Paramount will let exclusive talks with Skydance lapse, NYT reports

Paramount will let exclusive talks with Skydance lapse, NYT reports Paramount Global will end its exclusive negotiations with Skydance Media without reaching a deal, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares of Paramount rose 3% in extended trading. A special committee of the Paramount board, created to evaluate offers for the company, has been holding exclusive deal talks with Skydance Media. That period of exclusivity ends Friday. Skydance Media and a spokesman for the special committee of the Paramount board declined to comment. Sony Pictures Entertainment and private equity firm Apollo Global Management on Wednesday submitted a $26 billion offer for Paramount Global but have yet to receive a response as of Friday, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The companies submitted a non-binding offer letter on Wednesday, signed by Sony Pictures Chief Executive Tony Vinciquerra and Apollo partner Aaron Sobel, a source confirmed to Reuters. The $26 billion offer is a combination of cash and assumption of debt. Paramount's special committee is set to meet on Saturday to discuss the deal, NYT reported, citing two people with knowledge of the company's plans. Sony would hold a majority stake in the venture, a source previously told Reuters, and operate Paramount, whose movie library spans Star Trek, Mission: Impossible and The Godfather, alongside TV characters like SpongeBob SquarePants. Apollo would be a minority shareholder. The last-minute expression of interest from Sony and Apollo may well force Paramount's board to evaluate other offers, especially after some shareholders raised concerns about the deal with David Ellison's Skydance and have urged Paramount to consider other offers, including the one from Apollo. Apollo declined comment to Reuters, which reported in April that Sony's SPE and Apollo were in talks about a joint bid. Paramount and Sony also declined comment on the Apollo-Sony offer, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The rival offer comes at a tumultuous time for Paramount. Shari Redstone's media empire replaced CEO Bob Bakish with a trio of executives on Monday, while four independent members of the Paramount board are set to step down at the company's annual shareholder meeting on June 4. Bakish was once viewed as Redstone's loyal lieutenant. However, their relationship began to sour in May 2023, when he urged Redstone to support a cut the company's share dividend, saying it would help lift Paramount's sagging stock -- a prediction that never came true, according to two sources close to Redstone. PARAMOUNT'S STRUGGLES Paramount has been struggling to recover from last year's months-long strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, a soft advertising market and cord-cutting in the United States that has eroded profit for its TV business. Its streaming service also widely trails rivals such as Netflix and Disney+ in subscriber numbers - even though Redstone had hoped the merger of CBS and Viacom in 2019 would help the combined company, later renamed Paramount Global, compete better. Shares of Paramount have fallen more than 65% since then, losing more than $14 billion in market value. At Wednesday's closing price of $12.26, the company was valued at $7.67 billion, according to LSEG data. It has more than $14 billion of debt. The potential acquisition would help SPE grow its share of the North American box office. Sony Pictures earned $1.01 billion in U.S. and Canada box office revenue last year, compared with Paramount's $842.4 million, according to data from Comscore. SPE, a unit of Tokyo-based Sony Group, says its operations span movie and television production, acquisition and distribution, digital content creation and distribution, studio facility operation and the development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. The group has more than 3,500 movie titles and notable franchises such as Jumanji, Resident Evil and James Bond. This is not the first time Sony has pursued Paramount. Vinciquerra had previously approached Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, to explore acquiring the Paramount Pictures film studio, according to two people familiar with the matter. At the time, Redstone was uninterested in breaking up the company, according to one of the sources. The latest overture would mark the beginning of a process that would involve due diligence. There also are potential regulatory obstacles to Sony Pictures, a division of the Tokyo-based Sony Group, owning Paramount's CBS broadcast network. Sony's U.S.-based partner, Apollo, acquired Cox Media Group's television stations in a 2019 deal that required approval of the Federal Communications Commission.

Will there be more Batman movies? Jonathan Nolan reveals details about franchise's future

Jonathan Nolan has been well acclaimed for co-writing the Batman movie 'The Dark Knight' and with speculations doing rounds about a new film on Batman with a possibility of Winston Duke starring as the Caped Crusader, the writer reveals details about the franchise

How to get bejewelled balloters to the booth

South Bengaluru, south Chennai, south Delhi, south Mumbai, south Kolkata. There is something special about the southern parts of Indian metros that makes the affluent stay there. Quite the contrast from the laggard Global South. The problem with what we might call Indias Urban South is that they dont like lifestyle disruptions like voting at elections. We have seen that this year in the constituencies of Chennai South and Bengaluru South, both of which saw less than 55 percent voters showing up. I am tempted to bet their Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai counterparts may try to match them in low turnouts. Not even the talk of a never-proposed but much-disposed inheritance tax may shake them from their electoral slumber, unless you think out of the ballot box. About 15 years ago, a friend listed in jest 10 reasons why Mumbai Souths elite voters didnt show up to vote in 2009. Two reasons stood out: no valet parking, and they didnt want to stand in the same queue as their household help. Youve got to say bye-bye to voting if you spot your bai out there. In the best tradition of Indian-style innovation, I am thinking of ways to end such apathy. While at that, I am also intrigued by the tendency of Indians in general and the affluent in particular to splurge or lose money through various endeavours while hating the thing called tax. Its not a condition peculiar only to India. The Beatles sang in their 1966 song, Taxman : Now my advice for those who die (taxman) / Declare the pennies on your eyes (taxman) / Cause Im the taxman / Yeah, Im the taxman / And youre working for no one but me (taxman). Even before the Fab Four, Bollywoods Kishore Kumar sang in 1954: Kuchh income tax le jaata hai / Kuchh beewi udaati hai (Some money is taken away by income tax / and some blown up by the wife). Later, in 1970, when tax raids happened on film stars, he sang: Nagad naayan ke sab yaar / In sabke pichhe pad gaya income tax / Are bam-bam naache Kishore Kumaram (Everybody is a friend of the god of bucks / The income tax is after their backs / and Kishore Kumar dances bam-bam). But then, tax and voting are different things for celebrities. These days movie stars vote in style. Queues are bent for them so they can do the celeb act: posing for cameras in designer shades with ink on their forefingers. For all we know, they might be imagining showing a middle finger to politicians, but what we see is what we think we get. But stars and tycoons need to be treated with deference to make them part with cash. The poor can be made to part with cash through offerings made to astrologers and priests in exchange for the fulfilment of their wishes. The middle class can be had with get-rich-quick schemes in everything from unreliable chit-fund schemes to dud shares, and if they are techno-hip, through cyber frauds and crypto scams. The truly rich wont fall for all this. Some of them got rich in the first place by partly or wholly trying some of the tricks mentioned above (occasionally described in boardrooms as strategy). We need to reverse-swing this whole business with some designer jugaad . We need to take a leaf out of their books and charm them into doing unto the taxman what some of them do unto their clients and, sometimes, shareholders or bankers. What I suggest to counter electoral apathy in the Urban South is a Premium Voting Lounge, much like those fancy corners in airports or plush hotels. You have to pay so that you dont have to stand in queues, certainly not with your helps. You have sofas in air-conditioned waiting areas. The electronic voting machines flash a welcome message after a welcome drink. And yes, you can pose for a selfie with your EVM and pay a service charge (GST extra). Valet parking, of course, is included. There you have it. Farmhouse parties in Delhi and bashes in Malabar Hill will never be the same again. Page 3 smiles and Instagram videos will complete the picture. Bejewelled balloters will happily part with a lakh or two if they are told that voting is not an act of duty but a style statement. I can imagine Ms Chopra in South Delhi doing a pre-election photoshoot as well. If she is complimented later about having lost weight, she might even reply: You see, I have been exercising my franchise. Diamond and platinum brands are well advised to sell this idea to the powers that be. Fingers are meant to hold expensive rocks, not just press an EVM button. An election symbol can now be transformed into a status symbol. If the Unique Identification Authority cooperates, designer Aadhaar cards with filter-fixed photos wont be a bad idea either, though immigration officials may object. The wealthy are not fools who part easily with their money. They would rather pay for a holiday home they will never stay in, or do a 50-50 deal with a suitable deity than pay inheritance tax. The government is well advised to hire consultants of the premium variety to do something about this. Smart consultants dont come cheap. (Views are personal) (On X @madversity) Madhavan Narayanan | Senior journalist

Sony, Apollo await response to $26 billion Paramount bid

Sony, Apollo await response to $26 billion Paramount bid Sony Pictures Entertainment and private equity firm Apollo Global Management on Wednesday submitted a $26 billion offer for Paramount Global but have yet to receive a response as of Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter. A special committee of the Paramount board, created to evaluate offers for the company, has been holding exclusive deal talks with Skydance Media. That period of exclusivity ends Friday, and a separate source familiar with the matter said the exclusivity period is unlikely to be extended, opening the doors to other bidders. The companies submitted a non-binding offer letter on Wednesday, signed by Sony Pictures Chief Executive Tony Vinciquerra and Apollo partner Aaron Sobel, a source confirmed to Reuters. The $26 billion offer is a combination of cash and assumption of debt. Sony would hold a majority stake in the venture, a source previously told Reuters, and operate Paramount, whose movie library spans Star Trek, Mission: Impossible and The Godfather, alongside TV characters like SpongeBob SquarePants. Apollo would be a minority shareholder. The last-minute expression of interest from Sony and Apollo may well force Paramount's board to evaluate other offers, especially after some shareholders raised concerns about the deal with David Ellison's Skydance and have urged Paramount to consider other offers, including the one from Apollo. Apollo declined comment to Reuters, which reported in April that Sony's SPE and Apollo were in talks about a joint bid. Paramount and Sony also declined comment on the Apollo-Sony offer, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Skydance and a spokesman for the Paramount special committee also declined comment. The rival offer comes at a tumultuous time for Paramount. Shari Redstone's media empire replaced CEO Bob Bakish with a trio of executives on Monday, while four independent members of the Paramount board are set to step down at the company's annual shareholder meeting on June 4. Bakish was once viewed as Redstone's loyal lieutenant. However, their relationship began to sour in May 2023, when he urged Redstone to support a cut the company's share dividend, saying it would help lift Paramount's sagging stock -- a prediction that never came true, according to two sources close to Redstone. PARAMOUNT'S STRUGGLES Paramount has been struggling to recover from last year's months-long strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, a soft advertising market and cord-cutting in the United States that has eroded profit for its TV business. Its streaming service also widely trails rivals such as Netflix and Disney+ in subscriber numbers - even though Redstone had hoped the merger of CBS and Viacom in 2019 would help the combined company, later renamed Paramount Global, compete better. Shares of Paramount have fallen more than 65% since then, losing more than $14 billion in market value. At Wednesday's closing price of $12.26, the company was valued at $7.67 billion, according to LSEG data. It has more than $14 billion of debt. The potential acquisition would help SPE grow its share of the North American box office. Sony Pictures earned $1.01 billion in U.S. and Canada box office revenue last year, compared with Paramount's $842.4 million, according to data from Comscore. SPE, a unit of Tokyo-based Sony Group, says its operations span movie and television production, acquisition and distribution, digital content creation and distribution, studio facility operation and the development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. The group has more than 3,500 movie titles and notable franchises such as Jumanji, Resident Evil and James Bond. This is not the first time Sony has pursued Paramount. Vinciquerra had previously approached Paramount's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, to explore acquiring the Paramount Pictures film studio, according to two people familiar with the matter. At the time, Redstone was uninterested in breaking up the company, according to one of the sources. The latest overture would mark the beginning of a process that would involve due diligence. There also are potential regulatory obstacles to Sony Pictures, a division of the Tokyo-based Sony Group, owning Paramount's CBS broadcast network. Sony's U.S.-based partner, Apollo, acquired Cox Media Group's television stations in a 2019 deal that required approval of the Federal Communications Commission.

Hardik Pandya Admits Numerous Questions to be Answered But Time Needed

Hardik Pandya Admits Numerous Questions to be Answered But Time Needed All but out of play-off contention after eighth defeat in 11 games, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya seemed as if he was groping in the dark for replies to all the unanswered questions hounding the five-time champions in yet another disastrous IPL season. Pandya was handed over the captaincy after the franchise removed national captain Rohit Sharma, something that the fans didn't really embrace with the colourful Baroda all-rounder being booed every time he entered the pitch. ''There are a lot of questions that will take time to answer. But for now, not much to say. Obviously, we couldn't form partnerships and kept losing wickets. Bowlers did a fantastic job on this track,'' Pandya said after his team failed to score 170, losing to KKR at home for the first time in 12 years. Pandya felt that it was better to bat late evening once dew set in but MI failed to capitalise. ''The wicket got better if I'm not wrong. Dew came in the second innings. Will go through the game and see what we can do better,'' he said. Pandya tried to put up a brave front as he spoke about fighting till the last match. ''You keep fighting, that's what I keep telling myself. It's challenging, but you take the challenges.'' His opposite number Shreyas Iyer was delighted that his team is on the cusp of a play-off berth. ''We are (knocking at the door) at the moment. Lot of thinking would have gone behind that (had we lost today). Just got to know about the stat (of KKR not winning at Wankhede for 12 years)... '' The ''Impact Player'' rule did help KKR as Manish Pandey, who came in at the fall of the fifth wicket, contributed 42 priceless runs. ''This Impact Player rule specifically helped us in this game. Manish has being eyeing an opportunity from the first game. We got to a commendable total. I told the boys that if we have got here, we can defend it,'' Iyer said. He was all praise for the performances from spin twins Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, both of whom returning with identical figures of 2 for 22. ''Spinners were unreal, absolutely spot on in executing their lines and lengths as discussed in team meetings. Kudos to them,'' Iyer said.

DC Report Makes Officials Visit Hilltop Village

Visakhapatnam: Following a report published in Deccan Chronicle on May 1, revenue inspector M. Laxmikant and revenue officer T. Kondababu of Anantagiri mandal walked five kilometres and visited the remote hilltop village of Kalyan Gummi. The officials made detailed inquiries about the villagers demands and took stock of the situation. Kalyan Gummi villagers have to leave their homes two days before the voting day. They take up an arduous journey of 70 kilometres across two districts, including walking through the hills, to reach their polling centre in Cherikibidda of Anantagiri mandal, where they finally exercise their franchise. The villagers' journey to the polling centre is a testament of their determination to cast their vote. The demand of Kalyan Gummi villagers is that the government connect their village with transport facilities.

England Women's cricket coach using AI to pick team

England Women's cricket coach Jon Lewis revealed Friday he is using artificial intelligence to aid team selection, saying the technology helped his side square last season's Ashes. Lewis first became familiar with the work of London-based PSi when he took charge of the UP Warriorz franchise in India's Women's Premier League.

Heatwave to Persist for Two More Days in Eastern and Southern Peninsular India

Heatwave to Persist for Two More Days in Eastern and Southern Peninsular India The record-breaking heatwave spell affecting east India and parts of the southern peninsular region continued unabated on Friday, with temperatures settling above 44 degrees Celsius in at least 13 places. Intensely hot conditions prevailed in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Maximum temperatures settled in the range of 43-46 degrees Celsius in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra and 40-43 degrees in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Marathwada and north interior Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 46.3 degrees Celsius, the highest maximum temperature in the country on Friday. The mercury settled at 44.6 degrees Celsius in Odisha's Boudh, 45 degrees in Khammam (Telangana), 46.2 degrees in Cuddapah (Andhra Pradesh), 43.4 degrees in Erode (Tamil Nadu), and 44.6 degrees in West Bengal's Kalaikunda. The IMD said the ongoing heatwave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue until May 5-6 and abate thereafter. The Met office on Wednesday said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heatwave days expected over the northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India. April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast and southern peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. A number of stations recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures. Five active western disturbances led to rainfall, thunderstorms and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves. IMD data shows that heat waves this April were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heatwave days predicted over the south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and the Gujarat regions. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka and Telangana may record five to seven heatwave days during the month. Normally, the northern plains, central India and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. India witnessed two spells of heat waves in April -- from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. The IMD attributed the prolonged heatwave spell over east, northeast and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and an anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days. The weather office said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, it said. The IMD said above-normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since the 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm rainfall in April -- the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second-lowest since 2001. According to IMD data, the number of heatwave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heatwave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heatwave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heatwave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period.

Windies pacer Joseph gets surprise call-up for T20 WC

Shamar Joseph has only played three T20 matches in franchise-based leagues and has not taken a wicket.

Congress, JMM in race for corruption and loot in Jharkhand: PM Modi

Congress, JMM in race for corruption and loot in Jharkhand: PM Modi Ranchi: Launching yet another blistering attack against the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress and the JMM of openly looting Jharkhands massive resources. Theres a race between the Congress and the JMM in Jharkhand a race for corruption [] The post Congress, JMM in race for corruption and loot in Jharkhand: PM Modi appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Sobhita Dhulipala reveals the mantras of her life: Nothing f****** matters

Sobhita Dhulipala is well known for her body of work that is not majorly mainstream yet interesting. With an impressive journey from Raman Raghav 2.0 to Monkey Man, the actress has proved that she is here to rule and carve a niche for herself and her choice of work. When it comes to choices, Sobhita Dhulipala opened up on the three fundamental things that have shaped her life. She said, My life has been the result of choices made from what was available to me, what moved my heart, and the knowledge that nothing f****** matters. Sobhita Dhulipala auditioned for Monkey Man in 2016 and shot in the lockdown for this aspirational project and she has been winning widespread appreciation for her portrayal of a character that is so layered but showcased with so much grace. Sobhita has been part of some of the most well-crafted projects. A simple girl next door in Raman Raghav 2.0 to Tara Khanna in Made in Heaven franchise who is a woman with beauty with the brain. She was also appreciated for her work in veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnams historical epic saga Ponniyin Selvan I and Ponniyin Selvan II, where she also looked regal. Coming back to Monkey Man, the film is the directorial debut for Dev Patel, who also plays the central character in the movie. The film is a bloody revenge saga with loads of action. It has been generating widespread acclaim in the west, where it has already released. Also Read: Exhibitors FUME as prominent critic and scores of influencers watch Monkey Man on pirated copies and spread the word about it: These are PARASITES that need to be amputated

Tarot review disappointment is in the cards with silly supernatural horror

Final Destination inspires yet another throwaway teen schlocker, this time with an increasingly risible astrological bent As many of us impatiently wait for the sixth Final Destination film , slated for release next year over a decade since the fifth, here comes yet another limp attempt to recreate that specific, sadistic form of magic. Some curse, some teens, some shock deaths, a formula thats been trotted out in so-what films like Wish Upon , Countdown and Truth or Dare , shrugs where shocks should be, franchise starters ending after the first round. Which brings us to Tarot, a film wisely kept from critics until the very last second and one that audiences would be smart to keep themselves from too. Its not quite as bad as these things can often be but flashes of competence are not enough to distract from a sense of crushing pointlessness, more watery slop served up lukewarm for undemanding Friday night horror fans, who really ought to be demanding so much more. Continue reading...

Kristen Stewart to co-star with Oscar Isaac in new vampire thriller

Kristen Stewart to co-star with Oscar Isaac in new vampire thriller 'Twilight' sensation Kristen Stewart is set to make her mark in the vampire genre once again, this time in the upcoming thriller 'Flesh of the Gods.' After captivating audiences as Bella Swan in the iconic 'Twilight' Saga over a decade ago, Stewart is ready to sink her teeth into a new blood-curdling adventure alongside acclaimed actor Oscar Isaac, reported E! News. 'Flesh of the Gods,' directed by Panos Cosmatos, transports viewers to the neon-lit streets of 1980s Los Angeles, where married couple Raoul (played by Isaac) and Alex (portrayed by Stewart) encounter a mysterious woman, plunging them into a surreal and nightmarish journey. Director Cosmatos described the film as existing etween fantasy and nightmare, promising a captivating and hypnotic experience that will take audiences on a hot rod joy ride into the glittering heart of hell. The project is backed by a stellar team, with producers Betsy Koch and Adam McKay, the latter known for his work on Oscar-nominated films like 'The Big Short' and 'Vice.' The movie is penned by horror genre veteran Andrew Kevin Walker, whose credits include 'Se7en' and 'Sleepy Hollow.' Stewart, who has always defended her involvement in the 'Twilight' series, expressed her enduring pride in the franchise, acknowledging its flaws while championing its sincerity and impact, reported E! News. Anybody who wants to talk s--t about Twilight, I completely get it, but there's something there that I'm endlessly, and to this day, f--king proud of, she said. (ANI)

Rinku's Rise Continues, Impresses Sourav Ganguly

Rinku's Rise Continues, Impresses Sourav Ganguly Rinku Singh shouldn't be disheartened by his exclusion from India's World T20 squad as it was pure tactical decision by team management to ask for an extra spinner taking pitches in the Caribbean into account, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly said on Friday. Ganguly feels the 26-year-old, who boasts of a 176-plus strike rate in 15 T20Is and plays the role of a finisher for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, may have missed out as India wanted to go with an ''extra spinner'' keeping in mind the spinning tracks in the West Indies. ''It's West Indies. The wickets may be slow and assist spin so they (selectors) wanted to go with another spinner. Maybe because of that Rinku didn't get an opportunity but it's just the beginning for Rinku,'' Ganguly said at the Trophy unveiling ceremony of the Bengal Pro T20 League. India play their group stage matches in the USA, opening their campaign against Ireland on June 5. Super Eight onwards the tournament will be held in the Caribbean countries. Ganguly expected India and Australia to dominate the tournament as they did in the 50-over World Cup last year. ''India and Australia the two best teams of the tournament. I'm sure they will do the same thing in the USA and the West Indies,'' Ganguly said. On the Indian squad, Ganguly said: ''It's a fabulous squad, they are all match winners. All 15 are good enough to be selected, I'm sure Rohit (Sharma) and Rahul (Dravid) will pick the best.'' Meanwhile all the eight franchises and their marquee players in the Bengal Pro T20 League were also announced. The inaugural edition of the league will take place at Eden Gardens and Jadavpur University Salt Lake Campus ground from June 11-28. The Teams Kolkata Royal Tigers (areas: Kolkata & Hooghly) (marquee players: Abhishek Porel and Mita Paul). Harbour Diamonds (North & South 24 Parganas) (Manoj Tiwary and Sukanya Panda). Rashmi Medinipur Wizards (Medinipur and Jhargram) (Abhimanyu Easwaran & Richa Ghosh). Servotec Siliguri Strikers (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Kalimpong) (Akash Deep and Priyanka Bala). Adamas Howrah Warriors (Howrah, Purulia and Bankura) (Anustup Majumdar and Dhara Gujjar). Malda Sobisco Smashers (Dinajpur and Malda) (Mukesh Kumar & Rishita Basu). Murshidabad King (Murshidabad and Nadia) (Sudeep Gharami and Deepti Sharma).

Pushing the boundaries: England Women using AI to help with team selection

Head coach Jon Lewis credits AI with helping draw Ashes It will help with borderline decisions in terms of selection The England Womens head coach, Jon Lewis, has revealed how he is using AI as a selection tool and credits the technology with helping his side draw last summers Ashes series. Lewis was first exposed to the work of London-based PSi when he took charge of the Womens Premier League franchise UP Warriorz in India and now uses the company to bolster the decisions he makes about squad make-up, team balance and in-game match-ups. Continue reading...

Its about valuing their audience: why Ghostbusters called in a Muslim cultural consultant

The spooky comedy franchise may seem an unlikely place to find an ethnicity and faith adviser, but productions are increasingly aware of a duty to make sure communities are truthfully represented The sensitivity reader is a well-established, if controversial, figure in the publishing world, offering advice on whether a books content might cause offence. The film and TV industry has also been forced to confront similar issues, with intimacy coordinators now widely employed to ensure that filmed sex scenes neither harm the actors nor outrage audiences. Perhaps less well-known, but now gaining ground in film and TV, is the role of a cultural consultant advisers taken on by productions to help them navigate the choppy waters of sensitivities around ethnicity and faith. Sajid Varda, founder and CEO of media charity UK Muslim Film and director of the UKs inaugural Muslim international film festival , recently completed an assignment on Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the latest instalment of the popular and long-running series of supernatural comedies. Varda says the key to such roles is authenticity; it is, he says not just saying what is wrong with this, but how can we make it better and improve it? Continue reading...

T20 WC: 'If Pakistan Lose, PCB Will Blame Kirsten... This Is Our Tradition', Says Rashid Laitf

The Pakistan Cricket Board: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) this week appointed Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie as head coaches for the white-ball and red-ball cricket teams, respectively, each for a two-year term. However, the timing of the appointment ignited debate in the cricket fraternity as the ICC T20 World Cup is just a few days away. Speaking to IANS, former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif, too, expressed his concern over the late appointments. Gary Kirsten has been a successful coach for India, and also in franchise cricket. But timing (of his appointment) is wrong, the problem that has always arisen in Pakistan is timing. This is above my head... Next month we are going to the World Cup. On the road to the World Cup, we are playing 7 matches. The time is very short. If they lose, the board will blame Kirsten or Babar Azam. This is our tradition. I will not blame Babar or Kirsten, Rashid said. Pakistan definitely has an advantage that you cannot neglect them in ICC events, you cannot write them off. They appear from nowhere... This has happened on many occasions. Kirsten and Gillespie are both very experienced coaches and have impressive records. But they should have been called earlier. Today, if I know that this is my head coach, this is my captain and this is my selection committee... Momentum is like what happens in Australia, India, England that they know these are our 12-13 certain players and this is my coach. You should have known all this 6-8 months or even a year in advance, he added. On Thursday, PCB announced its 18-player squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland (10-14 May) and England (22-30 May). The squad will be reduced to 15 players for next months World Cup 2024 after the first T20I at Leeds on May 22 to meet the ICCs May 24 deadline. The mens national selection committee has recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf, along with all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha, in the 18-player squad. The two cricketers who did not make the cut from the original 17-player squad that faced New Zealand are wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan. The Babar Azam-led side is scheduled to depart for Dublin on May 7 following a three-day training camp in Lahore from May 4-6.

Diseases: Which diseases are at risk according to age, the doctor explained the importance of full body checkup.

Although the disease can happen to anyone at any time, sometimes the risk of disease remains according to age, says Dr. Vikas Kumar, Neuro and Spine Surgeon of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi. (Dr. Vikas Kumar) told on his X account that we should always do full body checkups so that diseases can be detected at every stage of age and treatment can be possible at the right time. When is testing necessary for which diseases? First stage (20-30 years) At this age, checking blood pressure, height, and weight, an HPV test (Human Papilloma Virus) test is necessary. Certain types of HPV increase the risk of cancer in women. It starts at the age of 20. Second stage (31-40 years) People of this age group should get tests related to BP, diabetes, thyroid, cholesterol, and heart disease because according to WHO, 22% of deaths are due to heart attacks. Factors like blood pressure and cholesterol are responsible for this. Third stage (41-50 years) Checkups related to heart diseases, prostate cancer, skin cancer, eyes, and teeth should be done because the prostate gland starts increasing in men after the age of 40 years. This is called prostatic hyperplasia. Fourth stage (51-65 years) Be sure to get yourself checked for stool tests, mammograms, osteoporosis, and depression because 90% of colon cancer (intestine cancer) cases are found after the age of 50. Bone erosion also starts. Mammogram detects breast cancer in women. Fifth stage (age 65+) At this stage of age, check for eyes, ears, and physical imbalance because immunity decreases rapidly after this age. The ability to see and hear decreases. The balance of the body starts deteriorating. Therefore, get a full body checkup done on the advice of the doctor. (PC: Freepik)

Kenangan Brands launches affordable coffee brand

The Indonesia-based coffee chain said the new business - called Satu Kenangan - will be open to franchising deals.

It's a bit daunting: Jacks on being RCB's next ABD

Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Will Jacks opened up on filling the shoes of legendary South African batter AB de Villiers as franchise's premier overseas batter, saying that the task is daunting.

Rosamund Pike set to star in 'Now You See Me 3' with Jesse Eisenberg

Rosamund Pike has joined the cast of Now You See Me 3, adding to the star-studded lineup that includes Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and others. The third installment of the franchise, directed by Ruben Fleischer, will continue the story of the Four Horsemen, known for their magical heists. Pike's inclusion alongside newcomers like Justice Smith brings anticipation for another thrilling chapter in the series.

Jharkhand HC refuses provisional bail to former CM Hemant Soren

RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court on Friday denied the petition filed by jailed former Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeking provisional bail for attending shraddha ritual of his uncle who passed away on last Saturday. The Court, however, allowed Soren to attend the last rites of his uncle for few hours under police custody. Refusing to grant him provisional bail, the court gave strict instructions that while attending the ritual to be held on May 6, Hemant Soren will not talk to the media nor hold any political discussion with anybody. Soren, who is currently lodged in Birsa Munda Central jail after being arrested Enforcement Directorate on January 31, had approached Jharkhand High Court for provisional bail after the Special PMLA Court in Ranchi refused to grant him the same. In his appeal, he had sought provisional bail for three days from the High Court. In the petition, he had requested the court to allow him to attend the Shraddha of his uncle. Notably, elder brother of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, Rajaram Soren, passed away following prolonged illness early in the morning on April 28. Earlier on Friday, the Jharkhand HC also dismissed Hemant Sorens petition challenging his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. Hemant Soren will come back stronger; Jharkhand will not bow down: Kalpana hits out at BJP

11-year-old student dies during physical activity at school in Jharkhand

An 11-year-old student of a residential school in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district died allegedly during physical activity on the school ground. The incident has prompted an investigation by the authorities.

This actor, star filmmaker's son failed in Bollywood, gave no solo hits in 23 years, quit acting, is single at 51, now..

Despite being a part of the eighth highest-grossing film franchises in Indian Cinema, Uday Chopra didn't gave any solo hits in 23 years of career.

Watch: Dhoni signs jersey, writes message for 103-year-old CSK fan

The 103-year-old CSK superfan S Ramdas received an autographed jersey from MS Dhoni and the moment was captured in a video that the Chennai franchise shared on social media. Ramdas, a former British Military servant, gained recognition after a video that showed him expressing his love for cricket and enjoying watching T20 matches.

Here Are The Full Squads Of 20 Teams Participating In ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

The ninth edition of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup will see 20 teams competing for the ultimate crown in the twenty-over format starting June 1. The 2024 T20 World Cup tournament will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States, and will feature a total of 55 matches with the final taking place on June 29. With just a month to go before the international T20 tournament kicks off, many of the teams have announced their 15-member squad that will travel to West Indies and the USA. Below is the list of teams who have announced their T20 World Cup squads so far. India T20 World Cup Squad Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya (vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj. Reserves: Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed and Avesh Khan. India's T20 squad sees the return of Rishabh Pant who was involved in a near-fatal car crash in December 2022 that required him to undergo multiple surgeries. Pant who is captaining the Delhi Capital's side is among the leading run-scorers in IPL 2024 with close to 400 runs in 11 matches played so far. The left-handed keeper batter is not the only one who has found a place in the 15-member squad. Sanju Samson who leads the Rajasthan Royals side has also been included in the 15-man squad. Other inclusions backed on solid performances are Shivam Dube and Yuzvendra Chahal who have shone for their respective sides in this year's IPL. Prominent players who failed to make the cut are KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar and Ishan Kishan. Australia T20 World Cup Squad Mitchell Marsh (captain), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa Australia will look up to Mitch Marsh to conquer their second T20 title after being at the helm of the T20 side on an interim basis. Prominent players who failed to make the cut are Steve Smith, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short. England T20 World Cup Squad Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Mark Wood England pace bowler Jofra Archer makes his comeback in the England squad after nearly a year away from international cricket. He was ruled out halfway through IPL 2023 due to a recurrence of his right elbow stress fracture. Will Jacks and Phil Salt who are currently doing well for their respective IPL franchises also feature in the 15-member provisional squad. New Zealand T20 World Cup Squad Kane Williamson (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee. Travelling Reserve: Ben Sears NZ were the first team to announce their provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, and as expected there weren't any major surprises. Rachin Ravindra who was slotted into the CSK franchise this year is the only NZ player to make his T20 tournament debut. South Africa T20 World Cup Squad Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs Reserves: Nandre Burger and Lungi Ngidi South Africa have included the uncapped duo of Ryan Rickelton and Ottniel Baartman in their 15-man squad. Afghanistan T20 World Cup Squad Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Karim Janat, Nangyal Kharoti, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik. Reserves: Sediq Atal, Hazratullah Zazai, Saleem Safi Nepal T20 World Cup Squad Rohit Paudel (captain), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee Canada T20 World Cup Squad Saad Bin Zafar (captain), Aaron Johnson, Dilon Heyliger, Dilpreet Bajwa, Harsh Thaker, Jeremy Gordon, Junaid Siddiqui, Kaleem Sana, Kanwarpal Tathgur, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Pargat Singh, Ravinderpal Singh, Rayyankhan Pathan, Shreyas Movva. Reserves: Tajinder Singh, Aaditya Varadharajan, Ammar Khalid, Jatinder Matharu, Parveen Kumar. Oman T20 World Cup Squad Aqib Ilyas (captain), Zeeshan Maqsood, Kashyap Prajapati, Pratik Athavale (wk), Ayaan Khan, Shoaib Khan, Mohammad Nadeem, Naseem Khushi (wk), Mehran Khan, Bilal Khan, Rafiullah, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Shakeel Ahmad, Khalid Kail. Reserves: Jatinder Singh, Samay Shrivastava, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra The following teams are yet to announce their squads for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 West Indies Pakistan Sri Lanka Bangladesh Uganda United States Netherlands Ireland Namibia Scotland Papua New Guinea May 25, 2024, is the deadline set by ICC for making changes to the provisional 15-member squads announced by the 20 teams. After this date, any changes to the squads will require ICC Event Technical Committee's approval. ICC Men's T20 World Cup Groups These 20 teams have been divided into four groups of five teams each. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan are part of Group A while Ashes rivalry will continue into the World Cup with Australia and England being placed in the same Group (group B). Group A: India Pakistan Ireland Canada Unites States Of America Group B: England Australia Namibia Scotland Oman Group C: West Indies Afghanistan New Zealand Papua New Guinea Uganda Group D: South Africa Bangladesh Sri Lanka Netherlands Nepal IPL 2024: Dates, Schedule, Format, Venues, Squads, Live Streaming And All You Need To Know . Read more on Sports by NDTV Profit.

Aranmanai 4 movie review: Despite lacking in finesse, Tamannaah anchors the best entry in the franchise

Sundar C makes a much-needed comeback with the most intriguing addition to the Aranmanai franchise, thanks to a fascinating plot headlined by Tamannaah

I am not minister, leader for you but member of your family, says Jyotiraditya Scindia in MP's Guna

I am not minister, leader for you but member of your family, says Jyotiraditya Scindia in MP's Guna Election campaigning for the third phase of Lok Sabha elections has now reached its final stage and the candidates are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. While campaigning in Guna, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Guna parliamentary seat Jyotiraditya Scindia said that he was not a minister, a leader for the public but a member of their families. Scindia made the remark while addressing a public gathering in Bamori in Guna district on Thursday evening. Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is also a candidate from Vidisha parliamentary seat for Lok Sabha elections 2024, also reached there to campaign in support of Scindia. Addressing the public, Scindia said, I am not a minister and not a leader for you. I am a member of your family. The blood that flows in my veins is the same blood that flows in your veins. Every generation of the Scindia family has always sacrificed for you. Especially for the development and progress of this region. Therefore, I am saying that you and I have a connection of heart. Meanwhile, expressing concern over the low voter turnout in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections in the state, Scindia also appealed to the public to exercise their franchise as much as possible. Speaking at the occasion, former CM Chouhan said, he came to seek the support of the public for Jyotiraditya Scindia and also gave credit to the Ladli Bahna Yojana, which played a game-changer role in the recent state assembly election, to Scindia. Today (May 2), I have come to seek your support for my friend, colleague and brother Jyotiraditya Scindia. If I was able to make the government the fourth time in the state and made 'Ladli Bahna Yojana' then it was because of Scindia ji. He was the one who toppled the dishonest government led by Kamal Nath and decided to bring Mama (referring to himself) to take care of the CM post, Chouhan said. The veteran BJP leader also came down hard on the Congress During the recently concluded assembly polls, the Congress party had dreamt of returning to power in the state, their many leaders had got their suits stitched dreaming of becoming ministers. But I said Mama is still alive. He further hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that under his leadership India would become Vishwa Guru. The way the country is growing today under the leadership of the Prime Minister is amazing. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India will become Vishwa Guru, no one will be able to stop it, he added. Furthermore, slamming the Congress party, he said that nothing was left in Congress and now even their candidate is snapping ties with the party. Recently on Monday, a Congress nominee from Indore parliamentary seat Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination and switched his sides to the saffron party. Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh are being conducted in four phases. The first phase of polling was held on April 19 and the second phase was concluded on April 26. The next two phases will be conducted on May 7 and May 13. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. A total of nine parliamentary constituencies- Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Guna, Sagar, Vidisha, Bhopal, Rajgarh and Betul- will go to the polls in the third phase on May 7. On the other hand, eight constituencies - Dewas, Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Dhar, Indore, Khargone and Khandwa- will go to the polls in the fourth and last phase in the state on May 13. With 29 Lok Sabha constituencies, Madhya Pradesh ranks sixth among all states in terms of its representation in the Lower House. Of these, 10 seats are reserved for SC and ST candidates, while the remaining 19 are unreserved. (ANI)

Indian students display affection for RCB on Graduation day in USA

Despite winning a single trophy, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has won millions of hearts with their efforts in the tournament. RCB has a fan base of 13.8 million on Instagram and is the second most followed handle of any IPL team only next to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Fans across the globe, often express their love for the franchise and its star player, Virat Kohli, in unique ways.One such recent instance took the internet by a storm. A Fan-girl and a fan-boy had demonstrated their affection for the team during their graduation ceremony in the USA.The students while receiving their transcripts showed their support by displaying the flag and jersey of RCB. RCB is not just a Team, RCB is an Emotion for every fan! pic.twitter.com/nwshpEZkgS Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) May 1, 2024 A Virat Kohli fan page on X posted the video of the act, quickly catching the attention of netizens. Commenting on the post the fangirl KohLikitha wrote, That's me, fellas Thank you for posting this! The Royal Challengers Bengaluru is at the last spot in the points table, winning only 3 of the 10 games played in the ongoing IPL.

Sanjay Dutt remembers Mother Nargis on her death anniversary

On the 43rd death anniversary of Nargis Dutt, Sanjay Dutt shared poignant photos and a heartfelt note, remembering his mother. He expressed his profound love and how her absence is deeply felt in every moment. Nargis, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 1981, had a significant impact on Sanjay's life and career, notably during the release of his debut film 'Rocky', just days after her demise. Sanjay's latest appearance was in the Tamil film 'Leo' alongside Thalapathy Vijay. Upcoming projects include the third installment of the 'Welcome' franchise, 'Welcome to the Jungle', and a comedy venture helmed by Raaj Shaandilyaa. Sanjay's tribute to his mother reflects the enduring bond they shared, resonating with fans who continue to cherish Nargis's legacy in Indian cinema.

Ubisoft's first-person shooter XDefiant is launching on May 21

Tom Clancy's XDefiant is almost upon us. Ubisoft is releasing the free-to-play first-person shooter on May 21 for the Xbox Series X|S, the PS5 and PC through Ubisoft Connect. The developer is kicking things off with the preseason version of the game, which is scheduled to last for six weeks before XDefiant's first season officially starts. Ubisoft announced the game way back in 2021, promising team-based matches with a focus on gunplay that will include elements from other games in the Tom Clancy universe. The preseason will offer five different game modes with 14 maps, 24 weapons and five playable factions inspired by Ubisoft's other franchises. Players will need to choose their faction before the match begins and before they respawn. They must also choose their primary and secondary weapon their options include assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns and sniper rifles and a grenade. To customize a weapon, they can add barrel and muzzle attachments, such as sights and grips. Each faction will give players access to two active abilities, one passive buff and another ultra ability that they have to charge up while the match is ongoing. Libertad, one of the available factions, puts a focus on healing, while members of the Cleaners faction can use fire to burn their opponents. Echelon players can reveal enemy locations with their stealth technology, whereas Phantoms' abilities can block damage. The last faction available, DedSec, is for those who want to play as hackers. When the first season launches, Ubisoft is adding four new factions, 12 new weapons and 12 new maps to the game. According to the Year 1 roadmap the developer shared last year, it expects to roll out four seasons with the game's first year, with each one adding more new content meant to keep players engaged, invested and more likely to come back and keep playing. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisofts-first-person-shooter-xdefiant-is-launching-on-may-21-074940344.html?src=rss

I am not in my best form: Riyan Parag

Following his side's one-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League match, Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag, who has had a breakout season with the franchise, admitted that he is not in his best form since he could not finish the game and has got a lot of areas to improve.

'A proper cricket tragic...': Ponting on his son's love for the sport

Ponting discusses son Fletcher's cricket passion and family involvement with Delhi Capitals. Fletcher enjoys cricket, practices with IPL franchise, forms bonds with players. Ponting values family support in his cricket career.

My role is to carry on till 13th-14th over so that Klaasen gets license to bang: Nitish Reddy

HYDERABAD: Entrusted with the task of shepherding Sunrisers Hyderabad's middle-order, young Nitish Reddy has been doing the job with aplomb at a time when he is seen by many as a future India all-rounder, thanks to his ability to bowl lively medium pace. Opting to bat in the IPL game against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals here on Thursday, Reddy (76 not out) and Travis Head (58) produced explosive fifties, while Heinrich Klassen made an unbeaten 19-ball 42 to power SRH to 201 for three. Experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar then did the star turn with a sensational final over as SRH pulled off a heist, stunning RR by just one run in a last-ball thriller to keep their playoff hopes alive. Nitish, 20, stated that his role was to rebuild the innings after quick wickets. From the last two matches, we are losing quick wickets and I have to go. My role is to carry on till the 13th and 14th over so that Klaasen gets a license to bang. There is no point in Klaasen and Samad coming early, but not getting to score freely, said Nitish at the post-match press conference. The all-rounder hailed Bhuvneshwar after the veteran pacer bowled a brilliant final over to help Hyderabad seal a dramatic win. Nitish said he was hopeful that Bhuvneshwar would be able to defend 13 runs in the last over. I was looking at who was going to bowl. When I saw Bhuvneshwar was going to bowl, I got the confidence that he was going to pull it off. During his prime, he had done it so many times. I did not think we were going to win, I thought either we'd lose or tie. But that last-ball wicket, I felt so happy, Nitish said. During his explosive knock, Nitish smashed RR's in-form Yuzvendra Chahal for two fours and two sixes in the 13th over. Nitish said that he backed himself to attack the seasoned leg-spinner. Reddy also said the victory against RR, following losses to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings, is important. Beating RR will boost our confidence, they are at the top of the points table, he concluded. IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad edge Rajasthan Royals in one-run thriller Not in my best form: Parag Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag returned to the top five in the Orange Cape race after striking his fourth fifty of the season. The 22-year-old Parag slammed 77 off 49 balls but could not help his side chase down the target set by SRH. Despite his breakout season with the franchise, Parag said he was not in his best form since he could not finish the game. I got a lot of areas to improve. I am not in my best form, I would have finished the game otherwise. I got a lot of areas to perfect. I try to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them. Is it my best innings? No. I would say that if I get a hundred, Parag told reporters. The Assam player said the loss was dramatic, adding that his team made a few errors. It is never good to end on the losing side. We did a lot of things right. We will focus on them more rather than dwelling on our mistakes. We are at a good position in the points table. Just one bad game I guess. We made a few errors in two-three overs and it cost us the game. That is how T20 is, IPL is, he said.

Hemant Soren gets provisional bail for uncle's last rites

The Jharkhand high court on Friday approved provisional bail for imprisoned former chief minister Hemant Soren. The bail is granted for him to participate in the funeral rituals of his late uncle, Rajaram Soren.

A proper cricket tragic...: Ricky Ponting opens up on his son's love for the sport

A proper cricket tragic...: Ricky Ponting opens up on his son's love for the sport Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach and Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting opened up on his son Fletcher's love for the sport and how he enjoys playing competitive cricket back in Australia and practice sessions with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, which involves 20-30 throwdowns from his father. Ponting, who has been with the Capitals since 2018 as a head coach, said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo that his whole family has embraced the franchise over these years and travel to India to be along with them. Fletcher, nine years of age, who Ponting termed a proper cricket tragic, also travels with the team and has played some competitive cricket in Melbourne. He barely misses any practice session of DC and at the end of every session, he gets to hone his skills with his multi-time World Cup-winning father at the other end rolling over his arms for him. His bonding with the team started during the COVID-19 pandemic when he would play Playstation with the players and enjoy some breakfast and training with them. Our whole family has just really embraced the Delhi Capitals. We have been coming now for, guess, probably four or five years. They have been able to travel and be with the team. It probably all started to kick in when the whole IPL was in Mumbai [during the Covid-19 pandemic] and we lived in the bubble in the hotel, at the Taj, and for my kids and even Rianna [Ponting's wife] to be able to mix with the players and go and sit in the team room... Fletcher would go and play FIFA with them and sit on the PlayStation all day and have lunch and breakfast with the boys and then go to training, said Ponting. He is a proper cricket tragic now. He has just got to the age where he has played a couple of years of competitive cricket back in Melbourne. He just loves the game. He loves the team and gets a chance to hang out with the boys, and the boys look after him well. He's only missed a couple of training sessions since he's been here, but he will sit and watch and then he will just wait for his chance at the end of the day to put his pads on and go and face 20 or 30 throwdowns from me in the nets. Fletcher knows very well where he stands when it is cricket training. He gets nothing from me until the last ball is bowled and everyone has exited the net. So he sits and waits and then we go. He will honestly sit there for four hours and ask questions and talk with the boys and just wait for his turn. So he loves it, he concluded. Ponting said that even his daughters, Emmy and Matisse Ellie are invested in the franchise and just cannot wait to join the DC franchise every year. Even when we are at home, they sleep in this stuff [Capitals jerseys]. This is their pyjamas. Right through the year they are always just talking about the Delhi Capitals and can't wait to get back over there to the IPL, because what we've been able to do here is - and certainly we talk about it all the time - just really try and create one big family where everyone looks after each other and shares moments together. And my family's lucky to be a part of it, he added. The former Australian great admitted that it is good for him to have his family around, a privilege he could not enjoy during tours while playing the sport. But my family only know one way as well: they only know me around cricket and cricket teams. They have a really good understanding of when it is cricket time when it is Dad's turn to work, and when they can share a part of the day after I am done. As simple as that, said Ponting. I am lucky there that my wife has always been accepting of what comes with me being a player or me being a coach. We try and divide our time as well as we can, but, yeah, they know when it is Dad's turn to go to work, concluded Ponting. Coming to cricket, Ponting's franchise DC is at the sixth spot with five wins, six losses and 10 points. They lost their previous game to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 7. (ANI)

Jharkhand HC dismisses Hemant Soren's plea challenging his arrest

RANCHI: In yet another blow to former CM Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand HC on Friday dismissed his petition challenging his arrest by the ED in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. A two-bench judge comprising of Chief Justice S Chandrashekhar and Justice Navneet Kumar had kept its order reserved on February 28 after hearing the arguments of both sides. It was argued on behalf of Hemant Soren that the case in which he has been arrested was not a scheduled offence and there was no case of money laundering against him. Soren's name was not even mentioned in the documents related to the land of Bagdai and claimed that his name was dragged deliberately. ED on the other hand, argued that the then CM Hemant Soren had tried to destroy the evidence by misusing his power and position after the summons were issued against him. Notably, Hemant Soren has also moved the Supreme Court against the delay in giving the verdict after the Jharkhand High Court reserved its orders on February 28. It has been said in the petition that due to the decision not coming in the case, he is not able to participate in the Lok Sabha election campaign.

Hemant Soren will come back stronger; Jharkhand will not bow down: Kalpana hits out at BJP

RANCHI: Launching a scathing on the BJP-led Centre, the wife of jailed former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Kalpana Soren posted a photograph of her posing with a bow and arrow on the social media platform 'X' with captions targetting the saffron party for the recent events in the state. After filing nominations for the Gandey Assembly by-poll, Kalpana Soren has been making scathing attacks on the BJP-led Centre for allegedly targeting the non-BJP-ruled states. In her 'X' handle, the JMM leader said, Sach hai vipatti jab aati hai; Kayar ko hi dahlati hai. Surma nahin vichalit hote; Chhan ek nahi dheeraj khote. Vighnon ko gale lagate hain; kanto me raah banate hain. (It is true, when disaster strikes; only the coward is frightened. Braves dont get distracted; never lose patience even for a moment. Embrace obstacles; makes a path among the thorns.) Speaking to a news agency on Thursday, she said that the people of Jharkhand are seething in anger against the BJP government and will throw out this tyrannical force which is looting its rich mineral resources. According to Kalpana Soren, Hemant Soren's arrest was unexpected and unwarranted and it triggered a shock in the JMM and the family. The tribals of the state will not bow down and Hemant Soren will emerge stronger, she said. We have full faith in the judiciary and we are waiting for Hemant ji to come out on bail and campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. He is innocent and has been trapped in a pre-planned conspiracy by the BJP-led government at the Centre, said Kalpana Soren. Kalpana Soren, who projected herself as the JMM leader before the nation during the concluding ceremony of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' for the first time on March 17 and gave the slogan Jharkhand Jhukega Nahin - India Rukega Nahi (Jharkhand will not bow down - India will not stop), is said to have been taking almost all key decisions in the party. Kalpana has also been quite vocal on social media against the BJP after Hemant Soren's arrest. Party sources claimed that Kalpana, who has already taken charge of the JMM in the absence of Hemant Soren, may replace Champai Soren as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand if she contests successfully in the Assembly elections.

Nitish Reddy: Aim to Set Base Before Klaasen Unleashes on Opposition

Nitish Reddy: Aim to Set Base Before Klaasen Unleashes on Opposition Entrusted with the task of shepherding Sunrisers Hyderabad's middle-order, young Nitish Reddy has been doing the job with aplomb at a time when he is seen by many as a future India all-rounder, thanks to his ability to bowl lively medium pace. Opting to bat in the IPL game against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals here on Thursday, Reddy (76 not out) and Travis Head (58) produced explosive fifties, while Heinrich Klassen made an unbeaten 19-ball 42 to power SRH to 201 for three. Experienced seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar then did the star turn with a sensational final over as SRH pulled off a heist, stunning RR by just one run in a last-ball thriller to keep their playoff hopes alive. Nitish, 20, stated that his role was to rebuild the innings after quick wickets. ''From the last two matches, we are losing quick wickets and I have to go. My role is to carry on till the 13th and 14th over so that Klaasen gets a license to bang. There is no point in Klaasen and Samad coming early, but not getting to score freely,'' said Nitish at the post-match press conference. The all-rounder hailed Bhuvneshwar after the veteran pacer bowled a brilliant final over to help Hyderabad seal a dramatic win. Nitish said he was hopeful that Bhuvneshwar would be able to defend 13 runs in the last over. ''I was looking at who was going to bowl. When I saw Bhuvneshwar was going to bowl, I got the confidence that he was going to pull it off. ''During his prime, he had done it so many times. I did not think we were going to win, I thought either we'd lose or tie. But that last-ball wicket, I felt so happy,'' Nitish said. During his explosive knock, Nitish smashed RR's in-form Yuzvendra Chahal for two fours and two sixes in the 13th over. Nitish said that he backed himself to attack the seasoned leg-spinner. Reddy also said the victory against RR, following losses to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings, is important. ''Beating RR will boost our confidence, they are at the top of the points table,'' he concluded. Not in my best form: Parag ================= Rajasthan Royals batter Riyan Parag returned to the top five in the Orange Cape race after striking his fourth fifty of the season. The 22-year-old Parag slammed 77 off 49 balls but could not help his side chase down the target set by SRH. Despite his breakout season with the franchise, Parag said he was not in his best form since he could not finish the game. ''I got a lot of areas to improve. I am not in my best form, I would have finished the game otherwise. ''I got a lot of areas to perfect. I try to learn from my mistakes and not repeat them. Is it my best innings? No. I would say that if I get a hundred,'' Parag told reporters. The Assam player said the loss was ''dramatic'', adding that his team made a few errors. ''It is never good to end on the losing side. We did a lot of things right. We will focus on them more rather than dwelling on our mistakes. We are at a good position in the points table. Just one bad game I guess. ''We made a few errors in two-three overs and it cost us the game. That is how T20 is, IPL is,'' he said.

FOCUS-Adidas plots to swerve Samba slump

FOCUS-Adidas plots to swerve Samba slump As Adidas aims to build on hot demand for its three-striped white and black Samba and multi-coloured Gazelle sneakers, it's also taking steps to prevent the shoes from becoming victims of their own success. The German sportswear giant ramped up production of the sneakers, known as errace shoes and inspired by soccer fans' footwear in the 1970s and 80s. Sales subsequently jumped from a couple of hundred thousand pairs a month at the start of last year to millions of pairs a month, according to CEO Bjorn Gulden, with Adidas now looking to further increase their popularity. The company said terrace shoe sales helped drive its strong performance in the first quarter, without giving detailed figures for the Samba, Gazelle and Spezial. The shoes are priced at around $90 and up, with limited edition collaborations costing up to $350. Investors and analysts are watching closely for signs of Adidas becoming overly reliant on the shoes, with the abrupt ending of the highly profitable Yeezy business still fresh in their memories. Adidas made a loss last year for the first time in 30 years after its break-up with U.S. rapper and producer Kanye West brought that trendy sneaker line to an end. The Adidas Samba won Footwear News' 2023 Shoe of the Year award, the first win for the brand since the Yeezy Boost 350 in 2015. Bernstein analyst Aneesha Sherman estimates the terrace shoes will drive 1.5 billion euros ($1.61 billion) of sales this year, around 7% of Adidas' overall revenue and close to the 1.7 billion euros Yeezy brought in at its peak. She predicts terrace shoe sales will likely peak in all regions this year. Obviously and clearly, this trend will not last forever, said Thomas Joekel, portfolio manager at Frankfurt-based asset manager Union Investment, which holds Adidas shares. At the end of the day, the consumer decides, and companies like Nike or Adidas have to be agile to jump on these trends. When British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was seen sporting Sambas in a clip posted on Instagram earlier this month, some Britons felt he had dealt a blow to the shoe's street cred. Sunak later jokingly apologised to he Samba community, but CEO Gulden said Sunak's penchant for the shoe had had no impact on sales. LIMITED EDITIONS Broader trend cycles can be bruising for the big sportswear makers. In 2018, Adidas sales in Europe, its biggest market, fell when its minimalist white Stan Smith shoes started to go out of fashion. And Nike is currently scaling back supply of its classic Air Jordan 1 shoes due to weaker demand. So Adidas is trying to spread its bets. Its chunkier, skater-style Campus shoes are becoming more popular and out-selling the Samba in some markets, Gulden said. Adidas also plans to ramp up marketing of its classic Superstar shoe to drive a renewed trend for it next year. It recently launched a $200 version of the shoe with designer Edison Chen, featuring a rippled sole. Gulden said Adidas has been working to clear the market of seasonal colours of the Superstar, focusing only on the classic black and white, so as to make sure the market is fresh for new launches later this year and next. We will maintain the current franchises, and then time the activation of Superstar as we and the retailers need it, Gulden said. We will not push it globally in huge volumes. We will hold it back and let the consumer decide when he or she wants the Superstar. Bringing out more expensive limited-edition versions in collaboration with designers, like the $350 Y-3 Gazelle with Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto, is one way to keep a product in fashion. What Adidas and Nike are doing with some of their product is trying to follow the luxury playbook premiumisation, exclusivity, restricting supply, making it all more desirable so you can have bigger margins and create a halo effect for the brand, said Matt Clark, retail expert at consultancy AlixPartners in London. For retailer JD Sports, new variations on the Samba shoe in different colours and materials are helping maintain shoppers' engagement, CEO Regis Schultz said in its recent results. Retailer Foot Locker also flagged strong demand for Adidas terrace styles. Gulden is very much aware of the fact that you should not overstretch what you are doing to keep the model to keep the brand and the model hot, said Cedric Lecasble, analyst at Stifel. If they distributed tens of millions of Samba in the same year, they would sell them probably, but they would probably also put an end to the Samba dynamic, he said. ($1 = 0.9338 euros)

Aranmanai 4: Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer, Budget & More!

Aranmanai4: Directed by Sundar C, the much anticipated Tamil horror-comedy film, Aranamani 4 is now out in the theatres. Starring Raashii Khanna, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Santhosh Prathap in the lead roles the latest movie in the Aranmanai franchise is the fourth installment. Heres everything you need to know about the Tamil horror comedy film, Aranmanai [] Read on Lehren - Aranmanai 4: Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer, Budget & More!

Andhras updated electorate stands at 4.14 crore

VIJAYAWADA: As per the updated electoral roll on April 25, the total electorate of Andhra Pradesh is 4.14 crore, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena said on Thursday. The qualifying date for updation was April 1. The State will go for simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Assembly on May 13. The number of female voters is more than seven lakh compared to the number of male voters. While the number of female voters is 2.10 crore, the number of male voters is 2.03 crore. The number of polling stations in the State, including 224 auxiliary polling stations, is 46,389. The value of the seizures is Rs 203 crore since March 16. Of the total 26 districts, Anantapur district, comprising eight Assembly constituencies, stood top with 20.20 lakh voters. With 7.71 lakh voters Alluri Sitharama Raju district is at the bottom. Speaking to mediapersons at the State Secretariat on Thursday, the CEO said there is a net increase of 5,94,631 electors, when compared to the 4,08,07,356 electors in the final electoral roll published under SSR, 2024 on January 22. In polling stations, where the upper limit of electors has exceeded 1,500, 224 auxiliary polling stations have been created in the same location of the main polling station. As a result, the polling stations number has gone up to 46,389 from the earlier 46,165 polling stations. With regard to the Home voting, the CEO said that the facility was provided to persons aged above 85 years and Persons With Benchmark Disability (PWBD). Of the total 2,11,257 eligible (aged above 85) electors, 14,577 opted for the vote from home option. Similarly, under PWBD category, of the total 5,17,227 eligible electors, only 14,014 opted for the facility, which commenced in some districts from Thursday, he said. Under the Home voting concept, a team of officials will reach the houses of the voters, hand over ballot papers to them. They will then drop it in the ballot box after exercising their franchise. He said that the Home voting process will be completed by May 8. Stating that as many as 16,345 complaints were received through C-Vigil app, the CEO said 10,403 complaints which were ascertained as genuine were resolved. Similarly, 864 FIRs were filed with regard to the violation of Model Code of Conduct, he added. In the election related violence, two persons died and 156 others were injured. Electors were requested to check their names and their polling stations on https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/ website and in Voter Helpline App / voters.eci.gov.in after registering with their mobile number.

'Karate Kid' franchise to continue with next film under production. Know about its release date, star cast and more

The Karate Kid franchise began in 1984 with the release of 'The Karate Kid'. Buoyed by its success, its three sequels were produced- 'The Karate Kid Part II' (1986), 'The Karate Kid Part III' (1989), and 'The Next Karate Kid'(1994).

With Dhami in toe, BJP nominee Sanjay Seth files nomination for Ranchi LS seat

RANCHI: Sanjay Seth, the BJP candidate for the Ranchi Lok Sabha constituency, on Thursday filed his nomination in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Accompanied by CM Dhami, leader of opposition in Jharkhand Assembly Amar Kumar Bauri, AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto, JD(U)s Kheeru Mahto and other BJP leaders, Seth expressed confidence for his victory from Ranchi. Before filing of the papers, a grand poll meeting was organised in Morabadi ground in Ranchi where thousands of supporters from different assembly constituencies were also present. Expressing hope that the NDA will win all 14 seats in Jharkhand, CM Dhami said the entire nation is eager to see Narendra Modi become Prime Minister for the third time. The overwhelming support is evident in Jharkhand and people are enthusiastic. The NDA is poised to claim victory in all 14 seats in Jharkhand. Sanjay Seths campaign will set new records, securing Ranchis support to represent them in Parliament, he added. CM Dhami also underscored the Centres efforts towards societal uplift, particularly in integrating tribal communities into the mainstream. He expressed confidence in the people of Jharkhand contributing significantly to achieving the Abki Baar 400 Paar resolution. Polling for Ranchi is scheduled for May 25, part of the multi-phase elections in Jharkhand.

Devon Thomas Banned For 5 Years By ICC Under Anti-Corruption Code

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a five-year period of ineligibility from all cricket on West Indies player Devon Thomas after he accepted breaching seven counts of the anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The ICC announced the period of ineligibility in its capacity as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official under the relevant codes, ruling that the last 18 months of the period of ineligibility would be suspended. Mr. Thomas, who chose to admit the charges and agreed to a sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing, admitted to being in breach of the following provisions of the SLC, ECB and CPL Codes: Article 2.1.1 of the SLC Code - contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021. Article 2.4.4 of the SLC Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in the Lanka Premier League 2021. Article 2.4.6 of the SLC Code - failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Officials investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official. Article 2.4.7 of the SLC Code obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Officials investigation into Corrupt Conduct, including (without limitation) concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of Corrupt Conduct. Article 2.4.4 of the ECB Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct at the Abu Dhabi T10 2021. Article 2.4.4 of the CPL Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in relation to the CPL 2021. Article 2.4.2 of the CPL Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or benefit (a) that he knew or should have known was made in order to procure a breach of the CPL Code, or (b) could have brought the player or the game of cricket into disrepute. Alex Marshall, ICC General Manager Integrity Unit, said: Having played both international and professional domestic/franchise cricket, Devon attended numerous anti-corruption education sessions. He therefore knew what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes but failed to meet these obligations across three different franchise leagues. This ban is apt and should send a strong message to players and corrupters that attempts to corrupt our sport will be dealt with firmly. The anti-corruption decision (which has been redacted to protect the identities of the ICCs witnesses and other third parties) is available here. Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates The period of ineligibility is backdated to 23 May 2023, the date he was provisionally suspended.

Fizz on the Street: Coke bottler looks to uncork IPO plans

Coca-Cola's bottling operations in India are handled by HCCB and half a dozen franchisees that manufacture and distribute fizzy drinks Coke, Thums Up and Sprite, juices Minute Maid and Maaza, and Kinley water. Bottling is split evenly between HCCB and the franchisees.

CM attacks BJP over lack of devpt in state

3 from Ranchi held with arms in Ramgarh ahead of polls

Couple, 2 kids killed as car hits two-wheeler

Hemants sister aims to turn the tables in Odishas ST seat

Cong can take away ST/SC tag and give it to Muslims

Sanjay Seth files papers for Ranchi seat

Assailants open fire in Bagbera, 3 hurt

14 teams facilitate home voting in Palamu

Many schools in state shift classes online

Will give RMC the NOC for drain construction soon: NHAI to HC

Wanted candidate gives cops the slip after meeting

Soccer-El Kaabi hat-trick hands Olympiakos upset away win at Aston Villa

Soccer-El Kaabi hat-trick hands Olympiakos upset away win at Aston Villa Ayoub El Kaabi netted a hat-trick as Olympiakos stunned Aston Villa with a 4-2 away win in their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg on Thursday to give themselves a strong chance of becoming only the second Greek side to compete in a European club competition final. Olympiakos went 2-0 up inside the opening half hour and although Villa pulled level through Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby, the Greek side scored two more goals in the second half to secure a handy advantage ahead of next Thursday's return leg. Mbala Nzola netted a stoppage time winner for Fiorentina to beat Belgium's Club Brugge 3-2 in the other semi-final, first leg clash. Riccardo Sottil and Andrea Belotti scored for the Italians but a Hans Vanaken penalty and a second half equaliser from Thiago made it 2-2 with Brugge looking to hold on for the draw after Raphael Onyedika was sent off in the 61st minute. But substitute Nzola cut away a rebound to hand Fiorentina victory. El Kaabi's 16th minute left footed effort from close range was initially disallowed for offside but then awarded after a VAR check showed Matty Cash played him on. The Moroccan international then further silenced Villa Park with an expertly-timed run onto Daniel Podence's chipped pass to extend the lead in the 29th minute, beating the offside trap again and having time for a couple of touches before tucking the ball away. Villa pulled one back in stoppage time at the end of the first half as Cash's surging run down the right found Diaby, who in turn picked out Watkins' run from deep. The start of the second half was delayed for a medical emergency in the crowd but seven minutes after the restart Diaby brought the hosts level, netting from a tight angle at the near post after Bailey's pass put him in on goal. Parity, however, lasted only four minutes when Douglas Luiz gave away a penalty for handball as a header from Panagiotis Retsos hit him on his outstretched elbow. El Kaabi sent Robin Olsen the wrong way to complete his hat-trick. Santiago Hezze's deflected shot in the 67th minute made it 4-2 and Villa's misery was complete when Douglas Luiz missed his 84th minute penalty. Olympiakos' Athens rivals Panathinaikos are the only Greek side to reach a continental club final, beaten 2-0 by Ajax Amsterdam at Wembley in the 1971 European Cup final. Sottil's powerful strike had Fiorentina ahead after five minutes at the Stadio Artemio Franchi but the Belgians equalised from a 17th minute penalty from skipper Hans Vanaken after a VAR check for a handball went the way of the visitors. Fiorentina went back ahead eight minutes before the break through Belotti but Thiago's surging run made it 2-2 in the 63rd minute, some 120 seconds after Onyedika was dismissed for a second caution. Nzola's late winner gives the Serie A outfit the lead for the return leg of their tie, to be held next Wednesday to avoid a clash with the Belgian Cup final on May 9.

J&K witnessing peaceful polls, massive turnout of voters: CEO Pole

Urges people to exercise franchise on May 13, 20 & 25 to ensure thriving democracy Says Political parties reaching out to nook & corner of Kashmir to present their viewpoints

Hemant Sorens financial assets grew 200% in 5 years

Ex-CM Hemant Soren and Kalpana Murmu Soren's financial assets surged 200% to Rs 24.4 crore by 2024. Kalpana's income was higher due to managing the family business, while Hemant's remained below Rs 1 crore despite asset growth.

Sorens financial assets grew 200% in 5 years

Ex-CM Hemant Soren and Kalpana Murmu Soren's financial assets surged 200% to Rs 24.4 crore by 2024. Kalpana's income was higher due to managing the family business, while Hemant's remained below Rs 1 crore despite asset growth.

Bank robbery in broad daylight in Manipur, Rs 20 lakh looted from SBI branch India Today

Bank robbery in broad daylight in Manipur, Rs 20 lakh looted from SBI branchIndia Today

DC Edit | Delay in voting figures: EC must be transparent

The question that Opposition leaders and public intellectuals raise about the Election Commission of India on what they perceive as lack of transparency and the will to act on time requires the immediate attention on the part of the poll body and corrective action. One of the serious allegations is that the EC took 11 days to come out with an official release on the final percentage of polling in the first phase of election to the 18th Lok Sabha. It is a fact that a press release of the EC, published through the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India on April 30, 2024, put out the final figure of polling in the first phase as 66.14 per cent; it also recorded the final figure for the second phase as 66.71 per cent. These are against 69.43 and 69.17 per cent, respectively, in the 2019 elections. The public is given to understand that the EC had indeed put out the same figures on its app the day after the polling for the first phase. The EC may have its reasons to take the technological route and update the data but it must realise that the public collects authentic information when it places it in the public domain as it has done on April 30. It is untenable that the EC does not follow a regular, familiar route in disseminating critical information related to the general election. It must form and then follow a protocol for such key elements of its functioning. There is also criticism of the EC for its failure to update the number of actual voters in each constituency and the number of voters who exercised their franchise. It defies logic that the EC provides an occasion for political parties to raise such serious allegations. The EC conducts elections on the basis of an electoral roll which goes through several rounds of revision before being finalised ahead of the voting. It gets the form on voting in each booth a day after the date of polling and hence should have all the data, including on the number of people who have voted in each constituency, without much difficulty. There is no reason why it chooses not to publish it as soon as it has it. People in the know of the process claim that there cannot be foul play with respect to the numbers since representatives of the political parties at the booth level have the same set of data, and they can verify them on the date of counting. However, it is incumbent upon the mammoth machinery of the EC to get the data collated and aggregated; it is not a great idea to depend on booth-level agents of the parties who will have little idea of the whole picture. Moreover, the general public would rather have the data from the constitutional body mandated to conduct the polls, and not from anyone else. The EC last week sent notices to both the BJP and the Congress on the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. In fact, the charge against Prime Minister Narendra Modi was pretty serious in that he is alleged to have made communally divisive speeches during election rallies. There has been no action from the poll regulator and the Prime Minister keeps making speeches that have similar content nonstop. The EC will be failing in its job if it is unable to intervene in time and stop the wrongdoers. It must do the right thing and then be seen to be doing so.

Queen Charlotte: Will there be a season 2? Shonda Rhimes reveals details

Since entering the Bridgerton universe in 2020, Rhimes has guided the franchise's growth, which already has two seasons on Netflix, with a third installment on the horizon along with a prequel of Queen Charlotte.

Soaring temperatures scorch Eastern and Southern India: Nandyal records sweltering 46.2 degrees Celsius

Soaring temperatures scorch Eastern and Southern India: Nandyal records sweltering 46.2 degrees Celsius Intense heat swept through east India and parts of the southern peninsular region on Thursday, testing power grids and prompting the Kerala government to order closure of educational institutions till May 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions scorched parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. At least 17 places in these states recorded temperatures above the 44-degree Celsius mark. The mercury settled at 46.2 degrees Celsius at Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, 45.3 degrees at Palwancha in Telangana, 44.3 degrees at Karur Paramathi in Tamil Nadu, 45 degrees at Bolangir in Odisha, and 44.3 degrees at Kalaikunda in West Bengal. As Kerala continued to reel under punishing heat, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the closure of educational institutions in the state until May 6. The IMD said the ongoing heat wave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue till May 3 and abate thereafter. The Met office on Wednesday said above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heat wave days expected over the northern plains, central region, and adjoining areas of peninsular India. April saw record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast, and southern peninsular India prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools. A number of stations recorded their highest ever April day temperature. Five active Western Disturbances led to rain, thunderstorm, and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves. IMD data shows that heat waves in April this year were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far. This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heat wave days predicted over south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Gujarat regions. The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka, and Telangana may record five to seven heat wave days in the month. Normally, the northern plains, central India, and adjoining areas of peninsular India experience around three days of heat waves in May. India saw two spells of heat waves in April from April 5 to 7 and April 15 to 30. The IMD attributes the prolonged heat wave spell over east, northeast, and south peninsular India in April to the absence of thunderstorms and an anticyclone at lower levels over the west central Bay of Bengal and the adjoining eastern coasts of India. This caused the sea breeze to cut off over Odisha and West Bengal on most days. The weather office said south peninsular India recorded an average maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius in April, which was the second-highest since 1901. The mean temperature (28.12 degrees Celsius) in April in east and northeast India was the highest since 1901, it said. The IMD said above normal maximum temperatures have become frequent over south peninsular India since 1980s. The region recorded 12.6 mm of rainfall in April, which was the fifth lowest since 1901 and the second lowest since 2001. According to IMD data, the number of heat wave days this April was the highest in 15 years in Gangetic West Bengal and nine years in Odisha. Odisha also experienced the longest heat wave spell (16 days) in April since 2016. Amid the prevailing but weakening El Nino conditions, the IMD had earlier warned of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. Hundreds of thousands of voters had to cope with the searing heat when they stepped out to exercise their franchise in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. Polling for 94 constituencies across 12 states will take place on May 7. The weather office had earlier expected four to eight heat wave days in different parts of the country in April against a normal of one to three days. Ten to 20 heat wave days are expected against a normal of four to eight in the entire April-June period.

T20 WC: Virat's Strike-rate Is Not A Concern For Agarkar, Defends Making Rohit Captain

Indian Premier League: There may be a lot of concern being expressed over Virat Kohli's low strike rate in the Indian Premier League, but that was not the issue for the national selection committee as it picked the former India captain for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup to be played in the United States and the West Indies from June 1. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli has scored 500 runs in 10 matches so far in the IPL 2024 at an outstanding average of 71.43, hitting a century and four fifties. However, he has a strike rate of 147-49, which has at times gone down a notch or two, which many people feel has slowed down RCB, thus resulting in the former skipper facing criticism. Kohli has maintained that he has been essaying the role assigned to him by the team management, which is to hold the innings together. Though Kohli has led the batting charts, RCB are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just six points from 10 matches. On Thursday, the Chairman of the Selection Committee, Ajit Agarkar said Virat's strike rate was not a part of the discussion. I don't think we have been discussing it yet, no. Look, he's been in great form, fortunately in the IPL, so no concerns there at all with regards to how it's going in the IPL. You're still going to a World Cup, it's still international cricket. There is still that gap there, so you've got to prepare knowing that there is that gap there. That's where experience does matter a lot. So, no, I mean, if the tournament turns out to be like how the IPL is, I think we've still got enough in the team - the balance or the power - that you can match that. So no, there's no real point in overthinking. You look to try and take the positives that are happening in the IPL, form of some of the guys, some of the newer guys coming through those things. But at the end of the day, when you turn up for a World Cup game, the pressures are a little bit different, said Agarkar. The selection committee chairman also defended picking Rohit Sharma as captain despite him now leading his franchise. Generally, as selectors, you want a leader. Rohit has been a terrific leader. There have been six months between the 50-overs World Cup and this one. I know Hardik had been leading in a few series before that. Rohits form in the World Cup...Rohits a great player. It's not as if its forced on us. (There was) A little bit of a challenge. You try and plan before the IPL starts. We had a fair idea of what we were looking for. In IPL, you keep track oft he fitness levels of players. But if you start getting swayed by 3-4 weeks of cricket, there is something wrong with your thinking. All performances are noticed but it will help us in future anyway, he added. The former India pacer, who was part of the squad that won the 2007 T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also defended their decision to omit K.L Rahul despite his stellar performance in the ongoing IPL 2024. The main question the committee faced was related to the non-selection of K.L Rahul, the Lucknow Super Giants captain who is currently among the top five scorers in IPL 2024 with 406 runs to his name. Rahul is quite experienced and has been a consistent performer in the format as LSG captain and has been part of the Indian T20 teams earlier too. Though Rishabh Pant was considered a sure-shot selection after he made an impressive return from a 15-month injury break at the IPL, Rahul was in contention for the second spot. The selectors, however, opted for Kerala batter Sanju Samson as the second option ahead of Rahul. KL is a terrific player. We were looking at someone who bats in the middle. At the moment, he is batting at the top. Sanju, we like to believe he has the ability to come down the order if need be. Rishabh (Pant) is batting down the order for Delhi Capitals. It's about the slots we need. We felt these two are better and have spent more time down the order which might be needed at the World Cup, said Agarkar.

Exclusion of Rinku Singh proved toughest, he has done nothing wrong: Agarkar

Exclusion of Rinku Singh proved toughest, he has done nothing wrong: Agarkar Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar on Thursday described the omission of Rinku Singh from India's T20 World Cup squad as the ''toughest'' call, saying the in-from swashbuckler has ''done nothing wrong'' and it all came down to combinations. Rinku, Kolkata Knight Riders' big-hitting finisher from Aligarh, could not find a place in the 15-member squad as the think-tank preferred Chennai Super Kings' Shivam Dube over him. The exclusion of Rinku, who has scored 356 runs at an average of 89 and strike rate of 176.24 in T20Is for India, became a major talking point since the Indian team's announcement two days ago and has caused a massive furore on social media. ''It (not picking Rinku) is probably the toughest thing we have had to discuss. He has done nothing wrong, not even Shubman Gill for that matter. It is not his fault that he missed out. It's about combinations,'' Agarkar said during a press conference here. ''A couple of wrist spinners were included to give Rohit (Sharma) more options. There are two keepers, we needed an extra bowler. It's just unfortunate. He's in the reserves, so that tells you how close he came into being in the 15. But at the end of the day, you can only pick 15 players in the squad,'' Agarkar added. Rinku, who is not having a great IPL season as he is not getting to face enough balls, though made it to the list of reserves. Rinku had been fast-tracked into the Indian T20I team after a fantastic run in the IPL last year but this season, he has managed just 123 runs in nine matches with a strike rate of 150.00, whereas Gill, captaining Gujarat Titans this time, has aggregated 320 runs from 10 matches at a strike rate of 140.97. The left-handed Yashasvi Jaiswal has been preferred over Gill. Meanwhile Abhishek Nayar, the head of KKR Academy and assistant coach of the franchise, did not feel Rinku was out of form and whatever runs he has scored this IPL season for KKR have been crucial for the team. Nayar played a key role in shaping Rinku's career, especially when the batter was suffering from ACL (anterior cruciate ligament injury), and the former Mumbai cricketer also worked on his hitting skills. ''I would not agree (that it is about) IPL form. I think he has not played enough balls barring one-odd game wherein he has not got runs. He has got runs in every game which have been critical runs for us. The form has never been in question,'' Nayar backed his ward. ''When you look at any cricketer in world cricket or even in T20 cricket, sometimes the role you play doesn't justify what numbers you have at the end of the day. ''Just in terms of the role he plays for us and for any team, which is a finisher's role, you tend to play 8-10 balls and you look at how well he does in 8-10 balls and not how many runs he scored.'' Over the last few years, Nayar has established himself as a prominent coach in domestic and franchise cricket. ''If you go back and look at his stats and his strike rate in comparison to the balls he has played, I think you will get your answer right there. It's not a form problem at all,'' Nayar said of Rinku. Later on, after his press conference, India captain Rohit joined the Mumbai Indians squad for their pre-match training ahead of the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. Rohit was involved in a group discussion which included Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat and even Gautam Gambhir when he spotted Rinku coming towards him. Rohit moved away from the group and spoke with Rinku for a while.

Thor 5 release date: Chris Hemsworth drops big hint about Marvel movie

Marvel fans are eagerly waiting for Thor 5 and lead actor of the franchise Chris Hemsworth has give positive feeling about the movie's release.

WI Batter Devon Thomas Banned By ICC For Five Years Under Anti-Corruption Code

The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday banned West Indies mens batter Devon Thomas from all forms of cricket for five years. The move comes after Thomas accepted breaching seven counts of the anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Earlier, in May last year, ICC had provisionally suspended Thomas for corruption through seven charges under its anti-corruption code, including contriving to fix matches. The ICC also said the last 18 months of the period of ineligibility for Thomas would be suspended. The period of ineligibility for Thomas is backdated to May 23, 2023, the date he was provisionally suspended. Thomas, 34, played for West Indies in 21 ODIs and 12 T20Is from 2009 to 2022, apart from making a lone Test appearance in Australia in December 2022. Having played both international and professional domestic/franchise cricket, Devon attended numerous anti-corruption education sessions. He therefore knew what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes but failed to meet these obligations across three different franchise leagues. This ban is apt and should send a strong message to players and corrupters that attempts to corrupt our sport will be dealt with firmly. As per the ICC, Thomas, who chose to admit the charges and agreed to a sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing, admitted to being in breach of the following provisions of the SLC, ECB and CPL Codes: Article 2.1.1 of the SLC Code - contriving or being party to an agreement to fix or attempt to fix, contrive or influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of matches in the Lanka Premier League 2021. Article 2.4.4 of the SLC Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in the Lanka Premier League 2021. Article 2.4.6 of the SLC Code - failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Officials investigation by failing to provide accurately and completely any information and/or documentation requested by the Designated Anti-Corruption Official. Article 2.4.7 of the SLC Code obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Officials investigation into Corrupt Conduct, including (without limitation) concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and/or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of Corrupt Conduct. Article 2.4.4 of the ECB Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct at the Abu Dhabi T10 2021. Article 2.4.4 of the CPL Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, without unnecessary delay, full details of an approach or invitations received to engage in Corrupt Conduct in relation to the CPL 2021. Article 2.4.2 of the CPL Code failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality or benefit (a) that he knew or should have known was made in order to procure a breach of the CPL Code, or (b) could have brought the player or the game of cricket into disrepute.

Deepak Chahar Doesn't Look Good: Stephen Fleming On His Possible Injury

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that seamer Deepak Chahar's latest injury doesn't look good but he is hoping for a positive report from the franchise's medical team.

Ankita Lokhande's team denies rumors of she rejecting Karan Johar's Student Of The Year 3

Ankita Lokhande, who was last seen in Randeep Hooda's Swantantra Veer Sawarkar, was in news for yet another project. News 18 stated that Ankita was approached for Karan Johar's Student Of The Year 3, but she declined the part. The franchise is being made into a web series, with the third instalment recently confirmed. According to the source, Ankita was asked for a crucial part in the web series, but she declined, for unknown reasons. However, Ankita Lokhande's public relations staff has disputed all such stories, claiming they were false news and that Ankita was never part of the project. Karan revealed in April that Reema Maya will helm the digital edition of the franchise. The statement was made during a film festival in Chandigarh. It was also claimed that Karan Johar planned to cast Shanaya Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan in SOTY 3, although there has been no official confirmation. Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra made their Bollywood debuts with the film Student Of The Year (2012). The film's second installment included Tiger Shroff, Ananya Panday, and Tara Sutaria in prominent roles. Earlier in April, while discussing the SOTY web series, KJo stated that the digital version will include Reema's universe. Ankita Lokhande, the Pavitra Rishta actress, was a Bigg Boss 17 finalist, and when she was on the program, she made news for her confrontations with her husband Vicky Jain. Also Read : Ankita Lokhande to play celebrated courtesan Amrapali in Sandeep Singhs web show

Sabre Hospitality renews Wyndham following accelerated migration

Sabre Hospitality, a division of Sabre Corporationannounced a multi-year renewal with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, following the hotel franchisors highly successful adoption of SynXis Property Hub, Sabre Hospitalitys property management system (PMS). With seamless integration to SynXis Central Reservation System as a single source of truth, SynXis Property Hub increases operational efficiency by reducing the... The post Sabre Hospitality renews Wyndham following accelerated migration first appeared on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis . The post Sabre Hospitality renews Wyndham following accelerated migration appeared first on Hospitality Biz India: Latest News & Analysis .

Baahubali Universe expands with animated prequel, WATCH the trailer

In a thrilling announcement, Disney+ Hotstar unveiled its latest venture, Baahubali: Crown of Blood, an animated prequel to the beloved Baahubali film franchise.

Sweat review chilling vision of a divided, alienated America

Royal Exchange theatre, Manchester This timely return of Lynn Nottages 2015 play that anticipated Trumps presidency has powerful performances despite never finding the right rhythm Although principally set in 2000, Lynn Nottages Pulitzer-winning 2015 play anticipated Donald Trumps presidency with its portrayal of a divided, frustrated and disfranchised community in the deindustrialising city of Reading, Pennsylvania. With Trump campaigning for a second term, the Royal Exchanges revival is timely. Jade Lewiss production ultimately presents a chilling vision of how job insecurity can destroy ones sense of self and lead to the poisonous othering stoked by Trump. The stage design by Good Teeth studio has huge slabs suspended from the rafters, powerfully suggesting an industrial landscape hoisted away overnight. This in effect is what happens to the plays steelworkers who, amid a dispute with management over pay cuts, are locked out of their plant, with their machines and jobs destined for Mexico as a result of the contentious North American Free Trade Agreement whose renegotiation was a Trump campaign pledge. At the Royal Exchange, Manchester , until 25 May Continue reading...

BJP candidate Sanjay Seth files nomination from Ranchi Lok Sabha seat

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Animated Series 'Baahubali: Crown of Blood' to Release on Disney+ Hotstar on This Date

Mumbai: Animated series Baahubali: Crown of Blood, a prequel to S S Rajamouli's two blockbuster Baahubali movies, is set to release on Disney+Hotstar on May 17, the streamer announced on Thursday. Created by Rajamouli and Sharad Devarajan of The Legend of Hanuman fame, the show promises to take the audiences into an animated world of Baahubali to experience an untold story of epic adventure, brotherhood, betrayal, conflict and heroism, a press release said. Rajamouli started the franchise with 2015's Baahubali: The Beginning, which starred Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj and Tamannaah Bhatia and released in 2015. The movie broke many records with its box office collection, emerging as the first South Indian film to gross over Rs 650 crore worldwide. It was followed by the second part, titled Baahubali: The Conclusion and released in 2017. Baahubali: Crown of Blood will follow a story where Baahubali and Bhallaladeva will join hands to protect the great kingdom of Mahishmati and the throne against its greatest threat, the mysterious warlord known only as Raktadeva, according to the official plotline. A Graphic India and Arka Mediaworks production, the animated show is produced by Rajamouli, Devarajan and Shobu Yarlagadda. It is directed by Jeevan J Kang and Navin John. Rajamouli said he is extremely happy to bring the story in animated format. The world of Baahubali is vast, and the film franchise was the perfect introduction to the same. However, there's so much more to explore, and that's where 'Baahubali: Crown of Blood' comes into the picture. This story will reveal for the first time many unknown twists in the lives of Baahubali and Bhallaladeva and a dark secret long forgotten as the two brothers must save Mahishmati, he added. Prabhas, who starred in the titular role in the movies, said the show will explore an important chapter in Baahu's and Bhalla's life. It's an exciting time that Baahubali and Bhallaladeva are going to come together in this unseen chapter of Baahubali's journey. 'Baahubali: Crown of Blood' is a chapter that takes place before the story in the film franchise... I cannot wait to watch this new chapter in Baahubali's journey, the actor said. Dagubatti, who played Bhallaladeva in the movies, said he is excited to see the legacy of the franchise being continued with animated storytelling format. This new chapter of Baahubali and Bhallaladeva's life will unfold many more mysteries of the Baahubali world. I am thrilled that S S Rajamouli, Sharad Devarajan, Disney+Hotstar, Arka Mediaworks and Graphic India are bringing this new chapter of Baahubali's world in an animated format that will introduce the world of Baahubali to the fans and newer audiences in an exciting way, he added.

Jharkhand Congress X account suspended in Amit Shah doctored video case

RANCHI: Jharkhand Congress' 'X' (Twitter account) was suspended after a case the Delhi police registered a case related to the Union Minister Amit Shah's doctored video. Suspending the account, 'X' said that the action due to a legal demand. Account withheld... @INCJharkhand has been withheld in response to a legal demand, says the X handle of Jharkhand Congress. Notably, on April 27, a video related to Union Home Minister Amit Shah had gone viral on social media, in which, he could be seen saying that if BJP government is formed, reservation for SC, ST and OBC will be abolished. Several Congress leaders, including Rajesh Thakur, shared this video on social media platform X. A notice has also been issued to Thakur after an FIR was registered after two complaints were received by Delhi police, one from the BJP and another from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). According to the notice, Rajesh Thakur has been asked to bring the source of the video tweeted along with the device used to upload the video. It has also been said that if the notice is ignored, criminal proceedings will be initiated under section 91/160 of CrPC. An FIR has also been registered at Argora Police Station in Ranchi by Central BJP Janata Yuva Morcha leader Sanjay Kumar Mahato in this regard. According to FIR, the purpose of making the video viral is to spread unrest in the country which is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Ankita Lokhande declines KJO's 'SOTY 3'

Ankita Lokhande declined a role in Karan Johar's 'Student Of The Year 3' web series, which is transitioning to digital platforms. The franchise has been known for launching new talents, with the latest installment possibly featuring Shanaya Kapoor and Ibrahim Ali Khan.

Swara Bhasker Talks About Kangana Ranaut, Rahul Gandhi: 'The Most Important Thing For Any Politician...'

Swara Bhasker and Kangana Ranaut have previously worked together in the Tanu Weds Manu franchise. In a new interview, Swara Bhasker talks about the 'big difference' between the her and Kangana Ranaut's political opinions.

Deepak Chahar doesn't look good: Fleming on his possible injury

CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that seamer Deepak Chahar's latest injury doesn't look good but he is hoping for a positive report from the franchise's medical team ahead of the business phase of the ongoing IPL. Although Fleming did not divulge any details on Chahar's new injury, the 31-year-old seamer was seen pulling off his run-up in just the second ball of Punjab Kings chase here on Wednesday night. It could be a possible hamstring injury as, after having a chat with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and the physio, Chahar walked off ground holding his hamstring and did not bowl any further in the match. Chahar's career has been marred by injuries in the last couple of years, costing him a permanent spot in the Indian team. Yeah, the travelogue is pretty busy. There's a lot of ins and outs. So, Deepak Chahar doesn't look good, said Fleming during the post-match presser. The initial feeling wasn't great. So, I'm hoping for a more positive report when the physio and the doctor have a look. Chahar's injury somewhat forced Gaikwad to bring in Shivam Dube for an over, who has mainly been used as a batter this season. But Dube went for 14 in the only over he bowled, and Fleming admitted that with the Impact Player rule, Dube is not suited for the role in the IPL and will have his chances in proper conditions. He (Dube) is ready to bowl and is working hard on it. He will play a role in the right conditions, and with the Impact Player rule, we have players who can fit the role better. Currently, his necessity to bowl is pretty much small, the coach said. CSK suffered a seven-wicket defeat to PBKS, their second loss at home this season, managing a meagre 162 for 7, which was comfortably chased down with 13 balls to spare. Talking about the demanding wicket at Chepauk, Fleming said, It's difficult, and we have spoken on the unpredictability of the wickets here before. Batting first makes it difficult for us to judge as to what a good competitive score is. We had a couple of 200s (before), which was in our minds today. But, the wicket was very sticky. We also had a good start in the (first) six overs before things became difficult. We also tried a few lefties in the form of Dube and (Ravindra) Jadeja but we just couldn't get anything through the middle. They bowled really well, they got good purchase and held onto it. We just got stifled through the middle, which prevented us from getting a score of 180, he said. With a low score to defend, Fleming was impressed with the commitment and performance shown by English pacer Richard Gleeson, who made his debut last night. Richard Gleeson was good, and it was a positive. Losing Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) is disappointing. Tushar (Deshpande) has a bit of flu going around as well. So, we've had to make a few changes, which is unusual. Again, that's part of it, and we have got the resources, he said. Just they haven't had the game time to be really comfortable with their roles and us to be comfortable with a game plan, which we're struggling a little. Although veteran opener Ajinkya Rahane managed to get to double figures after a lean phase in the last four games, he didn't last beyond a 24-ball 29. I thought he (Rahane) was good today. He's been probably a bit too aggressive in what he wants to do, Fleming observed. Keep in mind, we're batting on wickets here that we don't know how they are gonna play. So, we got to take a bit of a pause to see what a good score is. If you are 3 for 30, the game is pretty much over. His (Rahane) hitting that was so good last year, is more crisp. It's not for lack of intent. He has doubled up on intent. We're fine with Jinks and the role he plays.

PDP holds protest against EC for deferring Anantnag-Rajouri poll

Abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 was not an event but an ongoing process of dispossession and disenfranchisement of people of Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP leader saidreports Asian Lite... The post PDP holds protest against EC for deferring Anantnag-Rajouri poll first appeared on India Daily Digital .

Deepak Chahar doesn't look good: Fleming

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that seamer Deepak Chahar's latest injury doesn't look good but he is hoping for a positive report from the franchise's medical team ahead of the business phase of the ongoing IPL.

Punjab Kings Equal Mumbai Indians' IPL Record With Dominant Win Over CSK

Delhi Capitals (DC) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) also have four consecutive victories against the Chennai-based franchise in IPL.

Repolling underway in Rajasthan's Ajmer after misplaced voters' register

JAIPUR: Repolling necessitated by a misplaced voters' register at a booth in Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency began at 7 am on Thursday. The Election Commission of India had declared polling held at this booth in the second phase on April 26 void after 17-A register (of voters) got misplaced by the presiding officer and announced repolling. Elaborate security and other arrangements have been made for the repolling. Voting at the polling booth in Nandsi in Ajmer parliamentary constituency began at 7 am which will continue till 5 pm, spokesperson of the election department said here. A total of 753 voters will exercise their franchise in the repolling. Webcasting of this polling booth is also being done. Rajasthan has a total of 25 Lok Sabha seats, out of which 12 went to polls in the first phase on April 19 and 13 in the second phase on April 26.

IPL 2024: Mayank Yadav Likely To Miss Remaining League Matches For LSG, Say Sources

Lucknow Super Giants: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pacer Mayank Yadav, who walked off the field due to abdominal soreness during the match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday, is likely to miss the remaining league matches of the IPL 2024 as his recovery will take more time than earlier expected, sources told IANS. He is not in bad condition, but his participation in the remaining matches is in doubt even as the franchise wants to secure his service for the major part of the tournament. He went for the scans on Wednesday and the reports are still to come but the medical team has suggested a minimum of three weeks rest. Only then he will fully recover, sources close to the franchise told IANS. Head coach Justin Langer had provided an update on Mayanks injury after Tuesday's match against MI, saying, Looks like he's sore in the same spot, his rehab's been absolutely perfect, he bowled pain-free in the last few weeks or so, he's looked in great condition. We'll have a scan and we'll find out tomorrow. However, sources claimed Mayank was not fit for the match against MI but returned to the playing eleven after missing five matches over three weeks as skipper KL Rahul wanted him in. The 21-year-old pacer hardly looked in his rhythm during Tuesdays encounter as he struggled with his length and mostly bowled fuller deliveries and went for 31 runs in 3.1 runs before claiming the wicket of Mohammad Nabi. The pacer gained the attention of the cricket fraternity with his raw pace in his debut match against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The Delhi-bound pacer continuously bowled above 145 and returned with a figure of 3 for 27 with a top speed of 155.8 km/h. LSG will play their last league match of the tournament against Mumbai Indians on May 17.

Repolling Underway at Ajmer Booth for Lok Sabha Polls

Repolling Underway at Ajmer Booth for Lok Sabha Polls Repolling necessitated by a misplaced voters' register at a booth in Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency began at 7 am on Thursday. The Election Commission of India had declared polling held at this booth in the second phase on April 26 void after 17-A register (of voters) got misplaced by the presiding officer and announced repolling. Elaborate security and other arrangements have been made for the repolling. ''Voting at the polling booth in Nandsi in Ajmer parliamentary constituency began at 7 am which will continue till 5 pm,'' a spokesperson of the election department said here. A total of 753 voters will exercise their franchise in the repolling. Webcasting of this polling booth is also being done. Rajasthan has a total of 25 Lok Sabha seats, out of which 12 went to polls in the first phase on April 19 and 13 in the second phase on April 26.

IPL 2024: Hyderabad wish to play an aggressive brand of cricket, says SRH's Simon Helmot

IPL 2024: Hyderabad wish to play an aggressive brand of cricket, says SRH's Simon Helmot Ahead of his side's clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach Simon Helmot said that they want to play an aggressive brand of cricket in the upcoming days in the tournament. After winning five of nine games in the IPL 2024, SRH are standing in fifth place with 10 points and have a net run rate of +0.075. The upcoming fixture against the Royals will be crucial for the Hyderabad-based franchise since they have lost their two previous games. While speaking at the pre-match press conference, Helmot accepted that every franchise is trying to be aggressive in the tournament. He added that the last two games have not worked for them. Our single-mindedness is that we wish to play an aggressive brand of cricket, and I think that is what all teams are doing, looking to play an aggressive brand of cricket. It has worked for us on a number of occasions to help us with five victories. Obviously, the last one or two games have not worked so well, Helmot said. The assistant coach added that if they continue to back their abilities they wil be in a good position to win their upcoming game against Rajasthan. We know that if we play a positive brand of cricket, that we keep backing our abilities and look to make the best, you know, decisions possible, you know, in every given ball, that we are going to be in a good position to win this game, he added. He showered praise on Sanju Samson's Rajasthan Royals and said they have a balanced squad and have good spinners in the squad. Rajasthan has been on top of the ladder for a reason. They've got a good balanced side, they've got some very good spinners in their team, but we think we've got some very good players who spin too, he added. Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (Wk), Nitish Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Umran Malik, Mayank Markande, Rahul Tripathi, Mayank Agarwal, Upendra Yadav, Jhatavedh Subramanyan, Sanvir Singh, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Marco Jansen, Akash Maharaj Singh. (ANI)

Jharkhand Congress chief summoned over Shah video

RANCHI: The Delhi Police Special Branch has issued a notice to Jharkhand Congress chief Rajesh Thakur asking him to appear before an investigating officer at 10.30 am on Thursday in a case involving alleged uploading and sharing of fake videos of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. On April 27, a video related to Shah went viral in which he purportedly said that if the BJP government was formed, the reservation benefits for SC, ST and OBCs will be abolished. Many Congress leaders, including Rajesh Thakur, shared the video on X. The Delhi Police notice was issued after an FIR was registered following two complaints, one by the BJP and another from the Home Ministry. More than 18 people, including political leaders, from seven states have been summoned by the Delhi Police. Three persons have been arrested for circulating the fake video, two in Gujarat and one in Assam. An FIR has also been registered at the Argora police station in Ranchi by central BJP Janata Yuva Morcha leader Sanjay Kumar Mahato against Shailendra Hazra and Rupesh Rajak accusing them of making the fake video.

Lack of Explanation for Delayed Polls Raises Questions, Says Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR: Mehbooba Mufti, the President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said authorities deliberately delayed elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seats to manipulate voters in favor of BJP allies and frighten the people not to exercise their franchise against the ongoing onslaught of Jammu and Kashmirs identity and resources. Mehbooba went by air [] The post Lack of Explanation for Delayed Polls Raises Questions, Says Mehbooba Mufti appeared first on Kashmir Life .

'Rebel Moon - Chapter One: Chalice of Blood': Response it gets will decide content of 'Rebel Moon - Part 3'. Know about franchise plans

Zack Snyder has major plans for the franchise and he mulls making 'Rebel Moon - Part Three'. Rebel Moon's new title 'Rebel Moon - Chapter One: Chalice of Blood' also drops a hint at the future film.