Basmati rice sale in London triggers shopper frenzy, viral video sparks backlash: ‘So embarrassing'
The viral video shows a swarm of shoppers filling their trolleys with large bags of Laila Basmati rice. Several shoppers can be seen stacking multiple bags into their carts, with some struggling to walk through the aisle due to the overcrowding at the store.
According to the caption on the post, the rice was being sold at a heavily reduced price of 9.50 pounds per bag. The video was originally shared on X by the account UB1UB2 West London (Southall). 'People stockpile rice after a Sainsbury's in Whitechapel put Laila Basmati rice on sale for £9.50,' the caption read.
Watch here:
People stockpile rice after a Sainsbury's in Whitechapel put Laila Basmati rice on sale for £9.50 pic.twitter.com/fBQokKzk1e
— UB1UB2 West London (Southall) (@UB1UB2) August 2, 2025
Indianexpress.com couldn't independently verify the credibility of the video.
With over 500,000 views, the video has sparked a range of reactions. 'I find this kind of greedy behaviour unbearable. People are humiliating themselves over just a few pounds in savings,' a user wrote. 'So embarrassing,' another user commented.
'What annoys me that unfortunately we always gonna have selfish people so as a supermarket have restrictions in place. Only one per customer if purchasing only the rice. 3 per customer if you do minimum £50 worth of shopping. Will stop the selfish people,' a third user reacted.
'Immigration problem aside, it is not a bad idea to stockpile something that has a long shelf life & does not go bad for a while. Cultures where rice is a staple, it is not uncommon for people to buy even a 100 kg sack of rice, store it in large drums & use it throughout the year,' a fourth user said.
According to a Yahoo article, a temporary shortage of Costco's rotisserie chicken triggered a chaotic rush for chicken at a California Costco in 2021. The viral video showed several customers filling their carts with multiple birds, sparking outrage over overbuying and food waste.
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Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Economy MCQs on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, E20 fuel, Stagflation and more (Week 123)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on the Economy to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Consider the following statements: 1. The total amount of penalty imposed by SEBI for violation of various market regulations surged 11 times during 2024-25 compared to the previous fiscal year. 2. The number of entities found violating different securities regulations increased in 2024-25 from 2023-24. 3. The highest number of violations were under Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) regulations. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The total amount of penalty imposed by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for violation of various market regulations surged 11 times to Rs 813.83 crore during 2024-25, compared to Rs 74.66 crore in the previous fiscal. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — While the amount of penalty increased substantially, the number of entities found violating different securities regulations declined 26 per cent to 463 in 2024-25, down from 629 in 2023-24, according to Sebi's Annual Report for 2024-25. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — The regulator saw the highest number violations under Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (PFUTP) category with 155 entities found flouting regulations. This was followed by 116 entities violating Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) regulations. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — In 2024-25, direction of debarment was issued against 202 entities, both debarment and disgorgement directions were issued against 89 entities and only disgorgement direction was issued against 15 entities, the annual report showed. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Which of the following are the proposed changes in the amendment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)? 1. Ensure faster admission of insolvency cases 2. An out-of-court mechanism. 3. Introduction of group and cross-border insolvency frameworks. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — The much-awaited bill to amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who said that the proposed changes are aimed at reducing delays, maximising value for all stakeholders, and improving governance of all processes under the Code. — The proposed modifications include provisions to ensure faster admission of insolvency cases, an out-of-court mechanism to address 'genuine business failures', and introduction of group and cross-border insolvency frameworks, and a slew of others. — Introduced in 2016, the IBC promised to revolutionise insolvency resolution with the goal of rescuing and reorganising distressed enterprises through a time-bound process, prioritising their survival as going concerns. While the IBC has promoted a culture of accountability and credit discipline among debtors, its effectiveness has been hampered by procedural delays, personnel shortages, deviations from essential principles, and sluggish implementation of critical sections. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. What are the significant advantages of the E20 fuel? 1. Better acceleration and ride quality 2. Low carbon emissions 3. Lower-octane number as compared to petrol 4. Decreases air-fuel mixture density Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 3 and 4 only Explanation — India achieved 20 per cent ethanol blending just last month, five years ahead of the original target. The 20 per cent blending aim had earlier been advanced from 2030 to 2025-26, given the success the country tasted in achieving 10 per cent blending levels ahead of schedule. According to the government, the E20 fuel presents significant advantages for modern engines. — 'The use of E20 fuel provides greater acceleration, riding quality, and, most importantly, reduces carbon emissions by approximately 30% when compared to E10. Ethanol's higher octane rating (approximately 108.5 compared to petrol's 84.4) makes ethanol-blended fuels a viable alternative for higher-octane requirements, which are critical for modern high-compression engines. Vehicles modified for E20 provide faster acceleration, which is critical in city driving circumstances. Furthermore, the increased heat of vaporisation in ethanol lowers intake manifold temperatures, increasing air-fuel combination density and volumetric efficiency, according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the Cheque Truncation System (CTS), consider the following statements: 1. It is an online image-based cheque clearing system where cheque images and Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data are captured at the collecting bank branch. 2. It is protected by a comprehensive PKI-based security architecture. 3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will roll out a new system to clear cheques within a few hours from October 2025. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Starting October 4, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will roll out a new system to clear cheques within a few hours—a big improvement from the current processing time of up to two working days. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — Under the new system, cheques will be scanned, processed, and settled continuously during business hours, instead of being cleared in batches. This means that the current T+1 clearing cycle (where T is the day of cheque deposit) will be reduced to just a few hours. — Currently, the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) clears cheques in one or two working days, depending on when they are deposited. The RBI aims to improve customer convenience and reduce settlement risk by moving to a faster, real-time clearing process. — Cheque Truncation System' (CTS) is an online image-based cheque clearing system where cheque images and Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data are captured at the collecting bank branch and transmitted electronically eliminating the actual cheque movement. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — CTS is protected by a comprehensive PKI-based security architecture which incorporates basic security and authentication controls such as dual access control, user ID and passwords with cryptobox and smart card interfaces. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. (Other Source: With reference to Stagflation, consider the following statements: 1. It is an economic condition characterised by slowing economic growth, high unemployment, and inflation simultaneously. 2. It is tackled easily by cutting interest rates. 3. It only happens when demand is too high. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — American economist Paul Krugman, who received the 2008 Nobel Prize for Economics, in a Substack post on August 8 said key US data are looking increasingly stagflationary. — Stagflation is an economic condition that occurs when economic growth slows, unemployment rises, and prices rise (inflation). Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Stagflation cannot be remedied simply by lowering interest rates, as doing so can exacerbate inflation, making stagflation more difficult to combat. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — Stagflation occurs when demand exceeds supply, which is frequently triggered by supply shocks rather than excess demand. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — The Trump administration levied major additional tariffs in 2025, posing the United States' first long-term threat of stagflation in two generations. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Other Source: What is the primary aim of the Special Rupee Vostro Account (SRVA)? (a) To facilitate trade settlements in foreign currencies only. (b) To allow international trade settlement in Indian Rupee. (c) To enable foreign banks to open accounts for their citizens in Indian banks. (d) To provide loans to exporters in foreign currency. Explanation — The SRVA mechanism was introduced in July 2022 to enable exporters and importers to invoice and settle trade in Indian Rupees. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. (Source: Consider the following statements: 1. India is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 per cent of its requirement. 2. As per recent data,West Asian crude oil import for India is greater than crude oil imported from Russia. Which of the statements given above is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — According to tanker data analysed by The Indian Express, over 45 per cent of crude oil imported by Indian refiners in May was likely to have been transported via the Strait of Hormuz. The importance of the chokepoint for India's energy supply and security cannot be understated because the country is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil and depends on imports to meet over 85 per cent of its requirement. — India's oil import strategy has evolved significantly over the past two-three years, with Russia displacing the West Asian majors as India's largest source of crude. And Russian oil is logistically detached from the Strait of Hormuz as it reaches India mostly via the Suez Canal and Red Sea route, and in some cases via the Cape of Good Hope and the Pacific Ocean routes. — In April-May, Russian crude accounted for around 39 per cent of India's oil imports, while West Asian oil had a share of around 41 per cent. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements with reference to Bank Notes in India: 1. Bank notes are printed at four currency presses,all four are owned by the Reserve Bank of India. 2. The promissory clause printed on the banknotes i.e., 'I promise to pay the bearer the sum of Rupees …' denotes the obligation on the part of the Bank towards the holder of the bank note. 3. The highest denomination note ever printed by the Reserve Bank of India was the ₹10,000 note. 4. It is not possible to have two or more banknotes with the same serial number. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Explanation According to FAQs on — Bank notes are printed at four currency presses, two of which are owned by the Government of India through its Corporation, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) and two are owned by the Reserve Bank, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Ltd. (BRBNMPL). The currency presses of SPMCIL are at Nasik (Western India) and Dewas (Central India). The two presses of BRBNMPL are at Mysuru (Southern India) and Salboni (Eastern India). Hence, statement 1 is not correct — Yes, it is possible to have two or more banknotes with the same serial number, but they would either have a different Inset Letter or year of printing or signature of a different Governor of RBI. An Inset Letter is an alphabet printed on the Number Panel of the banknote. There can be notes without any inset letter also. Hence, statement 4 is not correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 123) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 122) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 122) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
This Stanford graduate's startup wants to change how websites are built using AI
Planning to launch a startup? Thinking of expanding your cake-baking business and reaching new consumers? You need a website. Creating a website is a prerequisite for any business — it's like your second address, a digital identity that makes you visible on the internet. However, building a website often requires graphic designers to create the layout and programmers to write the code (HTML, CSS) to add pages, sub-pages, and features. And if you are starting out, this process can be a hassle, and expensive too. A Bengaluru-based startup wants to change that with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Founder Prakash Sanker said Launch helps anyone build a website using plain English prompts, transforming them into professional-grade websites and web apps, placing AI at the forefront of the technology's potential to disrupt existing website-building tools. 'If you are a fitness instructor and you want a website, you can come to my platform. You can say, 'I am a fitness instructor, I want to create a website to manage my clients, my sessions, and my payments,' and then, in a few minutes, we basically create an application for you that works,' Sanker told in an interview earlier this week. Sanker, who studied applied mathematics at Stanford University, said the idea behind the AI-based platform is to reduce the number of steps required to build web-based applications such as websites, web apps, and progressive web apps (PWAs) and make the process accessible to anyone looking to create a website of their own. 'You don't need any coding experience. You can just come in, enter a prompt in plain English, and the platform will respond and do the work,' he said. Before working on Launch, Sanker held roles at companies like Palantir, Splunk, and Remind in Silicon Valley. In 2017, he moved to India to become the CTO of Zelp, which later went public on the NSE and BSE. He then built a mental health startup, which he eventually shut down, and explored new business ideas. Sanker recalls being interested in applying large language models (LLMs) to cybersecurity, but later realised that the market in India wasn't ready. In 2022, he shifted his focus to website and app creation after recognising the greater mass-market potential and demand in that space. As artificial intelligence becomes more widely adopted across workplaces and within companies, Sanker sees greater potential for how AI can be used to build websites without requiring any prior knowledge or coding experience. 'I don't think people are just talking about it for no reason,' he said. 'I think they are talking about it because it's pretty cool technology that's enabling a lot of new workflows and new possibilities. What we are doing now was simply not possible two years ago: the large language models weren't good enough back then.' 'You can create a website using my platform in five to six minutes, whereas working with a programmer might take a few days. You no longer need to work with a programmer to actually build a product,' he said, highlighting the primary difference between what Launch is aiming to do and how websites are traditionally built. Sanker claimed building a website on Launch is easy. All you need to do is describe your app, and the AI generates your entire stack (backend, authentication, database, and UI) all automatically. You can test and iterate, then go live by deploying your app with a single click, complete with a real domain and real users. To build a website using Launch, users pay for 'prompts' — essentially, messages they send to describe or modify their website. For example, if someone wants to create a website for selling their artwork, that counts as one message. If they then request a change, like adjusting the button colour or layout, that counts as another message. Each prompt or message is equivalent to one interaction with the AI, which uses these inputs to generate code and build the site. The full-stack AI platform was launched in beta in April and went live in June. Sanker said he is seeing demand for the product from all over the world, not just India. 'I think websites are still relevant because the biggest screen people use is their phone, and they want to see and interact with things in a manual way. While AI agents will have their place, websites will remain highly relevant in the future. I believe there will be more websites tomorrow than there are today,' Sanker replied when asked if websites are still relevant in the AI age, amid predictions by experts that AI agents might replace websites and mobile apps. Although Sanker's platform is still new, he said he is working on integrations to make it easier for users to connect with various software applications. 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Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘What you cannot measure, you cannot improve': Str8bat co-founder on bringing data science to cricket
'What you cannot measure is not improved, and your eyes cannot measure everything. They're not as gifted as we think,' said Gagan Daga, CEO and co-founder of Str8bat, a Bengaluru-based startup that has developed a cricket bat sensor that captures motion without cameras. The company is bringing data-driven insights to players at all levels. Cricket, the most popular sport, has largely remained traditional in its approach to player development, and Daga's company is changing this through its unique technology. 'The universal anchor for sports is the desire to 'play better'.' The problem is that sports rely on lagging indicators like runs scored, wickets taken, or goals made — not leading indicators that help you improve consistently. My question became, 'How can we help players play better, no matter their level?' Daga said. In an interview with Daga opened up about his formative years and his stint at SAP, where he evolved as a business strategist from a technical architect. After a brief spell of what he terms 'midlife crisis' in the corporate world, Daga pursued education at INSEAD, where the concept of Str8bat was born. 'Sports was a big passion. Around three and a half billion people participate in sport worldwide, which is 25 per cent of the world population. 'That's a huge number,' he explained. Daga's analysis led him to the root of what drives people to play sports. 'Play Better is the anchor of the entire sport. But playing better has been a problem since the inception of sports.' The CEO shared that he identified a critical gap in sports analytics. 'What you cannot measure you cannot improve. Sports is an industry which has only lagging indicators,' he noted. Cricket statistics such as runs, wickets, or boundaries hit show players what happened. However, they offer no guidance on how to improve future performance. It is this realisation that led to a breakthrough philosophy. 'Equipment knows exactly what's happening to it. And if equipment can talk to the player and the coaches, they have a beautiful language, right? And what's one common language across which people hate to appreciate? It's the common language of science, data, and numbers,' he said. At first glance, Str8bat is a feather-light sensor that easily clasps on the bat. Daga said that the device is attached to a bat inconspicuously and has a setup that takes mere seconds. The Str8bat is essentially a sophisticated sensor that captures detailed motion data while a player is playing. Daga explained that the placement of the device on the bat is strategically chosen. It is positioned exactly where the bat usually breaks under stress. 'It has to be non-obtrusive. It cannot interfere with everybody. It cannot change the balance of the bat. It has to be accurate. There are three design principles.' The device is capable of measuring parameters including bat speed, impact speed, backlift angle, and sweet spot consistency. Daga said that every shot receives a score out of 100 with personalised insights that have been generated by AI. He revealed that the latest version of the sensor has evolved into a smart sticker that can 'make any bat smart while weighing virtually nothing.' The real-time feedback capability sets Str8bat apart from camera-based systems. 'This is muscle memory in real time, real time, real time. Play, get feedback, change,' explains Daga, emphasising the importance of immediate corrections rather than post-session analysis. The device is accompanied with an app that lets a player see the statistics and generative-AI powered recommendations. When asked about the impact of the device, Daga said that the results spoke for themselves. '91 per cent of our players improve,' he said. Daga revealed that the technology has also attracted big names such as Cricket Australia and IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, who use it for talent scouting and development. 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The device has expanded beyond India to Australia, the UK, the US, and East Africa, with over 20,000 players using it. Besides, the makers also have plans to become a sports platform and include other sports.
