May 17, 2026
Salman Khan recalls taking a loan to buy a Rolex worth Rs 9 lakh for father Salim Khan: ‘Do you think of yourself as some king?’

Salman Khan recalls taking a loan to buy a Rolex worth Rs 9 lakh for father Salim Khan: ‘Do you think of yourself as some king?’

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Salman Khan may be one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, but the actor says the first luxurious thing he ever purchased after entering films was for his father, veteran writer Salim Khan. And to buy it, he had to borrow money.In a recent conversation with Variety India, Salman recalled taking a loan to purchase a Rolex…

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California governor Gavin Newsom proposes a software tax similar to one announced by UK and Canada on American companies

California governor Gavin Newsom proposes a software tax similar to one announced by UK and Canada on American companies

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

California Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed expanding the state’s sales tax to include digital prewritten software. The proposed move could increase costs for software and SaaS companies and draw comparisons with digital services taxes introduced against American companies in countries such as Canada and the UK. The proposal comes at a time when taxes targeting…

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Bhagwant Mann CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said his party would not allow even a single genuine vote to be deleted in the state under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Warning against any attempt to engineer “fake votes” in favour of a particular political party, Mann asserted that AAP leaders and workers would remain stationed alongside Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at every polling booth across Punjab to monitor the exercise and prevent any irregularity. Replying to a question, he said the SIR of electoral rolls is going to start from June 15 in Punjab and said that the Election Commission of Indian should address issues raised by all political parties in this regard. “We do not want that there should be negativity be spread in Punjab that real votes are deleted and fakes votes are made, or votes of supporters of some particular party are deleted or fake votes are made. “We will ourselves monitor (SIR), our booth level agents and our volunteers will be present. Vote of an eligible citizen will not be deleted, and for which, we are in touch with the ECI,” Mann said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here. The SIR should be conducted in transparent manner, he said, adding that if any political party has a complaint, then ECI should address it. Concerns raised in several states regarding deletion of genuine votes and inclusion of fake entries have created anxiety among citizens, making it imperative for the ECI to act with utmost responsibility and neutrality. Complaints have surfaced from different states about lakhs of genuine votes being deleted and manipulation in the verification process, but the people of Punjab will not allow such practices to happen in the state,” he claimed. He urged the Election Commission (EC) to carry out the entire SIR exercise with complete honesty, transparency and impartiality while ensuring that public objections are resolved without delay. Clarifying the AAP’s stand on revision of electoral rolls, Mann said, “Names of deceased individuals or those who have permanently shifted abroad after acquiring foreign citizenship should naturally be removed from voter lists, but no genuine resident of Punjab should face harassment or denial of voting rights under any circumstances.” The CM further revealed that nearly 83 per cent voter mapping has already been completed in Punjab and urged citizens to actively participate in the verification process to safeguard their democratic rights. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra on Thursday had said under the SIR, booth level officers across Punjab will conduct door-to-door visits from June 25 to July 24 for filling voter forms. For this exercise, the entire election machinery has been deployed, including 24,453 BLOs and 2,476 supervisors. She further informed that training of BLOs and other preparatory arrangements related to the SIR exercise will be carried out from June 15 to June 24. She said the objective of the exercise is to ensure inclusion of every eligible citizen in the electoral rolls and deletion of ineligible persons from the voter list.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTamil Nadu Cabinet: CM Vijay Takes Home, Sengottaiyan Gets Finance; Check Full List’Modi Ji…’: Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak’History Or Geography’: Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Issues Stern Warning To PakistanCBI Seeks 14-Day Custody Of Accused In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case; Pune Botany Teacher Arrested’Misquoted’: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies ‘Cockroach’ Remarks On Unemployed YouthNetherlands Returns 11th Century Chola-Era Copper Plates To India During PM Modi’s Visit’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’123Photostories10 birds with hilariously perverted names and where travellers can find themWhat sparked rumours of Shehnaaz Gill dating cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?9 junk food swaps that can make your diet healthierIt’s not just salt anymore: Why your stressful 10-hour workday could be pushing your blood pressure higherCannes 2026 Day 4: John Travolta’s surprise win, Léa Seydoux’s magic, and unmissable red carpet glam!Travellers beware: 5 dirtiest things in a hotel room you didn’t know aboutHow to grow jasmine that flowers year-round in Indian weather: 5 mindful tips for beginners5 pro tips to brighten dull skinRice flour vs wheat flour: Which one is actually easier on the stomach?5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleRussia Lavrow

Bhagwant Mann CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said his party would not allow even a single genuine vote to be deleted in the state under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Warning against any attempt to engineer “fake votes” in favour of a particular political party, Mann asserted that AAP leaders and workers would remain stationed alongside Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at every polling booth across Punjab to monitor the exercise and prevent any irregularity. Replying to a question, he said the SIR of electoral rolls is going to start from June 15 in Punjab and said that the Election Commission of Indian should address issues raised by all political parties in this regard. “We do not want that there should be negativity be spread in Punjab that real votes are deleted and fakes votes are made, or votes of supporters of some particular party are deleted or fake votes are made. “We will ourselves monitor (SIR), our booth level agents and our volunteers will be present. Vote of an eligible citizen will not be deleted, and for which, we are in touch with the ECI,” Mann said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here. The SIR should be conducted in transparent manner, he said, adding that if any political party has a complaint, then ECI should address it. Concerns raised in several states regarding deletion of genuine votes and inclusion of fake entries have created anxiety among citizens, making it imperative for the ECI to act with utmost responsibility and neutrality. Complaints have surfaced from different states about lakhs of genuine votes being deleted and manipulation in the verification process, but the people of Punjab will not allow such practices to happen in the state,” he claimed. He urged the Election Commission (EC) to carry out the entire SIR exercise with complete honesty, transparency and impartiality while ensuring that public objections are resolved without delay. Clarifying the AAP’s stand on revision of electoral rolls, Mann said, “Names of deceased individuals or those who have permanently shifted abroad after acquiring foreign citizenship should naturally be removed from voter lists, but no genuine resident of Punjab should face harassment or denial of voting rights under any circumstances.” The CM further revealed that nearly 83 per cent voter mapping has already been completed in Punjab and urged citizens to actively participate in the verification process to safeguard their democratic rights. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra on Thursday had said under the SIR, booth level officers across Punjab will conduct door-to-door visits from June 25 to July 24 for filling voter forms. For this exercise, the entire election machinery has been deployed, including 24,453 BLOs and 2,476 supervisors. She further informed that training of BLOs and other preparatory arrangements related to the SIR exercise will be carried out from June 15 to June 24. She said the objective of the exercise is to ensure inclusion of every eligible citizen in the electoral rolls and deletion of ineligible persons from the voter list.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTamil Nadu Cabinet: CM Vijay Takes Home, Sengottaiyan Gets Finance; Check Full List’Modi Ji…’: Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak’History Or Geography’: Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Issues Stern Warning To PakistanCBI Seeks 14-Day Custody Of Accused In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case; Pune Botany Teacher Arrested’Misquoted’: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies ‘Cockroach’ Remarks On Unemployed YouthNetherlands Returns 11th Century Chola-Era Copper Plates To India During PM Modi’s Visit’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’123Photostories10 birds with hilariously perverted names and where travellers can find themWhat sparked rumours of Shehnaaz Gill dating cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?9 junk food swaps that can make your diet healthierIt’s not just salt anymore: Why your stressful 10-hour workday could be pushing your blood pressure higherCannes 2026 Day 4: John Travolta’s surprise win, Léa Seydoux’s magic, and unmissable red carpet glam!Travellers beware: 5 dirtiest things in a hotel room you didn’t know aboutHow to grow jasmine that flowers year-round in Indian weather: 5 mindful tips for beginners5 pro tips to brighten dull skinRice flour vs wheat flour: Which one is actually easier on the stomach?5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleRussia Lavrow

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said his party would not allow even a single genuine vote to be deleted in the state under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Warning against any attempt to engineer “fake votes” in favour of a particular political party, Mann asserted that AAP leaders and workers would…

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India’s next manufacturing push: Why the government is identifying 100 products to cut import dependence

India’s next manufacturing push: Why the government is identifying 100 products to cut import dependence

Vamsikrishna08 mins mins

India is preparing a fresh manufacturing push centred on identifying nearly 100 products that are either not produced domestically or are inadequately manufactured despite existing capability, signalling a sharper industrial policy focus amid shifting global supply chains, geopolitical tensions and the country’s ambition to emerge as a global manufacturing hub.The initiative, outlined by Department for…

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Quote of the day by Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Quote of the day by Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Vamsikrishna07 mins mins

Sir Isaac Newton (Image: Wikipedia) People usually expect great scientists to leave behind complicated ideas or technical explanations. Equations, theories, discoveries. Things that sound difficult enough to belong inside textbooks. That is partly why this quote from Isaac Newton catches people off guard even now.“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I…

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. What does it mean to have free will in 2026?Why are young people across the world filming themselves eating lunch on ladders, rearranging their homes into fake hotel suites, or doing completely irrational everyday activities simply because they can?And how did a 19th-century philosopher who believed human beings were never truly free become strangely relevant to a generation raised by algorithms, lockdowns, surveillance and social media?Across social media, thousands of young users are posting videos under captions such as “POV: You suddenly realise you have free will”. The intent is to carry out the daily mundane activities in deliberately impractical but harmless waysVideos of people climbing the maintenance ladder while having lunch just to finish the meal in the air or other laying out buffets of the same meal just to recreate a wedding vibe have become a well-participated trend.What looks like unserious internet humour has almost become an emotional reaction to a world that feels increasingly controlled by economics, technology, politics and invisible systems.In a time when algorithms predict behaviour, governments shape consumption habits during crises and social media constantly influences thought patterns, free will is no longer viewed as a stable philosophical truth. For the new generation, it has become a feeling, a performance and, in many ways, a vibe.From philosophy to TikTok rebellionLong before social media transformed rebellion into short-form content, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had already questioned whether free will existed at all.In his 1886 work Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche argued that human beings do not make choices in the pure, independent way they imagine. Instead, he believed people are shaped by instincts, conditioning, emotions, physiology and social structures that operate beneath conscious awareness. According to Nietzsche, free will was less a spiritual truth and more a psychological sensation.“The will is not only a complex of feeling and thinking, but it is above all an emotion, and in fact the emotion of the command,” Nietzsche wrote.In simple terms, Nietzsche believed people experience freedom when one desire inside them defeats another. A person feels powerful not because they escaped cause and effect, but because they managed to overpower competing impulses within themselves.That framework unexpectedly mirrors the current internet trend.A person eating lunch on a ladder is not operating outside social conditioning. Rather, they are experiencing the thrill of temporarily defeating the instinct to behave normally. The action itself may be meaningless, but the feeling attached to it is emotionally real.A generation shaped by crises and controlThis modern obsession with “performative autonomy” is emerging at a time when many young people feel their actual control over life has sharply decreased.The Covid-19 pandemic left a lasting psychological mark on an entire generation. Lockdowns suddenly restricted movement, social gatherings and everyday behaviour. Basic actions such as travelling, meeting friends, or simply being outside became matters of public regulation. As trainee clinical psychologist Yukta Sharma puts it, “Free will feels less like “I can do anything I want” and more like: “With all the limitations that the world is placing on me, what are things that I can still choose to do happily and not feel guilty or ashamed or wrong about doing and find satisfaction and joy, without offending anybody in?”,” as she adds that these were the very things that shaped the generation’s response to the Covid-19 lockdown.And while many accepted these measures as necessary for public health, Suyog Shetti, 26, recalls resisting social pressure during the Covid pandemic.“I think people still have free will,” Shetti maintains. “People’s own fear and self-consciousness are what hold their free will back. Like during Covid, I didn’t take the vaccine. Although everyone was telling me to, I felt some scam was happening and thought the whole situation was a tool being used to push the vaccine on us.”Pop culture and collapse of certaintyPopular culture has started reflecting this anxiety in increasingly direct ways.Indian comedian Kenny Sebastian has repeatedly explored the absurdity of human behaviour through observational comedy. His routines often focus on how people unconsciously follow social scripts in relationships, public spaces and daily interactions.Fantasy-comedy series Good Omens also explores similar philosophical territory. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the show questions whether human beings genuinely possess agency or merely act within systems controlled by larger cosmic structures. Throughout the story, characters constantly struggle between obedience, fear and moral independence.Meanwhile, neuroscientist and author Sam Harris has become one of the most influential contemporary voices arguing that free will does not exist at all.Harris believes human thoughts arise from prior neurological and environmental causes that individuals never consciously chose. According to his framework, understanding the illusion of free will can actually become liberating. Instead of obsessively blaming themselves for every impulse, mistake or emotional reaction, people can develop greater self-awareness and compassion.For many young adults overwhelmed by the constant self-improvement culture, this perspective feels strangely comforting.The modern economy constantly tells people they are fully responsible for their success, productivity and happiness. At the same time, those same individuals are navigating unstable job markets, impossible housing costs, digital addiction and algorithmic manipulation. The contradiction creates emotional exhaustion.As a result, the idea that “free will is limited” no longer sounds depressing to many young people. Instead, it feels realistic.What young people think free will means todayThat realism becomes clearer when listening to how young adults themselves describe freedom.The pragmatic viewFor 26-year-old Kamal Mishra, free will exists, but only within practical limitations.“Free will is not absolute independence, but maximum ownership of one’s choices,” Mishra explains. “Free will is like having your own shop, where you are not bound by anyone else’s control, order, or dependency and you make your own decisions. But yes, you will have to open that shop to earn a living.”Mishra’s comparison reflects a broader generational compromise. Young adults may desire independence, but they also recognise that survival still depends on participating in economic systems they cannot fully escape.The sceptical viewOthers are far more sceptical.Aanshi Kanaujia, 25, believes modern information culture has deeply compromised individual thought.“I believe free will is a golden cage,” she says. “Most of our will is influenced by people, and rarely do individuals have their own mind. Yes, it is polarised to a great extent, especially in this era of unstoppable information consumption, where our will and thinking are systematically borrowed from someone else. Yes, there are some doing their own mind, but that’s not a big number. The question is: Is your thought of free will truly yours?”Her argument reflects growing concerns around algorithmic influence.Social media platforms increasingly curate what users watch, buy, believe and discuss. Recommendation systems shape political opinions, aesthetics, humour and even emotional reactions. As these systems become more sophisticated, distinguishing personal desire from manufactured preference becomes increasingly difficult.The fatalist viewFor some, this has produced outright fatalism.“Free will does not exist; it’s just an illusion,” says 26-year-old Sumant Singh. “Everything depends entirely on the situation, and that same situation decides our will. Overall, nothing is ‘free.’ My thoughts might sound a bit extreme, but I feel this is the ultimate reality.”Singh’s view reflects a generation raised amid repeated crises.Many people currently in their mid-to-late twenties entered adulthood during economic uncertainty, climate anxiety, political polarisation and a global pandemic. The belief that individuals fully control their destinies feels increasingly disconnected from lived reality.The restrained viewYet not everyone believes freedom has disappeared entirely.Some young adults argue that free will survives in smaller forms.Chirag Thakur, 27, describes free will as the pause between impulse and action.“I think free will is like any other power or impulse that you have, which is often restrained by your mind which is, of course, a necessity,” Thakur states. “Without the mind as the charioteer, it would be like an aimless chariot, which can be chaotic and quickly turn into a disaster. In any ‘free will’ decision, the pause that makes you think about whether to do it or not is the real free will. And of course, this can change with changes in region, society, and circumstances.”His interpretation aligns closely with modern mindfulness practices, where awareness itself becomes a form of agency.Rather than viewing freedom as unlimited action, many younger people now define it as conscious interruption. In a world designed to trigger instant reactions, the ability to stop, reflect and resist impulse feels increasingly valuable.The structuralist viewAt the same time, conversations around free will are also becoming deeply political.Srabastee Biswas, 25, argues that freedom is unevenly distributed and shaped heavily by class, gender and social privilege.“Free will is not absolute, total independence,” Biswas argues. “It is more like what one creates out of the given resources and only where access is allowed to choose for themselves. If we take a feminist point of view, that space has never been equal. Gender roles, safety concerns, and economic gaps, especially for women and marginalized people, have always created a narrower lane of acceptable choices.”Biswas believes recent years have exposed just how fragile autonomy can be.“When we look at our generation, we’ve witnessed massive backtracks of individual rights, from the stripping away of bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom to economic crises and a massive surge in digital surveillance. This reveals how incredibly fragile it truly is. When the state deprives people of basic rights and autonomy, so-called free will becomes a luxury accessible only to the privileged class. For many of us, practicing free will isn’t just picking what we want, it’s questioning the central belief of what we were told to want.”Her comments reflect a broader shift in how younger generations discuss freedom.For previous generations, free will was often framed as personal ambition or individual achievement. For many Gen Z adults, however, freedom is increasingly understood through systems of power. Access to safety, money, healthcare, privacy and rights now determines how much autonomy someone can realistically exercise.The commercial viewThe role of technology in shaping behaviour remains one of the strongest recurring concerns.Riddhi Jain, 25, believes modern consumer culture actively narrows independent thought.“We don’t move by free will,” Jain reflects. “In my opinion, it’s like the more choices we are presented with, the more our actual free will is limited. We are not just influenced; we are rather controlled by brands and conditioned to think about things in a very specific, curated way.”Her observation reflects what psychologists often call the paradox of choice.While digital platforms offer endless options, many users ultimately end up following highly predictable patterns shaped by advertising, trends and algorithmic recommendations.Ironically, this has also made small acts of irrationality feel emotionally significant.Choosing to behave inefficiently, absurdly or unpredictably becomes a way of resisting optimisation culture. In a world obsessed with productivity, branding and measurable outcomes, doing something pointless simply because it feels amusing can feel deeply personal.The subversive viewAt the opposite end of the spectrum, some young adults believe the greatest act of autonomy today may simply be disengagement.“Our generation grew up with algorithms, lockdowns, trends, and constant chaos deciding things for us,” says 25-year-old Anurag Krishna. “So honestly, maybe real free will today is me choosing not to answer this question at all… which I almost did out of pure freedom.”That quiet refusal captures the exhaustion sitting beneath many contemporary conversations about agency.Young adults today are constantly asked to perform opinions, maintain online identities, produce content, optimise careers and remain permanently visible. In such an environment, withdrawal itself can feel rebellious.The rise of micro-rebellionsThis is precisely why the internet’s strange “free will” trend resonates so strongly.The videos are not revolutionary in any traditional political sense. Nobody is overthrowing governments by eating noodles on ladders or pretending their bedroom is a five-star resort.Yet these acts matter symbolically because they interrupt predictability.Algorithms thrive on patterns. Modern institutions thrive on compliance. Consumer economies thrive on habit. Absurd behaviour momentarily breaks those systems, even if only emotionally.In that sense, Nietzsche’s philosophy has accidentally found new life online.He believed free will was never pure freedom. It was merely the sensation of command, the emotional experience of asserting one desire over another.Today’s generation appears to have transformed that insight into cultural practice.They may fully understand that algorithms influence them, capitalism constrains them and crises shape their futures. They may even agree that absolute autonomy is impossible.But instead of responding with complete despair, many are choosing irony, absurdity and micro-rebellion.The result is a generation that no longer treats free will as a grand philosophical certainty.Instead, free will has become something smaller, stranger and more emotional.It is the pause before reacting.It is the decision to log off.It is refusing to optimise every second of existence.It is questioning inherited desires.And sometimes, it is climbing halfway up a maintenance ladder with a plate of lunch in hand simply to remind yourself that, despite everything, you can still choose to do something completely pointless.For Nietzsche, free will may have been an illusion.For Gen Z, the illusion itself has become the experience.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTamil Nadu Cabinet: CM Vijay Takes Home, Sengottaiyan Gets Finance; Check Full List’Modi Ji…’: Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak’History Or Geography’: Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Issues Stern Warning To PakistanCBI Seeks 14-Day Custody Of Accused In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case; Pune Botany Teacher Arrested’Misquoted’: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies ‘Cockroach’ Remarks On Unemployed YouthNetherlands Returns 11th Century Chola-Era Copper Plates To India During PM Modi’s Visit’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’123Photostories10 birds with hilariously perverted names and where travellers can find themWhat sparked rumours of Shehnaaz Gill dating cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?9 junk food swaps that can make your diet healthierIt’s not just salt anymore: Why your stressful 10-hour workday could be pushing your blood pressure higherCannes 2026 Day 4: John Travolta’s surprise win, Léa Seydoux’s magic, and unmissable red carpet glam!Travellers beware: 5 dirtiest things in a hotel room you didn’t know aboutHow to grow jasmine that flowers year-round in Indian weather: 5 mindful tips for beginners5 pro tips to brighten dull skinRice flour vs wheat flour: Which one is actually easier on the stomach?5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleRussia Lavrow

. What does it mean to have free will in 2026?Why are young people across the world filming themselves eating lunch on ladders, rearranging their homes into fake hotel suites, or doing completely irrational everyday activities simply because they can?And how did a 19th-century philosopher who believed human beings were never truly free become strangely relevant to a generation raised by algorithms, lockdowns, surveillance and social media?Across social media, thousands of young users are posting videos under captions such as “POV: You suddenly realise you have free will”. The intent is to carry out the daily mundane activities in deliberately impractical but harmless waysVideos of people climbing the maintenance ladder while having lunch just to finish the meal in the air or other laying out buffets of the same meal just to recreate a wedding vibe have become a well-participated trend.What looks like unserious internet humour has almost become an emotional reaction to a world that feels increasingly controlled by economics, technology, politics and invisible systems.In a time when algorithms predict behaviour, governments shape consumption habits during crises and social media constantly influences thought patterns, free will is no longer viewed as a stable philosophical truth. For the new generation, it has become a feeling, a performance and, in many ways, a vibe.From philosophy to TikTok rebellionLong before social media transformed rebellion into short-form content, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had already questioned whether free will existed at all.In his 1886 work Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche argued that human beings do not make choices in the pure, independent way they imagine. Instead, he believed people are shaped by instincts, conditioning, emotions, physiology and social structures that operate beneath conscious awareness. According to Nietzsche, free will was less a spiritual truth and more a psychological sensation.“The will is not only a complex of feeling and thinking, but it is above all an emotion, and in fact the emotion of the command,” Nietzsche wrote.In simple terms, Nietzsche believed people experience freedom when one desire inside them defeats another. A person feels powerful not because they escaped cause and effect, but because they managed to overpower competing impulses within themselves.That framework unexpectedly mirrors the current internet trend.A person eating lunch on a ladder is not operating outside social conditioning. Rather, they are experiencing the thrill of temporarily defeating the instinct to behave normally. The action itself may be meaningless, but the feeling attached to it is emotionally real.A generation shaped by crises and controlThis modern obsession with “performative autonomy” is emerging at a time when many young people feel their actual control over life has sharply decreased.The Covid-19 pandemic left a lasting psychological mark on an entire generation. Lockdowns suddenly restricted movement, social gatherings and everyday behaviour. Basic actions such as travelling, meeting friends, or simply being outside became matters of public regulation. As trainee clinical psychologist Yukta Sharma puts it, “Free will feels less like “I can do anything I want” and more like: “With all the limitations that the world is placing on me, what are things that I can still choose to do happily and not feel guilty or ashamed or wrong about doing and find satisfaction and joy, without offending anybody in?”,” as she adds that these were the very things that shaped the generation’s response to the Covid-19 lockdown.And while many accepted these measures as necessary for public health, Suyog Shetti, 26, recalls resisting social pressure during the Covid pandemic.“I think people still have free will,” Shetti maintains. “People’s own fear and self-consciousness are what hold their free will back. Like during Covid, I didn’t take the vaccine. Although everyone was telling me to, I felt some scam was happening and thought the whole situation was a tool being used to push the vaccine on us.”Pop culture and collapse of certaintyPopular culture has started reflecting this anxiety in increasingly direct ways.Indian comedian Kenny Sebastian has repeatedly explored the absurdity of human behaviour through observational comedy. His routines often focus on how people unconsciously follow social scripts in relationships, public spaces and daily interactions.Fantasy-comedy series Good Omens also explores similar philosophical territory. Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, the show questions whether human beings genuinely possess agency or merely act within systems controlled by larger cosmic structures. Throughout the story, characters constantly struggle between obedience, fear and moral independence.Meanwhile, neuroscientist and author Sam Harris has become one of the most influential contemporary voices arguing that free will does not exist at all.Harris believes human thoughts arise from prior neurological and environmental causes that individuals never consciously chose. According to his framework, understanding the illusion of free will can actually become liberating. Instead of obsessively blaming themselves for every impulse, mistake or emotional reaction, people can develop greater self-awareness and compassion.For many young adults overwhelmed by the constant self-improvement culture, this perspective feels strangely comforting.The modern economy constantly tells people they are fully responsible for their success, productivity and happiness. At the same time, those same individuals are navigating unstable job markets, impossible housing costs, digital addiction and algorithmic manipulation. The contradiction creates emotional exhaustion.As a result, the idea that “free will is limited” no longer sounds depressing to many young people. Instead, it feels realistic.What young people think free will means todayThat realism becomes clearer when listening to how young adults themselves describe freedom.The pragmatic viewFor 26-year-old Kamal Mishra, free will exists, but only within practical limitations.“Free will is not absolute independence, but maximum ownership of one’s choices,” Mishra explains. “Free will is like having your own shop, where you are not bound by anyone else’s control, order, or dependency and you make your own decisions. But yes, you will have to open that shop to earn a living.”Mishra’s comparison reflects a broader generational compromise. Young adults may desire independence, but they also recognise that survival still depends on participating in economic systems they cannot fully escape.The sceptical viewOthers are far more sceptical.Aanshi Kanaujia, 25, believes modern information culture has deeply compromised individual thought.“I believe free will is a golden cage,” she says. “Most of our will is influenced by people, and rarely do individuals have their own mind. Yes, it is polarised to a great extent, especially in this era of unstoppable information consumption, where our will and thinking are systematically borrowed from someone else. Yes, there are some doing their own mind, but that’s not a big number. The question is: Is your thought of free will truly yours?”Her argument reflects growing concerns around algorithmic influence.Social media platforms increasingly curate what users watch, buy, believe and discuss. Recommendation systems shape political opinions, aesthetics, humour and even emotional reactions. As these systems become more sophisticated, distinguishing personal desire from manufactured preference becomes increasingly difficult.The fatalist viewFor some, this has produced outright fatalism.“Free will does not exist; it’s just an illusion,” says 26-year-old Sumant Singh. “Everything depends entirely on the situation, and that same situation decides our will. Overall, nothing is ‘free.’ My thoughts might sound a bit extreme, but I feel this is the ultimate reality.”Singh’s view reflects a generation raised amid repeated crises.Many people currently in their mid-to-late twenties entered adulthood during economic uncertainty, climate anxiety, political polarisation and a global pandemic. The belief that individuals fully control their destinies feels increasingly disconnected from lived reality.The restrained viewYet not everyone believes freedom has disappeared entirely.Some young adults argue that free will survives in smaller forms.Chirag Thakur, 27, describes free will as the pause between impulse and action.“I think free will is like any other power or impulse that you have, which is often restrained by your mind which is, of course, a necessity,” Thakur states. “Without the mind as the charioteer, it would be like an aimless chariot, which can be chaotic and quickly turn into a disaster. In any ‘free will’ decision, the pause that makes you think about whether to do it or not is the real free will. And of course, this can change with changes in region, society, and circumstances.”His interpretation aligns closely with modern mindfulness practices, where awareness itself becomes a form of agency.Rather than viewing freedom as unlimited action, many younger people now define it as conscious interruption. In a world designed to trigger instant reactions, the ability to stop, reflect and resist impulse feels increasingly valuable.The structuralist viewAt the same time, conversations around free will are also becoming deeply political.Srabastee Biswas, 25, argues that freedom is unevenly distributed and shaped heavily by class, gender and social privilege.“Free will is not absolute, total independence,” Biswas argues. “It is more like what one creates out of the given resources and only where access is allowed to choose for themselves. If we take a feminist point of view, that space has never been equal. Gender roles, safety concerns, and economic gaps, especially for women and marginalized people, have always created a narrower lane of acceptable choices.”Biswas believes recent years have exposed just how fragile autonomy can be.“When we look at our generation, we’ve witnessed massive backtracks of individual rights, from the stripping away of bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom to economic crises and a massive surge in digital surveillance. This reveals how incredibly fragile it truly is. When the state deprives people of basic rights and autonomy, so-called free will becomes a luxury accessible only to the privileged class. For many of us, practicing free will isn’t just picking what we want, it’s questioning the central belief of what we were told to want.”Her comments reflect a broader shift in how younger generations discuss freedom.For previous generations, free will was often framed as personal ambition or individual achievement. For many Gen Z adults, however, freedom is increasingly understood through systems of power. Access to safety, money, healthcare, privacy and rights now determines how much autonomy someone can realistically exercise.The commercial viewThe role of technology in shaping behaviour remains one of the strongest recurring concerns.Riddhi Jain, 25, believes modern consumer culture actively narrows independent thought.“We don’t move by free will,” Jain reflects. “In my opinion, it’s like the more choices we are presented with, the more our actual free will is limited. We are not just influenced; we are rather controlled by brands and conditioned to think about things in a very specific, curated way.”Her observation reflects what psychologists often call the paradox of choice.While digital platforms offer endless options, many users ultimately end up following highly predictable patterns shaped by advertising, trends and algorithmic recommendations.Ironically, this has also made small acts of irrationality feel emotionally significant.Choosing to behave inefficiently, absurdly or unpredictably becomes a way of resisting optimisation culture. In a world obsessed with productivity, branding and measurable outcomes, doing something pointless simply because it feels amusing can feel deeply personal.The subversive viewAt the opposite end of the spectrum, some young adults believe the greatest act of autonomy today may simply be disengagement.“Our generation grew up with algorithms, lockdowns, trends, and constant chaos deciding things for us,” says 25-year-old Anurag Krishna. “So honestly, maybe real free will today is me choosing not to answer this question at all… which I almost did out of pure freedom.”That quiet refusal captures the exhaustion sitting beneath many contemporary conversations about agency.Young adults today are constantly asked to perform opinions, maintain online identities, produce content, optimise careers and remain permanently visible. In such an environment, withdrawal itself can feel rebellious.The rise of micro-rebellionsThis is precisely why the internet’s strange “free will” trend resonates so strongly.The videos are not revolutionary in any traditional political sense. Nobody is overthrowing governments by eating noodles on ladders or pretending their bedroom is a five-star resort.Yet these acts matter symbolically because they interrupt predictability.Algorithms thrive on patterns. Modern institutions thrive on compliance. Consumer economies thrive on habit. Absurd behaviour momentarily breaks those systems, even if only emotionally.In that sense, Nietzsche’s philosophy has accidentally found new life online.He believed free will was never pure freedom. It was merely the sensation of command, the emotional experience of asserting one desire over another.Today’s generation appears to have transformed that insight into cultural practice.They may fully understand that algorithms influence them, capitalism constrains them and crises shape their futures. They may even agree that absolute autonomy is impossible.But instead of responding with complete despair, many are choosing irony, absurdity and micro-rebellion.The result is a generation that no longer treats free will as a grand philosophical certainty.Instead, free will has become something smaller, stranger and more emotional.It is the pause before reacting.It is the decision to log off.It is refusing to optimise every second of existence.It is questioning inherited desires.And sometimes, it is climbing halfway up a maintenance ladder with a plate of lunch in hand simply to remind yourself that, despite everything, you can still choose to do something completely pointless.For Nietzsche, free will may have been an illusion.For Gen Z, the illusion itself has become the experience.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTamil Nadu Cabinet: CM Vijay Takes Home, Sengottaiyan Gets Finance; Check Full List’Modi Ji…’: Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak’History Or Geography’: Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Issues Stern Warning To PakistanCBI Seeks 14-Day Custody Of Accused In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case; Pune Botany Teacher Arrested’Misquoted’: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies ‘Cockroach’ Remarks On Unemployed YouthNetherlands Returns 11th Century Chola-Era Copper Plates To India During PM Modi’s Visit’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’123Photostories10 birds with hilariously perverted names and where travellers can find themWhat sparked rumours of Shehnaaz Gill dating cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?9 junk food swaps that can make your diet healthierIt’s not just salt anymore: Why your stressful 10-hour workday could be pushing your blood pressure higherCannes 2026 Day 4: John Travolta’s surprise win, Léa Seydoux’s magic, and unmissable red carpet glam!Travellers beware: 5 dirtiest things in a hotel room you didn’t know aboutHow to grow jasmine that flowers year-round in Indian weather: 5 mindful tips for beginners5 pro tips to brighten dull skinRice flour vs wheat flour: Which one is actually easier on the stomach?5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleRussia Lavrow

Vamsikrishna012 mins mins

What does it mean to have free will in 2026?Why are young people across the world filming themselves eating lunch on ladders, rearranging their homes into fake hotel suites, or doing completely irrational everyday activities simply because they can?And how did a 19th-century philosopher who believed human beings were never truly free become strangely relevant…

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‘Very loud person’: PBKS respond after Arshdeep Singh faces criticism over viral Tilak Varma video

‘Very loud person’: PBKS respond after Arshdeep Singh faces criticism over viral Tilak Varma video

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh has remained calm despite social media criticism over his remarks in a viral video involving Tilak Varma, according to Punjab Kings head of sports science Andrew Leipus.Punjab Kings are under pressure after five straight defeats, which have left their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. PBKS must now win their…

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Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar follow each other again after announcing separation; Disha Patani still hasn’t refollowed him

Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar follow each other again after announcing separation; Disha Patani still hasn’t refollowed him

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Just days after officially announcing their separation, Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiar have once again started following each other on Instagram, hinting that the former couple is trying to maintain an amicable equation despite their split.Before the announcement, fans had already begun speculating about trouble in their marriage after noticing that Mouni and Suraj had…

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Bandi Bhageerath Sai with Father Bandi Sanjay Kumar NEW DELHI: Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday said he has “handed over” his son, Bandi Bhageerath, to the police in connection with a POCSO case.Bandi Sanjay, former chief of the BJP’s Telangana unit, asserted that “all are equal before the law.”“Today, I handed over my son Bandi Bhageerath to the police through an advocate for investigation. I have previously said that all are equal before the law. My son has consistently maintained that he has committed no wrongdoing, and I had already decided to hand him over to the police when the complaint was filed against him,” ANI quoted him as saying.“We handed over all the evidence to the legal teams, and after examining it, they said bail would be granted in the case. That is why there was a delay in the surrender. I have full respect for the judiciary,” the Karimnagar MP added.The development came a day after the Telangana high court declined to grant Bhageerath interim protection from arrest.(Developing story, check again for details)About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTamil Nadu Cabinet: CM Vijay Takes Home, Sengottaiyan Gets Finance; Check Full List’Modi Ji…’: Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak’History Or Geography’: Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Issues Stern Warning To PakistanCBI Seeks 14-Day Custody Of Accused In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case; Pune Botany Teacher Arrested’Misquoted’: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies ‘Cockroach’ Remarks On Unemployed YouthNetherlands Returns 11th Century Chola-Era Copper Plates To India During PM Modi’s Visit’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’123Photostories10 birds with hilariously perverted names and where travellers can find themWhat sparked rumours of Shehnaaz Gill dating cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?9 junk food swaps that can make your diet healthierIt’s not just salt anymore: Why your stressful 10-hour workday could be pushing your blood pressure higherCannes 2026 Day 4: John Travolta’s surprise win, Léa Seydoux’s magic, and unmissable red carpet glam!Travellers beware: 5 dirtiest things in a hotel room you didn’t know aboutHow to grow jasmine that flowers year-round in Indian weather: 5 mindful tips for beginners5 pro tips to brighten dull skinRice flour vs wheat flour: Which one is actually easier on the stomach?5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleRussia Lavrow

Bandi Bhageerath Sai with Father Bandi Sanjay Kumar NEW DELHI: Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday said he has “handed over” his son, Bandi Bhageerath, to the police in connection with a POCSO case.Bandi Sanjay, former chief of the BJP’s Telangana unit, asserted that “all are equal before the law.”“Today, I handed over my son Bandi Bhageerath to the police through an advocate for investigation. I have previously said that all are equal before the law. My son has consistently maintained that he has committed no wrongdoing, and I had already decided to hand him over to the police when the complaint was filed against him,” ANI quoted him as saying.“We handed over all the evidence to the legal teams, and after examining it, they said bail would be granted in the case. That is why there was a delay in the surrender. I have full respect for the judiciary,” the Karimnagar MP added.The development came a day after the Telangana high court declined to grant Bhageerath interim protection from arrest.(Developing story, check again for details)About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTamil Nadu Cabinet: CM Vijay Takes Home, Sengottaiyan Gets Finance; Check Full List’Modi Ji…’: Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking Of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak’History Or Geography’: Indian Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi Issues Stern Warning To PakistanCBI Seeks 14-Day Custody Of Accused In NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak Case; Pune Botany Teacher Arrested’Misquoted’: CJI Surya Kant Clarifies ‘Cockroach’ Remarks On Unemployed YouthNetherlands Returns 11th Century Chola-Era Copper Plates To India During PM Modi’s Visit’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’123Photostories10 birds with hilariously perverted names and where travellers can find themWhat sparked rumours of Shehnaaz Gill dating cricketer Devdutt Padikkal?9 junk food swaps that can make your diet healthierIt’s not just salt anymore: Why your stressful 10-hour workday could be pushing your blood pressure higherCannes 2026 Day 4: John Travolta’s surprise win, Léa Seydoux’s magic, and unmissable red carpet glam!Travellers beware: 5 dirtiest things in a hotel room you didn’t know aboutHow to grow jasmine that flowers year-round in Indian weather: 5 mindful tips for beginners5 pro tips to brighten dull skinRice flour vs wheat flour: Which one is actually easier on the stomach?5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeCBSE 2 Language RuleRussia Lavrow

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

Bandi Bhageerath Sai with Father Bandi Sanjay Kumar NEW DELHI: Union minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday said he has “handed over” his son, Bandi Bhageerath, to the police in connection with a POCSO case.Bandi Sanjay, former chief of the BJP’s Telangana unit, asserted that “all are equal before the law.”“Today, I handed over my…

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Updated: May 16, 2026, 20:57 IST

Updated: May 16, 2026, 20:57 IST

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Finn Allen (ANI Photo) Finn Allen continued his outrageous six-hitting spree in IPL 2026 and entered an elite list on Saturday after smashing 10 sixes during Kolkata Knight Riders’ clash against Gujarat Titans. The explosive KKR opener has now registered two IPL innings with 10 or more sixes, joining only a handful…

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Scorpio, Weekly Horoscope, May 17 to May 23, 2026: Week begins with positive personal and business developments

Scorpio, Weekly Horoscope, May 17 to May 23, 2026: Week begins with positive personal and business developments

Vamsikrishna07 mins mins

This week begins with movement in personal matters, Scorpio. Unmarried individuals may receive fresh marriage proposals, and young couples could reunite after a long gap. It’s the kind of news that makes the family WhatsApp group suddenly active. Businesspeople also spot new partners or opportunities, and legal matters show signs of turning in your favour….

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King Charles ‘shocked and saddened’ as soldier dies after falling from horse at Royal Windsor Horse Show

King Charles ‘shocked and saddened’ as soldier dies after falling from horse at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

King Charles shocked by soldier’s death A member of the King Charles III’s ceremonial artillery unit has died following a tragic fall from a horse during the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Friday evening.The soldier, serving with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, collapsed after leaving the arena around 7pm BST, BBC reported. Despite receiving…

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