans groups, who argued the moment should not be used for political fundraising.Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One for about 20 minutes Sunday night when an ABC News reporter confronted him about the email and asked whether it was appropriate. When asked if that was appropriate, Trump said “I do” and then attacked the reporter, Mediaite.com reported.Reporter: Mr. President, your political action committee sent out a fundraising email a few days ago that was criticized for using your official White House photo in a solemn diversion.The PAC also promised access to confidential briefings PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, unlike many others, I participated in a dignified transfer.Reporter: Do you think it’s appropriate to send this email?President Donald Trump: I do.Reporter: – your critics say you are raising money –PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I don’t see that. I mean, someone put it out. We have a lot of people working for us.But there is no one better suited to the military than me. All you have to do is pay attention to the election. Look at the election results. Look at the type of votes we got. Look at all the numbers. As far as the military is concerned, no one holds a higher position than I do as president.Who are you with?Reporter: ABC NewsPresident Donald Trump: One of the worst, most hypocritical, and corrupt countries in the world.Reporter: Would you comment on the dead soldiers?PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You know ABC News, I think it’s probably the most corrupt news organization on the planet. I think they are terrible.Reporter: Can you comment on the soldiers?PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, I don’t want to hear any more from ABC.
Kavya Maran and Abrar Ahmed (Photo: AP, Getty Images)
New Delhi: Pakistan spinning mills sign contract Abra Ahmed Kavya Maran-led Sunrisers Leeds team sparks major controversy in India, eliciting strong reaction from legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar. The former captain said Indian-owned teams should not sign Pakistani players, arguing that such payments could indirectly harm India’s interests.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Abrar was bought for £190,000 at the inaugural men’s cricket auction in London, making him the first Pakistani cricketer to be selected by an India-owned team in the competition. The move sparked a backlash online, with the team’s social media accounts facing heavy criticism and even being temporarily suspended.Gavaskar wrote in his mid-day column that the anger among the Indian cricket community was understandable given the stance it had long taken since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, after which Pakistani players were effectively banned from cricket matches. indian premier league. “The uproar over the Indian owner of the Centurion franchise acquiring a Pakistani player is not surprising,” Gavaskar wrote.He believes payments to Pakistani players ultimately flow back to the government through taxes. “The fees they pay to Pakistani players, who then pay income tax to the government that buys arms and weapons, indirectly leads to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians, which makes Indian entities no longer even consider hiring Pakistani artists and athletes,” he said.Regardless of whether the payment comes from an Indian company or an overseas subsidiary, the responsibility remains with the owner, Gavaskar added. “If the owner is Indian, then he or she inflicts Indian casualties. It’s as simple as that,” he wrote, questioning whether franchise tournament success was more important than national sentiment.He also warned fans that it was okay to express their anger publicly. “It’s not surprising that every game this team plays there are massive demonstrations by Indian fans to protest against this unbelievable purchase,” Gavaskar said, adding that spectators might even boycott games despite the presence of star players.Meanwhile, Leeds Sunrisers head coach Daniel Vettori The defense said the decision was purely a cricketing one and explained that the team had switched to Abrar after missing out on England leg-spinner Adil Rashid during the auction. According to Vettori, Abrar’s variety and ability to hit hard make him an attractive option, particularly at Headingley.Indian board vice-president Rajiv Shukla also clarified that the Board of Control for Cricket in India cannot intervene in the matter as the signing involves a foreign league and the final decision is left to the team itself.
Fragments of one of the drones fell under the Independence Monument on Kyiv’s Maidan.
Explosions echoed over the Ukrainian capital on Monday as air defenses launched a rare daylight attack on Kiev with a barrage of Russian artillery shells.Agence France-Presse reported that anti-aircraft batteries fired continuously during the rush-hour attack, lighting up the sky with flashes and sending plumes of smoke billowing over the city. Residents scrambled for cover as Ukrainian forces tried to intercept incoming missiles and drones.Russia has stepped up long-range drone and missile strikes in recent months, with energy infrastructure a key target.Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the wreckage of the downed drone landed in the center of the capital, but there were no reports of fire or casualties.“Fragments of the drone fell in the center of the capital. No fire or casualties. Enemy attacks on Kiev continue,” Klitschko wrote on social media, as further explosions were heard.The Ukrainian Air Force also warned of a “high-speed target” approaching the capital from the north near the Russian border.Meanwhile, Russian officials said Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Moscow over the weekend.Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defense systems intercepted a large number of Ukrainian drones flying towards the capital.“In the past two days, air defense forces destroyed about 250 enemy drones directly on the route approaching Moscow and on the second line leading to Moscow,” Sobyanin said on Telegram.
The escalation comes as U.S.-led efforts to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table appear to have stalled as conflicts in the Middle East expand following the Iran-Iraq war in 2026.Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered Europe’s worst conflict since World War II, resulting in the displacement of millions of people on both sides and the death of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians.The war in Ukraine and now the conflict involving Iran has highlighted the growing role of relatively cheap drones, which can strike targets far from the battlefield, including energy facilities and major cities, at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighter jets.While Russia attacks Ukraine with missiles, artillery and drones, Kiev has increasingly responded with long-range drone strikes and sabotage operations deep into Russian territory, targeting military commanders, oil refineries and energy infrastructure.
A fire broke out at the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates after another drone attack. According to the video, thick smoke can be seen rising from the area after the attack. According to Bloomberg, the port has suspended oil loading after the strike and is currently assessing the damage. The Fujairah government media office confirmed in an official statement that the fire broke out at an oil industry facility. Authorities confirmed that specialized emergency response teams responded quickly and successfully brought the fire under control. Officials said no injuries were reported in the incident.Civil Defense Forces were immediately deployed to the scene and began containment operations while emergency services continued efforts to gain full control of the situation. The latest attacks come amid rising tensions in the Middle East related to the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. The port has been targeted several times in recent days, with earlier drone strikes sparking fires at oil storage facilities and disrupting some loading operations.The Port of Fujairah is considered one of the most important oil storage and bunkering centers in the world. Its location outside the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz allows the United Arab Emirates to export crude oil without relying on the narrow waterway that carries most of the world’s oil supplies.Due to its strategic location and role in global energy trade, the port is of significant economic and security importance to the UAE and international markets.
Are you planning to upgrade your living room with a big screen? A 75-inch TV can easily transform your boring TV viewing experience into a home theater experience if you so choose. Not only do these TVs come with huge screens, they also feature advanced display technologies like 4K Ultra HD screens and Live Color, as well as advanced audio technologies like Dolby Atmos and Surround Sound, which combine to deliver an immersive home theater experience in the comfort of your living room.
India’s best 75-inch TV for an immersive home theater experience (Amazon)
In addition, top brands in the market such as Samsung, Sony and TCL also offer stylish designs that easily fit into the aesthetics of modern homes. Well, here are the best 75-inch TVs you can buy in India right now:
This 75-inch smart TV from Sony is part of its famous Bravia 3 series and offers buyers a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. It runs Google TV operating system, which allows users to easily access apps like YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Disney+ Hotstar. Its remote comes with dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and Sony LIV. For audio, it has bass-reflex speakers and Dolby Atmos.
Google TV, built-in Chromecast, Apple AirPlay support
Connectivity
4 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth
Reasons to buy
Clear picture quality
clear sound
value for money
Reasons to avoid
Functional
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers appreciate its clear visuals and sound experience.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV because of its advanced sound and picture quality.
TCL’s 75-inch smart TV has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and a screen refresh rate of 144Hz. It runs Google’s Android TV operating system, giving users easy access to apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Hotstar and Zee5. Its processor has built-in artificial intelligence capabilities that improve the contrast, color, and clarity of visuals.
Specification
exhibit
4K QD Mini LED screen, supports HDR10
sound
40-watt speakers output sound, supporting Dolby Atmos and Dts Virtual-X
Connectivity
HDMI 2.1 port, USB port, Ethernet port, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth
Reasons to buy
Image quality
color contrast
value for money
Reasons to avoid
Easy to install
Performance
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers love its sound and image quality. However, its performance received mixed reviews.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV based on its visuals and value for money.
Part of Sony’s Bravia 2 series of smart TVs, this 75-inch TV features a slim design that’s perfect for modern living room aesthetics. It runs Google’s Android TV operating system, giving users easy access to numerous OTT platforms such as Prime Video, Netflix and Hotstar. It has a special feature that allows users to connect the TV with their PlayStation 5 gaming console. Additionally, it comes with a voice-controlled remote control.
Specification
exhibit
4K LED display with HDR10, Live Color, 4K X-Reality PRO
sound
20W output with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround and DTS:X
Connectivity
4 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports
Reasons to buy
Good picture quality
Easy to use interface
Good sound quality
Reasons to avoid
Gamers lack 144Hz screen refresh rate
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers love its sound, image quality and ease of use.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV because of its crisp visuals.
This 75-inch TV Samsung Smart TV has a stylish design that is perfect for modern homes. It has a 4K upscaling feature that ensures users get 4K resolution even if the streaming image quality is slightly lower. In addition to this, it also supports Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, allowing users to connect the TV with other Samsung devices.
Specification
exhibit
4K ultra-high-definition display, supports HDR10+, 4K upgrade, and movie mode
sound
20W output with adaptive sound, object tracking sound
processor
Crystal Processor 4K
Connectivity
4 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 5
Reasons to buy
Clear visuals
Good sound quality
Reasons to avoid
average performance
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers love its stylish look and sound. However, some people have reported issues with its display performance.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV for its slim design and immersive audio experience.
This TV from Toshiba is good value for money in its segment and supports platforms like Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Disney+Hotstar, SonyLiv, Hungama, JioCinema, Zee5 and Eros Now. It comes with a standalone gaming mode, and its voice-controlled remote has dedicated buttons for Apple TV+, YouTube, Prime Video, and Netflix.
3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, 1 Ethernet port
Reasons to buy
Excellent build quality
Good picture quality
value for money
Reasons to avoid
average performance
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers like its value for money proposition and good image quality.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV because of its good picture quality.
This 75-inch smart TV features a frameless design. It has a 4K screen with a peak brightness of 1,400 nits, allowing for a comfortable viewing experience even in bright ambient light or sunlight. It offers a variable screen refresh rate, which means that while it has a screen refresh rate of 120Hz during regular use, it can go up to 144Hz while gaming.
Specification
exhibit
4K Ultra HD QLED + Mini LED display, peak brightness 1,400 nits, Dolby Vision
sound
60W speaker output, Dolby Atoms, Dolby MS12_Z
processor
Dual-processor core with two Cortex-A75x2 and two A55 processors
Connectivity
3 HDMI 2.1 ports, 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB 3.0 port, Bluetooth 5.2, dual-band Wi-Fi, 1 Ethernet port
Reasons to buy
Decent image quality
value for money
Reasons to avoid
average performance
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers like its value-for-money proposition. However, some have expressed concerns about its image quality.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV based on sound and display technology.
This 75-inch smart TV comes with an integrated soundbar that provides excellent audio output. It supports dedicated Cinema and Cricket modes and supports Apple Airplay and Home Kit. Apart from this, buyers can also easily access apps like Netflix, Prime Video, JioCinema, Spotify and Sony LIV.
Specification
exhibit
4K QLED display with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG
sound
88W speaker output with Dolby Atoms technology
processor
15GHz VuOn processor
Connectivity
3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, 1 USB 3.0 port, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi
Reasons to buy
Good picture quality
Good sound quality
good performance
Reasons to avoid
software lag
What are buyers saying on Amazon?
Buyers like its image quality. However, some have expressed concerns about its sound quality.
Why choose this product?
Buyers should choose this TV based on picture quality.
3 Features of the Best 75-Inch TVs
Name
exhibit
sound
operating system
Sony BRAVIA 3 Series 189 cm (75 inches) 4K Ultra HD AI Smart LED Google TV
4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision LED screen
20-watt speaker output with Dolby Atmos
Google TV
TCL 189cm (75in) 4K Ultra HD Smart QD-Mini LED Google TV
4K QD Mini LED screen, supports HDR10
40-watt speakers output sound, supporting Dolby Atmos and Dts Virtual-X
Google TV
Sony 189cm (75in) BRAVIA 2M2 Series 4K Ultra HD Smart LED Google TV
4K LED display with HDR10, Live Color, 4K X-Reality PRO
20W output with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround and DTS:X
Google TV
Samsung 189cm (75in) Crystal 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV
4K ultra-high-definition display, supports HDR10+, 4K upgrade, and movie mode
20W output with adaptive sound, object tracking sound
Acer 189cm (75in) M Series 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED Mini LED Google TV
4K Ultra HD QLED + Mini LED display, peak brightness 1,400 nits, Dolby Vision
60W speaker output, Dolby Atoms, Dolby MS12_Z
Google TV
Vu 189cm (75 inches) Vibe Series 4K QLED Smart Google TV
4K QLED display with Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG
88W speaker output with Dolby Atoms technology
Google TV
Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay updated with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has affiliate partnerships, so we may get a share of the revenue when you make a purchase. We are not responsible for any claims relating to the products under applicable law (including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act 2019). The products listed in this article are in no particular order of preference.
