Raina Vs Dhawan On Cards In Legend 90 League Opener On Feb 6

Gujarat Samp Army: Former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan will face off each other when Chhattisgarh Warriors lock horns with Delhi Royals in the blockbuster opening match of the upcoming Legend 90 League in Raipur on Feburary 6. The opening match promises a thrilling encounter as seasoned stars reunite to rekindle their on-field rivalries. The match will witness former Indian cricket stalwarts Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan going head-to-head, marking the beginning of an action-packed tournament. Following the opener, Rajasthan Kings will take on Dubai Giants in the second match on February 7, with Gujarat Samp Army facing Big Boys later the same day. The weekend is set to deliver high-octane action as teams including Delhi Royals, Rajasthan Kings, Chhattisgarh Warriors, Dubai Giants, Big Boys, and Gujarat Samp Army battle for supremacy. Meanwhile, Haryana Gladiators will begin their campaign on February 11 against Dubai Giants. Speaking on the full schedule of the League, Shivain Sharma, Director of the Legend 90 League, said, We are thrilled to see legends like Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh compete once again, reigniting old friendships and creating new memories for fans. This tournament is not just about nostalgia but also about giving cricket lovers a spectacle to remember. The Chhattisgarh Warriors boast marquee players like Martin Guptill, Suresh Raina, and Ambati Rayudu, while Delhi Royals have Shikhar Dhawan alongside Ross Taylor. Haryana Gladiators will have Harbhajan Singh at the helm, and former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo will represent Rajasthan Kings. Also, former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan will play for Dubai Giants. With double-header matches scheduled on most days, the tournament will build momentum toward the Qualifier on February 17 before culminating in the grand finale on February 18. Full squads: Dubai Giants Shakib Al Hasan, Thisara Perera, Kennar Lewis, Kevin O'Brien, Brendan Taylor, Liam Plunkett, Dwayne Smith, H. Masakadza, Richard Levi, Luke Fletcher, Rahul Yadav, Christopher M, Sid Trivedi, S. Prasanna. Chhasttisgarh Warriors Siddarth Kaul, Sheldon Jackson, Pawan Negi, Kevon Cooper, Suresh Raina, Vishal Kushwaha, Martin Guptill, Abhishek Sakuja, Ambati Rayudu, Amit Verma, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Amit Mishra, Rishi Dhawan, Kalim Khan, Unmukt Chand, Manoj Singh, Abhimanyu Mithun, Colin de Grandhomme. Haryana Gladiators Pawan Suyal, Praveen Gupta, Abu Nechim, Anureet Singh, Imran Khan, Asela Gunaratne, Ishank Jaggi, Harbhajan Singh, Nagendra Chaudhary, Rikki Clarke, Peter Trego, Chadwick Walton, Manan Sharma. Gujarat Samp Army Yusuf Pathan, Moeen Ali, Obus Pienaar, Saurabh Tiwary, Kesrick Williams, Jesal Karia, Miguel Cummins, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shapoor Zadran, Mohammad Ashraful, William Perkins, Navin Stewart, Abhishek, Chaturanga De Silva, Mausif Khan Big Boys squad Matt Prior, Ishan Malhotra, Monu Kumar, Chirag Gandhi, Tamim Iqbal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Herschelle Gibbs, Upul Tharanga, Abdur Razzak, Shannon Gabriel, Varun Aaron, Niel Broom, Karamveer Singh, Robin Bist, Naman Sharma, Kapil Rana, Vinod Chanwariya Delhi Royals Shikhar Dhawan, Lendl Simmons, Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Perera, Sahard Lumba, Bipul Sharma, Lakhwinder Singh, Rajwinder Singh, Rayad Emrit, Ross Taylor, Jerome Taylor, Sumit Narwal, Parvinder Awana Rajasthan Kings Shikhar Dhawan, Lendl Simmons, Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Perera, Sahard Lumba, Bipul Sharma, Lakhwinder Singh, Rajwinder Singh, Rayad Emrit, Ross Taylor, Jerome Taylor, Sumit Narwal, Parvinder Awana Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Ranji Trophy: Those Three Intruders Requested Virat That They Should Not Be Beaten Up, Says Shivam

Arun Jaitley Stadium: Day three of the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday saw three over-enthusiastic fans run into the ground to touch Virat Kohli's feet. In what was a major security lapse despite the presence of many personnel, the intrusion happened in the 18th over just before lunch break, when Kohli was fielding at cover. Immediately, the three fans were taken away from the field by more than 20 security persons running in from all quarters. Previously, on day one, a similar incident happened when a fan touched Kohlis feet, and was taken away by the security officials, with the batting stalwart requesting for the intruder to be not dealt harshly. Delhis win by an innings and 19 runs over Railways inside three days also marked Kohlis return to the Ranji Trophy after more than 12 years. The moment gained a lot of attention as there was huge crowd coming to the stadium for the first two days. But Kohlis highly-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy wasnt on the desired lines as he was dismissed for just six runs off 15 balls when pacer Himanshu Sangwan sent his off-stump on a cartwheel ride. After Delhi registered the thumping win over Railways, Kohli posed for photographs with ground and security staff of the stadium, before posing for pictures with members of both teams inside the dressing room. Off-spinner Shivam Sharma, who took a superb 5-33 to set up Delhis win on day three, revealed the intruders had requested to Kohli that they should not be beaten up by the security personnel. This is Virat's craze, but at the same time it was not right for them to run inside the ground. No, Virat bhaiya didn't say anything specific, but yes, anything could have happened if they brought anything with them.Those three people had just requested to Virat that they should not be beaten up. So, those three people were just taken away and nothing was done to them, he said to reporters after the match ended. Off-spinner Shivam Sharma, who took a superb 5-33 to set up Delhis win on day three, revealed the intruders had requested to Kohli that they should not be beaten up by the security personnel. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

An illuminating corner for a luminary bard

A space that reminds of the lyrical Gitanjali and the petrichor-fragrant stories of rural Bengal. Of a Nobel laureate who was known as the guru among poets (Kabiguru): Rabindranath Tagore. A small corner at the library of University of Kerala is such a reminder. The Tagore Niketan Reading Corner at the University Library in Palayam envelops an area where his books and some paintings on him are neatly arranged as a tribute to the poet who visited Thiruvananthapuram on November 9, 1922. Set on the first floor, it is a space where the poet was felicitated on arrival at the capital city. At that time, the university library was not established, and this land was a vacant one where Tagores welcome was arranged, says Smita M R, the librarian-in-charge. Tagores visit in 1922 was part of a fundraising effort for Visva-Bharati University. The city then geared up to extend him a grand welcome, and the location where it was arranged then housed a court. Near that spot, a three-tiered pavilion was erected for the function. Tagore arrived with his son Yatindranath Tagore, daughter-in-law Pratima Tagore, and private secretary C F Andrews. The cultural significance of his visit was further enriched by his meeting with Sreemoolam Thirunal Maharaja at Krishnavilasam Palace, where a banquet was hosted in his honour. The reception committee featured some of Keralas literary stalwarts, including Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer, Kumaran Asan, and Malloor Govinda Pillai. The occasion was marked by poetic tributes, with Kumaran Asans Divyakokilam, and specially composed verses by Ulloor and Malloor being recited by a young C Keshavan. The second day saw a lecture by Andrews, adding to the intellectual fervour surrounding Tagores presence. Before departing on November 11, Tagore made a significant stop at Sivagiri, where he met Sree Narayana Guru. A rare photograph of Tagore and his family, taken at the Raman Pillai Brothers Studio, one of the earliest studios in the city, captures the essence of the visit. Since the event was a fundraising initiative, entry to the reception was ticketed, a fact now preserved through the display of an original event ticket at the reading corner. The Tagore Niketan Reading Corner also exhibits a rare photograph from the collection of historian Kizhakke Madham Prathapan, a copy of the event ticket, and letters sent by Tagore to the reception committee. The university library came up in the spot in 1961, but the corner was designated only in 2021 due to efforts of people like former Pro Vice-Chancellor P P Ajayakumar, who wanted a space which reminded the library users of the significance of the event, says Smita. Later, there were many modifications done to the corner with the addition of photographs and paintings and stock of books on and by the Nobel laureate. The walls are adorned with artistic representations of his many roles poet, novelist, playwright, musician, and traveller offering a glimpse into his multifaceted genius. These facilities are now extensively used by literature students and researchers, as well as Tagore enthusiasts. Its a peaceful space, where one can read and relax. Its very well maintained and the rare Tagore collection makes it a place worth spending time, says Kavitha R P, a UPSC aspirant. Mohammed Mansoor, a postgraduate in political science, finds the spot a trip down the history lane. I am reminded of the Tagore era here, he says. Visitors can thus relax here in history and literary comfort that Tagores works provide. It is truly inspirational. We are now in the process of setting up more such corners; a proposal for a Jnanpith corner which will have works of the award winners from Kerala, has already been made, says Smita.

Ranji Trophy: Himanshu Sangwan - The Railways Ticket Collector Who Uprooted Kohlis Off-stump

Old Delhi Railway Station: Till 10:55 AM, Himanshu Sangwan was just any other bowler toiling hard in Indias domestic cricket circuit and far away from the limelight. But a minute later, Sangwan etched his name in a moment he would store in his memory and recall with glee for the rest of his life. Virat Kohli, who got a rapturous applause on arrival after Yash Dhull fell, had just broken the shackles imposed on him by Railways bowlers following their plans by unfurling a powerful straight drive for four, with 10,000 plus fans shouting Kohli, Kohli loudly. With that shot, the pressure was on Sangwan to bounce back and boy he did it in absolutely stunning fashion. On the very next ball, Sangwan had the last laugh as he pulled the length back on his inswinger coming in from just outside the off-stump and went through the gate to send Kohlis off-stump on a cartwheel ride. The moment of euphoria, whose hype was built by fans, broadcasters, administrators and social media users, turned into pin-drop silence as a dejected Kohli walked back to the pavilion named after him for six off 15 balls in the 28th over. Subsequently, fans made a beeline to exit the stadium which soon resembled the setting usually found in a Ranji Trophy game. Sangwan also made himself the ninth pacer to get Kohli out bowled in first-class cricket, and the pacer said getting the batting stalwarts scalp is something he will cherish for the rest of his lifetime. We sticked to the basics of our plan. We didn't have any special planning for him. Yes, absolutely (if its the most important wicket of his life). Virat is an inspiration for the whole of India. You can watch my earlier videos, and see my wicket-taking celebration is natural. Yes, for sure (playing in front of the crowd became an added motivation). It was the first time in history that there was such a crowd in Ranji Trophy. So it was a special moment for us as well, he said to reporters at the end of day twos play, where Delhi took a handy 93-run lead. Within minutes of dismissing Kohli, Sangwans name was trending on social media platforms. Such was the craze around him that a fake Instagram account was made in his name, while another person with his same name had to close his comments section after Kohlis fans flooded it with abuses. Hearing all of this, Sangwan was glad that his Instagram account is private. I have always kept my Instagram account private. It is not like that I made my account private ahead of the match against Delhi, he said. Sangwan, 29, hails from Charkhi Dadri in Haryana and grew up in Rajasthans Jhunjhunu district, as his father and mother worked as bank manager and teacher respectively. With an eye to play cricket professionally, Sangwan moved to Najafgarh in New Delhi, where hes been living in a rented room for the last 14-15 years. With his parents still in Rajasthan, Sangwan has support from a couple who he calls uncle and aunty, and terms them as people who are no less than his family. Sangwan played his U19 cricket for Delhi, where he made his debut in the age-group format alongside Rishabh Pant in 2013/14. In terms of senior cricket, after trying to break into the Haryana team, Sangwan made his debut for Railways in 2019, after joining them in the previous year. When not at the ground, he worked as a senior ticket collector for almost a month and a half at the Old Delhi Railway Station, the place he got transferred to after a stint at the New Delhi Railway Station. Railways has supported me a lot. When I was not getting any cricket to play, they obviously gave me chances. So, the first priority is Railways. It's not like I didnt get to play for Delhi, so I will show to them that what I have. It was just not like that, he added. Sangwan, a product of Sporting Club in the national capital, also gave a sneak peek into the thought processes of Railways bowlers in making plans for Delhis batters, though Ayush Badoni and Sumit Mathur shined with 99 and 78 not out respectively. All the batters in Delhi are very good at white-ball cricket. They just dont stop playing their shots. We didn't have to attack them. We just had to bowl according to our plan, and they would get out on their own. So, it was a simple plan which was the same plan for all batters. We didn't have to attack them, because they themselves play aggressive cricket. So we had the plan that we would bowl at a particular channel and they would get out on their own. For Ayush, it was a simple plan for Ayush. We had to stop his strokes. We had to put a ball in the channel and not let him run away. If you don't let an aggressive batter play his shots, he will get worried and will get out while trying to hit big shots on his own, he said. Though Delhi are seven runs away from taking their lead to 100, Sangwan also expressed confidence in a Railways fightback on the last two days. This is a phase of days cricket - sometimes we stay up, sometimes we stay down. So it's not like that and we can still come back as there are two days left and have bowled well so far. So we had the plan that we would bowl at a particular channel and they would get out on their own. For Ayush, it was a simple plan for Ayush. We had to stop his strokes. We had to put a ball in the channel and not let him run away. If you don't let an aggressive batter play his shots, he will get worried and will get out while trying to hit big shots on his own, he said. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

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AI helped human reviewers detect malware and spyware in 92% of the violating cases, increasing speed and accuracy of reviews.

Ranji Trophy: Ardent Delhi Fans Hopes Dashed As Kohli Is Bowled For Six On Homecoming

The Shawshank Redemption: In Hollywood movie The Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman playing Red says, Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane. In reply, Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, said, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. It was this theme that brought scores of fans to day two of play in the Ranji Trophy match between Delhi and Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. They took their seats early in anticipation of a big knock from their hometown lad Virat Kohli. But that promising hope didnt translate into desired reality as Kohlis off-stump was sent for a ride by Railways pacer Himanshu Sangwan, who till last domestic season was in Delhis set-up, ending his stay of 23 minutes at the crease. As the batting stalwart walked back to the pavilion named on him after making six off 15 balls, spectators who had lined up outside the venue from as early as 6 am, started to leave the stands quickly, with their hope of something big coming from Kohlis willow crushed and not getting what they wanted. If day ones play was all about an overwhelming number of people creating the mahaul of Kohlis homecoming, day twos morning was all about the hope of spectators seeing him hit the ground running and put up a big score, just like how Cheteshwar Pujara (99) and Ajinkya Rahane (96) did in their respective Ranji Trophy games. From the time Delhis innings began, cheers grew loud from the Bishan Singh Bedi stand whenever Yash Dhull or Sanat Sangwan were in a tangle or involved in an lbw shout. With a padded-up Kohli sitting next to head coach Sarandeep Singh near boundary ropes, people were eager to see a wicket to fall quickly and even shouted out hai, out hai whenever Dhull defended well. But on second-last ball of the 24th over, Dhull was trapped lbw for 22 by Rahul Sharma and the cheer from the crowd made it sound like it was most celebrated dismissal in a Ranji Trophy game in ages. Once Dhulls lbw was confirmed, Kohli walked into the rapturous atmosphere and thunderous applause from his home crowd chanting his name in unison, making the air around the venue electric. Kohli had a conversation with Sangwan before proceeding to take his guard. The first ball he faced from Rahul, it was a yorker coming in from around the wicket which Kohli looked to flick, but missed it. On the very next ball, Kohli went for a drive on a full delivery angled across him, with his bottom hand coming off the bat giving very nervy vibes, as compared to the positivity he generated in his prime. While Kohli practised an imaginary square cut at the non-strikers end, it never made it to the picture as Railways bowlers never allowed Kohli to go beyond the defence and dabs while being beaten twice by Kunals pace outside the off-stump, something which triggered his downfall all times in the Test tour of Australia. Kohli broke the shackles prepared by Railways bowlers on his 14th delivery when he walked down the pitch to unfurl a powerful and ferocious straight drive against Sangwan, which was greeted with a round of applause from the partisan crowd. But on the very next ball, the applause made way for pin-drop silence as Kohli danced too far down the pitch towards an incoming delivery from Sangwan. In his attempt to drive expansively, Kohli didnt account for the inward movement which jagged in from outside the off-stump and low bounce as the ball went past his bat to send the off-stump on a cartwheel ride. People in stands were worried if the outside off-stump deliveries would get Kohli out again, but it was the inward movement which consumed him. As Sangwan, a resident of Najafgarh and product of Sporting Club in the national capital, celebrated the dismissal by yelling loudly, Kohli walked back dejected and played an imaginary drive while wondering if he had tried playing at the ball with a straighter bat. With Kohli walking back, fans made a beeline to exit the stadium hurriedly. Some faithful fans, though, still stayed back in the Bishan Singh Bedi stand and cheered for Kohli four times by inching closer to the fence near the dressing room balcony. People in stands were worried if the outside off-stump deliveries would get Kohli out again, but it was the inward movement which consumed him. As Sangwan, a resident of Najafgarh and product of Sporting Club in the national capital, celebrated the dismissal by yelling loudly, Kohli walked back dejected and played an imaginary drive while wondering if he had tried playing at the ball with a straighter bat. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Ranji Trophy: When Virat Kohlis Aura Brought A Party-like Atmosphere At Arun Jaitley Stadium

Bishan Singh Bedi Stand: The word Aura, with its Latin and Ancient Greek origins saying it as another word for wins, is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as a distinctive ambience or quality generated by a person or thing. If one were to describe what aura meant to cricket fans in New Delhi on January 30, 2025, look no further than them thronging the Arun Jaitley Stadium in heaps to see the talismanic Virat Kohli in action on day one of the Ranji Trophy Group D game between Delhi and Railways. Since the time Kohlis confirmation for playing the match arrived, the atmosphere became an electric one, with narrow roads in and around the stadium buzzing with enthusiasm. It slowly brought in the realisation that the Delhi-Railways game was not just going to be another Ranji Trophy game, where empty stands have been permanent features. Fans were to get free entry, and had to show Aadhaar card to get into the stadium. By Wednesday evening, the broadcast crew had fixed the cameras in stadium's periphery, after the rights holders raced quickly to get the game on roster. For two days of the practice sessions, every move of Kohli was captured and talked with awe by media, fans, age-group cricketers and DDCA officials. The anticipation was for 10,000 fans to arrive for day ones play, but Thursday morning threw a completely different curveball. From as early as 3am, fans irrespective of age, gender, height and layers of winter clothing - lined up outside the stadium to get an entry into the venue. By 8am, it snowballed into a packed crowd outside gates 16 and 17, with chants of Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru ruling the roost in their quest to catch a live glimpse of their hero playing in Ranji Trophy after more than 12 years. Some fans were also young women who had come all alone to catch Kohlis glimpse and were overwhelmed by men jumping over barriers to join the long crowd outside the two gates, fearing a stampede could happen. There were more fans waiting to come in, but were away from entering the stadium due to the nearby road being closed due to VIP movement (as PM Narendra Modi went to Rajghat to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi). By 9:20am, the Gautam Gambhir Stand was fully packed and gate 18 was thrown open for fans to fill the lower tier of the Bishan Singh Bedi Stand, with the crowd numbers at upwards of 15,000. More security was called in to manage the crowd, and in a jiffy, 100 personnel had reached the venue, even as #ViratKohli dominated the trending charts on social media platforms. With the anticipation of seeing Kohlis batting, excited fans in store were in for an anti-climax move, as Delhi captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and elected to bowl first on a green pitch. With Kohli stationed at his usual second slip, before moving on to field at cover, short mid-wicket and mid-on, the chants of Kohli, Kohli dominated the stadiums mood in the batting stalwarts homecoming. When Navdeep Saini and Siddhant Sharma scythed through the Railways top order, the countdown was on over fans tongues over the wickets Delhi needed more to start their batting innings and see Kohli in action with his usual MRF willow. Around the 12th over, a fan couldnt control his excitement and jumped out of the Gautam Gambhir stand to touch Kohli's feet. When he succeeded in briefly doing that, the crowd was in absolute raptures, even when he was taken away by the security people. Kohli, standing at the second slip, gestured to the security people to not hit the fan and stretched out his right hand. After that, posters began to surface from the crowds, ranging from fans asking Kohli to not go after deliveries going in fifth and sixth stump lines to asking if he ate his favourite chole bhature at his go-to outlet in younger days. In the Old Clubhouse stand, the talk amongst DDCA officials, and employee at various departments was about how they had never seen a huge crowd before for a Ranji Trophy game in their time of working at the stadium, with work swiftly going on arranging food for fans for all for days of the game. Expressions of awe on the fans craze for Kohli were also visible on faces of national selector Ajay Ratra and Raj Kumar Sharma, Kohlis childhood coach. The DDCA people also had some kind words on how Kohli was the humble stalwart, who showed no airs and carried his kit bag all the time, while adding the positivity and much-needed intensity into Delhis practice sessions. The chants of Kohli, Kohli grew louder and mobile cameras came out from a section of fans near the fence of the Bishan Singh Bedi Stand whenever he went in and came out of the dressing room housed at Virat Kohli Pavilion. An old timer at the venue recalled the craze of fans for seeing Kohli live reminded him of the time spectators came in large numbers at the stadium for the Duleep Trophy final clash in March 1979, where Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar were in action for North and West Zones, respectively. In that game, as the old timer said, Dev moved the ball both ways to pick 7-65 while Gavaskar batted like a champion to be 130 not out, as North Zone eventually prevailed over West Zone to win the competition. Now, 46 years later, Delhi was witness to fans thronging the stadium in large numbers, highlighting the pull Kohli has in Indian cricket. By 2 pm, as Upendra Yadav led Railways fightback with a superb 95 and Karn Sharma aiding him with a gritty fifty, the enthusiasm in stand dipped a bit, as chances of seeing Kohli bat were rapidly diminishing. When Delhis bouncer ploy got them a breakthrough in the form of Karns wicket, Kohli was the first person to appreciate young Yash Dhull for completing a superb relay catch, after previously egging on the crowd to cheer for the home team, who in turn shouted his name loudly. By 2 pm, as Upendra Yadav led Railways fightback with a superb 95 and Karn Sharma aiding him with a gritty fifty, the enthusiasm in stand dipped a bit, as chances of seeing Kohli bat were rapidly diminishing. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Virat Kohli's lunch menu during Ranji Trophy comeback revealed: 'India stalwart to eat....'

Fans were so excited about Kohli's return to domestic cricket that more than 10,000 people flocked to the Arun Jaitley Stadium to see it.

Ranji Trophy: Kohlis Presence Results In DDCA To Open More Gates For Fans And Step Up Security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Seeing the overwhelming number of fans in attendance for the Delhi-Railways Ranji Trophy game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has stated that more gates are slated to be open for letting in spectators keen to see Virat Kohli in action. Sources in the DDCA told IANS that once the VIP movement, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, is cleared after 11am, the association will open rest of the gates in the stadium to allow for more fans entry, as Kohli marks his return to Ranji Trophy after more than 12 years. The sources have also said that top DDCA officials are currently meeting to get food arrangements for fans up and running from day one. It is understood that the expectation for fans attendance by DDCA was at 10,000, with gates 16 and 17 opened, and entry to be done on the basis of Aadhaar card. But with fans upwards of 15,000 coming from all parts of Delhi, as well as Noida, Ghaziabad and rest of the NCR region thronging the stadium and standing in queues from as early as 3am, DDCA calculations went awry and they had to open gate number 18 for spectator entry before action began at 9:30am, as Delhi won the toss and elected to bowl first against Railways. The fans wishing to see Kohli in action were chanting names of him and IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru outside the venue, as well as in the Gautam Gambhir and Bishen Singh Bedi stands. With the work on food arrangements going on, RO water counters are already present in the stadium and are in working condition. Sources also said the DDCA are increasing the presence of police personnel, aside from the previously made private security arrangements, especially after an eager fan ran in from North Stand to touch Kohlis feet during the 12th over and was taken away, though the batting stalwart, stationed at second slip, asked for the intruder to be not hit harshly. We generally have 25-30 people for security in a Ranji Trophy game at Delhi. But with Virat coming in, we got 50 and now 100 security personnel in the stadium. We will get police people once they are done with their work around VIP movement in Rajghat, added the sources. Sources also said the DDCA are increasing the presence of police personnel, aside from the previously made private security arrangements, especially after an eager fan ran in from North Stand to touch Kohlis feet during the 12th over and was taken away, though the batting stalwart, stationed at second slip, asked for the intruder to be not hit harshly. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Jeet Adani's fianc Diva impresses with her minimalist charm

Diva Jaimin Shah and Jeet Adani were recently spotted enjoying a heartwarming outing at Mitti Cafe in Mumbai International Airport. Diva captivated with her elegant green salwar suit and orange-toned Banarasi dupatta, while the couple's interaction with the staff highlighted their values of inclusivity and kindness.

Hackers are hijacking WordPress sites to push Windows and Mac malware

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How Much Did Virat Kohli Score The Last Time He Played In Ranji Trophy?

Delhi was reeling at 77/2 when Kohli walked out to bat. The stalwart batter smashed a couple of fours but then he was dismissed for 14 (19) against Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Ranji Trophy: Kohli Takes Centre-stage As Delhi Take On Railways (preview)

Arun Jaitley Stadium: In recent winter days of New Delhi, the sun shines intensely after the early morning cold goes away. As people bask in the winter sun for their Vitamin D intake, cricket fans in the national capital will soak in the sunshine at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from Thursday. Delhi, with a very slim mathematical chance to enter the Ranji Trophy knockouts, face Railways in their final Group D clash of the season starting on Thursday. Their knockout hopes hinge on many favourable outcomes, but the attention of fans thronging the stadium will be fixed on the talismanic Virat Kohlis batting performance in the coming four days. One should remember Kohlis last Ranji Trophy game for Delhi came against Uttar Pradesh in Ghaziabad in November 2012. In those days, cricket wasnt as hectic as it is now, while social media boom was still a few good years away. Now, following the BCCIs recommendation for Indian players to play domestic cricket when possible, Kohli is set to play a Ranji Trophy game for the first time in 12 years. A neck spasm delayed his Ranji Trophy return in Rajkot, but Kohli is now almost certain for his Ranji Trophy homecoming at a place where he began his journey to become an integral part of the Indian team across all formats. At the centre of every move Kohli makes in the match against Railways, his batting will come under supreme focus on a green pitch, as claimed by Delhi captain Ayush Badoni, to try and get an outright win. This match gives Kohli an opportunity to spend valuable time in the middle and gain some much-needed fluency before heading to two consecutive 50-over assignments for India. Dismissals outside off-stump largely defined Kohlis struggles in the 3-1 Test series defeat in Australia, his unbeaten Perth century being a notable exception. Now coming into the Delhi team after working on his game with former India and RCB batting coach Sanjay Bangar in Alibaug, it will be intriguing to see how Kohli shapes with the bat in a game, where hes the cynosure of all eyes and cameras. With Rishabh Pant not available and Pranav Rajvanshi likely to come in, Kohli joining the sixth-placed Delhi team is a huge help for their batting line-up, which was completely outplayed on a Rajkot pitch that turned from the start, resulting in a crushing ten-wicket defeat for them. Of greater concern to Delhi is the fact that they lost all ten wickets of their second innings between lunch and tea on day two. Moreover, the quality gap between Saurashtras experienced spinners, one being a certain Ravindra Jadeja, and Delhis young spinners, Shivam Sharma, Sumit Mathur and Harsh Tyagi, was evident too. Now that Sharma, Mathur and Tyagi are back in Delhi, one would expect a better performance from them. On the other hand, after taking the first-innings lead against Assam in Guwahati, fourth-placed Railways path to the knockouts is straightforward: they must win outright or by bonus points against Delhi, and hope Chandigarh and Saurashtra lose their matches. The exciting possibility of bowling to Kohli in a Ranji Trophy match presents a chance for fast-bowlers Himanshu Sangwan (who previously played for Delhi), Kunal Yadav, Purnank Tyagi, and Rahul Sharma to rise to prominence by outsmarting the batting stalwart. The young Railways bowlers will also benefit from the experience and insights of veteran leg-spinner Karn Sharma, whos shared the dressing room with Kohli for India and RCB. Railways batting hopes rest on Vivek Singh, Upendra Yadav, Mohammad Saif, and captain Pratham Singh to achieve a high score, especially with all eyes on Kohli in Delhis sunny yet chilly climes. Squads- Delhi: Ayush Badoni (c), Virat Kohli, Sanat Sangwan, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Jonty Sidhu, Himmat Singh, Navdeep Saini, Money Grewal, Harsh Tyagi, Siddhant Sharma, Shivam Sharma, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Vaibhav Kandpal, Mayank Gusain, Gagan Vats, Sumit Mathur, Rahul Gahlot, Jitesh Singh, Vansh Bedi. Railways: Pratham Singh (c), Vivek Singh, S A Ahuja, Upendra Yadav (wk), Mohammad Saif, B H Merai, Anchit Yadav, Karn Sharma, Purnank Tyagi, Kunal Yadav, Himanshu Sangwan, K T Marathe, Ravi Singh, Ayan B Chaudhari and Rahul Sharma Delhi: Ayush Badoni (c), Virat Kohli, Sanat Sangwan, Arpit Rana, Yash Dhull, Jonty Sidhu, Himmat Singh, Navdeep Saini, Money Grewal, Harsh Tyagi, Siddhant Sharma, Shivam Sharma, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Vaibhav Kandpal, Mayank Gusain, Gagan Vats, Sumit Mathur, Rahul Gahlot, Jitesh Singh, Vansh Bedi. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Nurturing nature

KOCHI: In a world where the climate suffers worse plights every day, discourse around the issue is still struggling to catch up with the magnitude of the crisis. In the titular essay of Amitav Ghoshs latest book, Wild Fictions (HarperCollins India; Rs 799), climate, nature, and our interrelationships come under scrutiny in the context of power. The essay Wild Fictions , by nature a non-fiction account, treads a nimble line between fact and fable; Ghoshs identity as a stalwart in Indian fiction cannot help but with incredible effect, beat as this texts heart. If non-fiction is the primary mode of writing, it still rolls from a pen whose mother tongue is fiction. Storytelling acts as a stepping stone for this account, where Ghosh draws in different stories from varied contexts, all of whose threads seem to knit together at a point that heaves with ecological concern. Ghoshs lens sees the end goal of climate conservation as rooted in the human species being factored in as an inherent part of nature, not existing outside of it. To his credit, it is a lens that is grounded in issues of caste (and by extension, race), evident in his retelling of the aforementioned stories, including The Indian Hut . Because he asserts fiction as the most able salve towards reintegrating humanity within nature, it is important to be aware of ideologies being essentially stories too, with the best stories making the most potent ideologies. Ghosh, a recent winner of the Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award, sheds light, Fascist ideologies, with their emphasis on purity, hierarchy, and exclusion, are particularly insidious. They thrive on fear, on the demonisation of the other, be it a different race, religion, or even a perceived threat to the natural order. To counter these narratives, we need stories that celebrate difference, that weave together the human and the non-human, that acknowledge the interconnectedness of all beings. There is a familiar undercurrent visible in Ghoshs retold stories that involve the Western gaze as the narrative searchlight. In these stories, or even real incidents described in the essay, the binary Western mind easily dismisses indigenous stories as fables and fiction that are in necessary opposition to science. Ghosh himself stresses, The notion that indigenous knowledge is somehow primitive or irrational stems from a long history of colonial arrogance, a desire to assert Western dominance over other ways of knowing. Instead of dismissing these other ways of knowing, we need to find ways to integrate them with modern science. We need to create spaces for dialogue and exchange, where indigenous knowledge systems can be valued and respected. Amongst the many ideologies pervasive to natural ecosystems, masquerading as norms, there is one that Ghosh brings up that is of special perversion: the untouched forest. That the idea of an untouched forest has unmistakably casteist roots is clear enough; it also reveals the racist rhetoric that allows Western naturalists to impose an exclusivity between humanity and nature. Echoing the sentiments already evident in the essay, Ghosh states, The concept of the untouched forest is a deeply problematic one, rooted in long histories of dispossession. It reflects a desire to separate humans from nature, to create an allegedly pristine wilderness devoid of human presence. This idea is a fantasy human populations have been deeply involved in the creation of many apparently untouched and pristine forests.

Tamannaah Bhatia Proves You Can Pick A Simple Salwar Suit For Your Airport Glam Game

Tamannaah Bhatia was spotted at the airport, flaunting her comfy, travel-friendly attire.

In Shehnaaz Gill's Birthday Album, Her Dubai Bling Was On Point

In the photos, Shehnaaz Gill, dressed in a salwar suit, smiled ear-to-ear for the camera.The pink-themed decor added an extra edge to the celebration.

Tirupati: Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam held at Padmavathi Ammavari temple

The traditional religious temple cleaning ritual of Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam in connection with Radha Saptami on February 4 was observed in Padmavati Ammavari temple at Tiruchanoor near Tirupati.

KuCoin Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Pay Nearly $300 Million in US Crypto Case

KuCoin has pleaded guilty on Monday to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Prosecutors said Seychelles-based KuCoin had been used to facilitate billions of dollars of suspicious transactions, and to transmit potential criminal proceeds including from darknet markets and malware, ransomware and fraud.

Cong hits back at Bandis comments about Gaddar

Hyderabad: Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjays comments on balladeer Gaddar turned into a political slugfest with Congress activists burning his effigies at Gandhi Bhavan. BJP hit back stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written a letter to Gaddars widow. In his letter written on August 21, 2023 the PM had said, I am deeply pained to learn about the demise of Shri Gummadi Vittal Rao Ji, widely known as 'Gaddar'. Heartfelt condolences to the family in this hour of intense grief. The themes of his poems and folk songs in Telugu reflected the challenges faced by the disadvantaged sections of the society. His creative works also provided encouragement to the people. TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud in his response to the comments by Bandi Sanjay said, The BJP has forgotten its ideology long back. Did he not know Gaddars ideology when he cuddled him? With a new state president set to be elected, Sanjay is frustrated that he would lose his importance. Is Eatla Rajendar, who had said that the naxal agenda is his agenda, not their MP? Did the BJP not ally with NTRs party who had said that naxalites are patriots? How many who contested on the party ticket in 2024 have allegiance to its ideology? Sanjays comments are against the spirit of the Constitution. Gaddar is a stalwart despite the assertions of the BJP leaders. The party even aligned with leaders who had ordered firing on kar sevaks, he said.

New Digital Rules Let You Wipe All Your Details Online

The most absurd part of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 is that while it purports to protect the individual from the misuse of digital data, there are no provisions aimed at preventing the risk of harm caused to individuals through the misuse of digital data by any agency, commercial or otherwise. (Representative image: DC) The most absurd part of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2023 is that while it purports to protect the individual from the misuse of digital data, there are no provisions aimed at preventing the risk of harm caused to individuals through the misuse of digital data by any agency, commercial or otherwise. (Representative image: DC) Hyderabad: Can a customer walk into a multinational company like Amazon and ask it to remove all her information from the company's database? She might have been able to delete her account, but could she ensure whether the company has removed her information? It would not have been possible until a month ago. With the draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025 released in public domain seeking comments and feedback, the citizens can now look forward to a framework through which they can exercise their right to privacy. The rules are framed under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which is yet to come into force. However, it has created ripples within the industry as now all companies and even government institutions would now have to comply with the rules. This would require both citizens and institutions to be mindful of how private data is shared, stored and used. As per India Cyber Threat Report 2025 released by Data Security Council of India (DSCI) last year, south India is the hub of the largest number of malware attacks, with Telangana leading among all the states. This shows the need to enhance privacy systems. The rules and the law need to be welcomed because prior to this, we were functioning in a vacuum. The Act certainly needs some strengthening but it can be the starting point that enables us to at least start thinking about privacy, said Arjun Reddy Bojja, a High Court lawyer specialising in data protection and privacy. The multinational companies earlier worked under GDPR, which did not have a legal backing in India. Now we have our own specific legal framework to be handed over to them. Initially, smaller businesses have little compliance burden but with the hope that they should not abuse this freedom, Bojja said. With time, the Act would need to be strengthened as technology is already progressing at light speed. Companies would need to enhance their data protection capacities. You would notice that while using certain applications, you are being asked to check the companies' privacy norms. This is because privacy as a concept came into policy as an afterthought. Now, everyone has to overhaul their existing systems to be able to bring in privacy and data protection as part of their design by default, said Sai Krishna Singupuram, Senior Cybersecurity Consultant, Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (CCoE), DSCI, Hyderabad. As individuals, when we give our 'consent' to applications for using our personal data, we need to be informed how, when and where the company is going to use that data. This comes under the ambit of 'informed consent'. The end user must be aware of what personal and private information they are sharing and how it could be used, Sai Krishna said. We welcome the introduction of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act in India. Beyond merely complying with statutory requirements, the DPDP Act marks a crucial turning point in cultivating a privacy-first mindset across industries. Organisations must adapt their processes, from product design to customer engagement, said Sriram Birudavolu, CEO, CCoE, DSCI. Imagine this scenario: You walk into a bar. The waiter asks you for your ID card. All that the waiter needs to know is whether you are of the drinking age or not. But for that, do you need to show him your ID card, which has all your other personal and private information? Is there a way through which he can get only the information he needs and nothing else? This is possible, said Sai Krishna. With the emerging privacy enhancing technologies, such interventions can be made. DSCI's report 'Privacy Engineering: Way Ahead' delves into emerging Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs). So in the bar scenario, there would be third party systems helping them to scan the card and take only the information they need and not collect any other data. There are also data anonymisation techniques that can be used, he mentioned.

Liquor smuggler goes to Kumbh to wash off sins, arrested

A 22-year-old man wanted for liquor smuggling was arrested in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh during the Maha Kumbh festival. Pravesh Yadav, a resident of Alwar, Rajasthan, had been evading arrest since July 2023 after being involved in a liquor smuggling operation. Police apprehended him during the Maha Kumbh, a major religious event where millions of people gather for ritual bathing at the Sangam. The arrest highlights the effective surveillance measures implemented by the police.

Evading arrest for months, liquor smuggler arrested after he goes to Prayagraj

Elaborating further about the arrest, Superintendent of Police of Bhadohi Abhimanyu Manglik said that Pravesh Yadav is a resident of Alwar district of Rajasthan and was absconding for one-and-half years

National Billiards: Sourav Kothari beats Pankaj Advani in final

INDORE, Jan 25: Billiards stalwart Sourav Kothari came up with two superb century breaks during the contest as he defeated multiple world champion Pankaj Advani 4-2 in the final of the National Billiards & Snooker Championship here on Saturday. Kothari, a former world billiards champion who is currently No.2 in the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) ranking, won 150-31, 30-154, 9-151, 150-25, 150-90 and 152-147 in a contest where Advani fought till the very end. The two Petroleum Sports [] The post National Billiards: Sourav Kothari beats Pankaj Advani in final appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Scammers hack WhatsApp accountsof Kudumbashree workers at Koduvally in Kozhikode

Most complaints came from those who accidentally clicked a widely shared PDF, which was disguised as malware and sent through instant messaging apps as an Android Package Kit

India win toss and elect to bowl; Jurel, Washington in playing XI

Chennai: India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl in the second T20 International against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here Saturday. India made two changes to the side, bringing in Washington Sundar and Dhruv Jurel in place of the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh. Pace-bowling stalwart Mohammed Shami []

How freedom fighters celebrated Indias first Republic Day?

Indias first Republic Day on January 26, 1950, marked a historic turning point in the countrys journey toward freedom and democracy. While millions across the nation celebrated this monumental day, the freedom fighters who had fought for Indias independence experienced it with a unique sense of pride and reflection. For these stalwarts, Republic Day symbolized [] The post How freedom fighters celebrated Indias first Republic Day? appeared first on NorthEast Now .

Son of former Pune deputy mayor Aba Bagul booked for slapping motorcyclist

Hemant Bagul, son of former Pune deputy mayor Aba Bagul, faces allegations of slapping a motorcyclist after a minor collision at a traffic signal in Mangalwar Peth.

Karpoori a messiah of social justice: Dhankhar

PATNA: Vice-President (V-P) Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday hailed former Bihar chief minister and veteran socialist leader Karpoori Thakur as a messiah of social justice and said the political stalwart never promoted dynastic politics. While addressing a memorial event on the 101st birth anniversary of Thakur at Karpoori Gram in Bihars Samastipur, Dhankhar said Thakur also opened vast opportunities for a large population by providing reservation facilities to various sections of the society. The great son of India, Thakur is the messiah of social justice. In a short span of time, he wrote a new history of social and political transformation. He broke centuries-old stagnation and opened the doors of immense possibilities for a large population, the V-P said, adding that Thakur started a new era of equality. Dhankhar said the former Bihar chief minister dedicated his life to those on the margins of society, those ignored by all. To understand what an ideal personality is, we must look at the life of Thakur. His sacrifice, his dedication, and how he never promoted dynastic politics, he remarked. The V-P said Thakur was a statesman who rose above caste, religion, and class, focusing on equality and promoting development. Thakur left a distinct mark on the country by advancing social justice, the V-P said, adding, He implemented reservations without caring about opposition and ended the dominance of English, promoting use of Hindi in government offices.

From Computer Baba To Talwar Baba, Meet Seven Unique Babas At Maha Kumbh 2025

Best Antivirus for Mac 2025: Top Security Software Compared

Macworld Macs have tended to be less of a target for malware in the past, leading some to believe that Macs dont need antivirus, but the increasing popularity of Macs means this has changed. Dont find out the hard way that Macs arent immune from viruses and other types of malware. While it is typically Windows computers that get news headlines for being attacked by computer viruses, Macs are vulnerable to malware, too. In this collection of Mac antivirus reviews, fully tested by our expert editors, we recommend the best Mac antivirus software to help keep you and your Mac or MacBook safe from whatever rogue software comes your way. Not everyone is a security expert or knows how to check their Mac for viruses , but you also dont need to be a security expert to keep your Mac safe. Apple does include some built-in antivirus protection in macOS, but a good Mac antivirus product will do it all for you, protecting your Mac from new and known malware, blocking ransomware , protecting older systems from security vulnerabilities caused by outdated software, and stopping you from passing on Windows viruses to PC-using friends and colleagues. The most difficult decision for you as a Mac user is deciding which of the multiple Mac antivirus programs on the market is going to do the best job of keeping you and your data safe, and which ultimately offers the best value. Check out our Best overall Mac Antivirus : Intego Mac Internet Security Our Macworld experts are here to help, and no-one is better placed to guide you on which antivirus to choose for your Mac than the leading authority on Mac products and products built for Mac (the clue is in our name). We thoroughly test all Mac antivirus products from a usability and functionality perspective and use a combination of our own testing data and AV Comparatives/AV-Test lab data to ascertain which is the most reliable and trustworthy security product for your Mac. These are the security products our own editors would (and do) choose for their own machines, so you can place your full trust in our Mac antivirus recommendations. Our top pick right now is Intego Mac Internet Security . But depending on the type and number of devices you want to protect, and your budget, you may prefer one of the other Mac antivirus recommendations in our list below. Some cover more than Macs, you can also use them to protect your iPhone, iPad and other devices. You wont find every Mac antivirus product weve tested here, only the very best contenders, meaning you can be sure that any of these products will do a decent job of protecting your Mac. If you are thinking of trying out software that isnt listed below we may have reviewed it and not thought it was good enough for this round up, in that case, take a look at all the Mac Antivirus apps weve reviewed here . Youll also find some free options for those of you looking for the best free antivirus for Mac. Although, if value is the most important criteria for you, we also recommend looking at our best Mac antivirus deals round-up . And if youre running Windows and macOS, also check out the advice from our sister site PC World for the best Windows antivirus . Want to protect your iPhone? Many of the antivirus solutions below also include support for iOS and other operating systems too. Also read: How to scan an iPhone for malware and stay safe . Updated January 2025 to added scores from the December 2024 AV Test (from the Independent IT Security Institute). Note that AVTest only includes venders who choose to be included. Best Mac Antivirus 2025: Reviewed and Ranked 1. Intego Mac Internet Security X9 Best overall Mac antivirus Pros Built for Mac. Easy set up. Good performance. Cons Mac specific (no Windows/Android protection). Price When Reviewed: From $24.99 for first year, usually $49.99 a year (1 Mac) Using our link Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Intego (first year, 1 device) $24.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $24.99 at Intego (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS Integos Mac Internet Security X9 combines the companys VirusBarrier and NetBarrier applications to provide both antiviral protection and network traffic filtering programs.Theres also an Intego Premium Bundle X9 that includes five apps: VirusBarrier and NetBarrier as well as Mac Washing Machine (a Mac cleaner), ContentBarrier (Parental controls) and Personal Backup (a bootable backup). Integos Internet Security costs $24.99/20.99 for the first year. Integos Mac Premium Bundle costs $29.99/23.99 for the first year. Use our link to get the deal: You can get Intego Mac Internet Security X9 and Mac Premium Bundle here . The Mac Internet Security X9 is easy to download, install, and configure. It checks for the latest viral definitions and sets up real-time scanning features and intuitive network monitoring, allowing users to see and work with both incoming and outgoing Internet connections on their Mac. While Mac Security X9 doesnt offer every feature, it offers impressive configuration and customization to both its VirusBarrier and NetBarrier tools. VirusBarrier performs well in protecting users from viruses, while NetBarrier acts as a firewall that protects connections. The application allows users to create settings for home, work, or public connections, and allows or deny connections as needed. There are some issues to address, wed like to see a running counter tracking the number of files processed in a VirusBarrier scan and we were disappointed that it allowed traffic to questionable websites linked to spam messages. Mac Internet Security X9 doesnt try to upsell users to Integos other suites and services, making it worth considering. The tools in place are effective, work well, and make this utility worth considering. AV Comparatives, June 2024: 99% Mac Malware Protection, 93% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection. Read our full Intego Mac Internet Security X9 review 2. AVG Internet Security for Mac Effective Mac antivirus Pros Caught an impressive amount of questionable apps. Long trial. Easy to use. Cons Let in a fake Flash player. No indication that scans are happening. Price When Reviewed: $3.89 a month for 1 Mac ($46.68 for the first year, then $77.99 a year), or $4.99 a month for 10 devices ($59.88 for the first year, then $99.99 a year). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price AVG (first year, 1 device) $46.68 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $46.68 at AVG (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS AVG Internet Security for Mac is easy to download from the AVG website , downloads and installs easily, and once permissions have been assigned to your entire hard drive, youre good to go. Best of all, it is available as a 60-day trial period before billing begins. AVG Internet Security focuses on four directives: Computer Protection, Web & Email Protection, Hacks Attacks, and Payment Protection. The Smart Scan feature checks your virus definitions to make sure theyre up to date and scans for viruses and malware. A Ransomware Shield, Network Inspector, and Fake Website Shield features look things over to see where you stand in terms of your overall online presence and security. The set of whitelists and exceptions can be customized to hone in on files you want to scan and leave out areas you want to leave alone. A quick antiviral scan took a few minutes while a full scan of an entire NVME drive with 821GB of data on it took just over 5.5 hours to complete. Scans on external drives and specific folders are easy to set up and execute, the scheduling feature works well, the software can set up location configurations, and there are customization options for network security. Tests with malware and phishing-based websites went well. The software, combined with macOSs Gatekeeper functionality, stopped the vast majority of sample malware installations, quarantining them quickly and preventing installation. The software also prevented questionable external code from being loaded on suspect websites and blocked phishing sites from loading. There are a few places for improvement with AVG Internet Security for Mac, but not many. During testing, the software allowed a fake version of Adobe Flash Player to be installed. If you do override the macOS Gatekeeper and AVG security features and install malware, AVG Internet Security does a good job of removing it. If theres one thing I might change about the software, its the fact that the scheduled scan feature doesnt readily display that the scan is taking place. AVG Internet Security for Mac catches an impressive amount of viral, phishing, and malware activity for a consumer package, and does its job well, all while wrapped in a bright, friendly user interface thats easy to navigate. Granted, given the subscription pricing and packages, a VPN client wouldnt be out of the question, and the price point for a single device moves into questionable territory, but the software still performs well, travels well with its location settings, and this is appreciated. Have a look at its 60-day trial to see what works, what doesnt, and what might be right for you. You may also be interested in trying the free AVG AntiVirus for the Mac . Despite being free, AVGs free AntiVirus covers all the bases: blocking viruses and malware from websites, downloads, and email attachments. AVG will scan applications and check every file and remove threats from your Mac. It auto updates so you shouldnt miss out on protection from the latest threats. AV Test, December 2024: 100% AV Comparatives, AV Comparatives, June 2024: 100% Mac Malware Protection, 98% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection. Get AVG Internet Security or AVG AntiVirus for the Mac . Read our full AVG Internet Security for Mac review 3. Avast Premium Security Best Mac antivirus for malware protection Pros Doesnt impact performance. Caught problem test files. Cons Slow manual scanning. No option for single device license. Upselling. Price When Reviewed: From $50.28 for first year, usually $77.99 a year (1 Mac). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Avast Software (first year, 1 device) $50.28 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $50.28 at Avast Software (first year, 1 device) Covers: Mac, PC, iOS and Android There are four Mac antivirus products from Avast. The paid for Avast Premium Security and Avast One , and the free Avast Free Antivirus and Avast One Essential . Avast Free Antivirus is a free version of Avast Premium Security, while Avast One Essential offers additional features like ransomware protection, privacy protection, and data leak detection. Avast Premium Security is a well-featured suite that protects your Mac from various threats, including browser script hacks, ransomware, and remote attack activity. It includes modules such as Virus Scans, Core Shields, Traffic Monitor, Network Inspector, Email Guardian, Ransomware Shield, and Quarantine, all easily accessible from the home screen. Virus scan options include Smart Scan, Deep Scan, Targeted Scan, or External Storage Scan. The Traffic Monitor shows data usage and bandwidth usage, while Network Inspector scans the network for safety and alerts users when unfamiliar devices join the network. Core Shields prevents fake websites from loading and triggering software. The main frustration with Avast Premium Security is its subscription-based model, but that tends to be standard these days. Some features are only available on the Avast Ultimate subscription tier. Those looking to save money can try the two free Antivirus for Mac solutions, Avast Free Antivirus and Avast One Essential . If you want just a virus scanner, we recommend Avasts Free Antivirus, which is the free version of Avast Premium Security. Avast One offers some additional functions and a different interface, but and annoys with intensive advertising for paid functions. You can get Avast Premium Security for Mac here . Also consider Avast One , Avast Free Antivirus and Avast One Essential . AV Test, December 2024: 100% AV Comparatives, June 2024: Approved, 100% Mac Malware Protection, 98% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection. Read our full Avast Premium Security review 4. McAfee Total Protection Pros Good, customizable set of security tools. Background scanning feature is handy. Cons Laggy when initially launched. McAfee demands credit/debit card info to use trial. Price When Reviewed: Single: $29.99 (1 device) for first year, usually $89.99; Essential: $39.99 (5 devices) for first year, usually $119.99 a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price McAfee Total Protection (first year, 1 device) $29.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $29.99 at McAfee Total Protection (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android , ChromeOS McAfee Total Protection continues to be steadily updated and offers a good suite of anti-viral, anti-malware, identity protection, VPN, and scheduling tools. It is simple to use; once youve walked through the guided steps for assigning permissions to work behind the scenes you can just leave it to get on with its job. The software can perform a full scan of your hard drive as well as scan custom locations such as external volumes, and schedule scan times. You can control what Total Protection does when it finds suspect files, such as notifying you, quarantining them, or deleting the files. During our tests, it located and quarantined two suspected virus files I didnt know about, thereby earning its keep. Other features include an ID Protection tool that compares your email address to known data and password breaches, a firewall, and a Secure VPN feature that lets you quickly set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN). McAfees Total Protection package extends up to five devices on one account, so its easy to add the app to other Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android-based phones and tablets as needed. Its worth noting that the Windows version offers features that you dont get in the Mac app. We noted some occasional performance impacts as it ran in the background, but it was largely unobtrusive in its efforts. Our only other grumble is the lack of simplicity in ending the trial. You can get McAfee Total Protection here . Read our full McAfee Total Protection review 5. Norton 360 Best value Mac antivirus Pros Easy-to-use & effective. Multiple device cover. Minimal performance impact Cons No backup on macOS. Didnt spot threats in zip files. Price When Reviewed: Standard (3 devices): $39.99 for first year, usually $94.99 a year; Deluxe (5 devices): $49.99 for first year, usually $119.99 a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Norton Security (first year, 1 device) $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $39.99 at Norton Security (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android Norton 360 provides protection in Mac OS X 10.10 or later, with a reduced price for the first year. The Standard package protects one device. For more devices (including Macs, iPhones or PCs), the Deluxe or Select package are required. Note that all prices increase significantly after the first year. The software offers 110GB of cloud-based backup, a password manager, a basic VPN client, and Dark Web monitoring. Norton 360 is easy to download and install, and its add-on programs work fairly well. The VPN is basic but easy to configure your preferred country of origin and initiate a connection. The password manager is reliable and includes a downloadable recovery key. There is an admirable level of possible customization on the firewall, although technical knowledge is needed. Other utilities within Norton 360 for Mac include a Startup Manager module, File Cleanup module, and Dark Web protection module. With antiviral monitoring and scanning its easy to create white lists and exceptions as well as schedule scans, including of external volumes like USB thumb drives. However, the application still cant perform scans on .zip files, I had to decompress the text drive of sample infections before it could see them. In our tests, the software was successful in catching a good amount of viral activity, with 25 individual infections detected on a test drive after scanning it. However, Norton 360 for Mac missed the OSX.Proton malware. Extensions for web browsers and Norton Private Browser are included. These warn about spam and phishing-based websites, but still allowed us to travel to questionable websites from spam email links. However, there are still bugs to sort out, such as a bug in the Cloud Backup were we were unable to successfully click the Get Started with Backup button and create an initial backup set for the cloud. It also failed to remove OSX.Proton malware. AV Test, December 2024: 100% You can get Norton 360 here . Read our full Norton 360 review 6. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac Pros Doesnt slow down your Mac. Effective real-time protection. Unobtrusive browsing protection. Cons No password manager. Very limited VPN. No identity protection. Price When Reviewed: $24.99 per year for 1 device (usually 39.99), $29.99 per year for 3 devices (usually $59.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Bitdefender (first year, 1 device) $27.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $27.99 at Bitdefender (first year, 1 device) Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac covers: macOS, Bitdefender Total Security covers: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android Bitdefender is another maker of antivirus solutions that has a number of solutions for the Mac, including a free option. Theres Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac , which offers basic protection for up to three Macs, Bitdefender Total Security , which protects up to five devices (macOS, iOS, Windows and Android), and Bitdefenders free Virus Scanner for Mac . Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is easy to download, install, and assign full drive permissions. It offers a speedy Quick Scan mode that performs a quick overview and locate, quarantine, and remove viral candidates within a few minutes as well as a Full Scan mode which runs in the background so you can continue to work. External volumes such as USB flash drives can be scanned. There isnt much in the way of malware that gets by it. However, we found the applications ability to locate and neutralize malware that was already on the system mixed it missed four significant pieces of malware. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers anti-phishing protection in the form of web browser extensions for the Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox web browsers. These offered varying degrees of success. Under Safari, Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offered no prominent phishing protection, allowing us to visit questionable websites with no warning whatsoever. Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers an anti-tracker for web browsers and access to a VPN with basic functionality and a limit of 200MB a day. It encourages you to update to the full version, there are better VPNs for Mac out there. When we reviewed it Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac retailed at 50% off which is $19.99/14.99 a year for one Mac (then $39.99/29.99 a year), but the deal prices change often. There is also a 30-day trial available. There is also Bitdefender Total Security which includes Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac as well as coverage for iOS, Android and Windows. That software retails for $69.99/44.99 a year for five devices (then $109.99/74.99 a year) and offers a license that covers five devices, including Macs, Windows, Android and iOS with a 30-day trial available. AV Test, December 2024: 100% AV Comparatives, AV Comparatives, June 2024: 100% Mac Malware Protection, 99% Mac PUA Protection, 100% Windows Malware Detection. Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac review 7. Avira Prime Pros Easy to use. Full VPN. Wont slow down your Mac. Cons No fine-tuning scan options. Price When Reviewed: From $59.99 for first year, then $104.99 a year. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Avira Prime (first year, 5 devices) $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $59.99 at Avira Prime (first year, 5 devices) Covers: macOS, Windows, iOS, Android Avira Prime, the paid version of Aviras free antiviral software Avira Free Security , provides several tools for the user.Avira Prime is designed around several modules (Virus Scans, Protection Options, Quarantine, VPN, Passwords, Cookie Cleaner, Identity Assistant, Junk Cleaner, Uninstaller, and Startup Apps). Each module can be customized and configured as needed. The software installs cleanly and requests permission to fully access the hard drive, which is par for the course. The Quick Scan can take less than 10 seconds, while a Full Scan took over six hours to look over 800+ gigabytes of files on a one terabyte SSD. The Custom Scan feature allows files and folders to be dropped in for quick scanning as well as external volumes to be scanned through as needed. There is a scheduler so you can program scans in advance. You can minimize Avira Prime and work with other applications as the scan continues which is lucky because the Full Scan took over six hours to complete. Avira Prime located and quarantined several minor worm files, but missed suspect files such as the Wave web browser, which has been implicated in assorted phishing scams. Cookie Cleaner module allows you to view and clean up cookie data, helpfully grouping cookies into different categories to make it easy to remove tracking and ads-based items in different browsers. Junk Cleaner reclaimed a decent 55GB of space when we tried it. Theres also an uninstaller manager for cleaning up deleted apps and managing those that start automatically. Identity Assistant can track your email addresses, phone numbers, credit cards, bank accounts, physical addresses, drivers license, and so on, to check for any illicit activity. The included Password Manager is a combination of local system and browser extensionsplus a web-based management console with its own master password. The password manager and junk files cleaner are included in both free and paid-for versions of Avira. Where Prime differs from the Free Security version is that you get full, use of the VPN service instead of a 500MB per month limit. The VPN can also block malicious website content. You can get Avira Prime here. Also consider Avira Free Security for Mac . Read our full Avira Free Security for Mac review . AV Test, December 2024: 99.5% Read our full Avira Prime review 8. Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac Pros High malware detection rate. Cons Wouldnt detect some malware in our tests. Fewer extra features compared to less-expensive competitors. Price When Reviewed: $29.95 for first year, usually $39.95 a year (1 Mac) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Trend Micro (first year, 1 device) $29.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $29.95 at Trend Micro (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS Trend Micro Antivirus isnt too challenging to use, but looks almost old-fashioned compared to many competitors. The range of functions seems quite limited compared to competitors such as Norton and Avast. For example, there is no anti-phishing function and no VPN application included in the package. There are five menu items: Overview, Web, Scans, Folder Shield, and Logs. Overview is the at-a-glance dashboard forTrend Micro Antivirus that shows that the various protections are active, the last time the app was updated and the last time a scan was run. Trend Micro offers a smart scan, custom scan, and full scan. In our tests Trend Micro had no trouble detecting most threats; however, in a few cases, it didnt detect all the malware contained in a folder until a scan had been run. Folder Shield is Trend Micros approach to ransomware protection. If an unknown program tries to change anything in certain folders, such as Documents, Music, Pictures, Movies, and Mobile Documents, Trend Micro will alert you. Trend Micros web extension boasts a privacy scanner that is supposed to check your privacy settings on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. AV Test, March 2024: 100% Read our full Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac review 9. BitMedic Pro Antivirus Pros Fast, simple to use. One-time $10/10 payment. Good external drive scanning and scheduling tools. Cons Clunky user interface. Buggy, occasional application crashes. Price When Reviewed: $9.99 (single payment) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Mac App Store (one off payment) $9.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.99 at Mac App Store (one off payment) Covers: macOS BitMedic Pro Antivirus is a good antiviral program, albeit with some shortcomings that need to be worked through, not least the fact that this hasnt been updated since 2020. The program, which retails for $9.99/9.99/CA$9.99 on the Mac App Store , features a nice complement of tools, including an Antivirus Scan module, an Adware Cleaner module, a Result Log, a Custom Scan module, a Browser Privacy module, and a System Settings module that allows you to schedule deep scans, customize system behaviors, and create a whitelist of files not to scan. Initial tests with the Antivirus Scan modules quick scan and deep scan went well and BitMedic Pro Antivirus was able to find several phishing-based emails. The application crashed twice during testing though. Frustratingly, there was a lack of specific descriptions as to what the infected files were and their full location, even after a drop-down arrow was clicked. The inclusion of an Adware Cleaner module is a nice touch it performs well, and runs quickly. The Browser Privacy module functions as a quick and easy way to clean up your history, auto logins, bookmarks, remove all extensions, and reset the preferences on your browser, but this is an all-or-nothing option and wed prefer to disable or delete individual extensions. The $10/10 price point with no subscription, is very appealing, but there are a few elements that let it down. Read our full BitMedic Pro Antivirus review 10. Sophos Home Premium for Mac Pros Reasonable protection. Reasonably priced for 10 devices. Cons Awkward web-based dashboard interface. Difficulties scanning an external or network volume. Price When Reviewed: $59.99 first year year, $99.99 for two years, and $139.99 for three years (10 devices) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Sophos (first year, 10 device) $44.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $44.99 at Sophos (first year, 10 device) Covers: macOS Sophos Home Premium is a well-rounded anti-piracy/anti-malware suite, its core modules centering around antivirus protection, web protection, ransomeware protection, and malicious traffic detection. The software is available for a good price to protect up to 10 devices. In the past Sophos offered a free version of its Home product with just the antivirus protection and website protection. That was discontinued in late 2021. There is a free 30 day trial. We had some issues installing and getting the software set up. Everything is controlled via the Menu Bar icon and a web-based dashboard and its not always clear it is running. Once youve signed in, its easy enough to customize and configure core elements such as actions that occur when malware is found, scan scheduling, and web filtering, and elements such as accessible scan logs and network file scanning. You can choose between quick scans and full scans, which can take several hours and cover the full extent of the hard drive. While the scan scheduling feature worked well, it only allows you to set schedule times set to every 30 minutes (11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, etc). Scanning an external volume such as a thumb drive or network volume feels is harder than it should. You can configure Web Filtering options to allow blocking for certain categories, such as adult content. The filters work reasonably well and its easy enough to create a whitelist to provide exceptions. Theres room for improvement. Although Sophos Home Premium functions well with macOSs GateKeeper feature and caught and filtered a respectable amount of test malware, it allowed the AdWind malware and an infected copy of Adobe Flash Player to be installed. We had to use another utility to remove the AdWind malware. Read our full Sophos Home Premium for Mac review 11. CleanMyMac Pros Easy to use and a nice interface Subscription or one-time purchase available Cons Left some adware and malware behind Price When Reviewed: $39.95/a year for 1 Mac, $119.95 for 1 Mac (one time purchase) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MacPaw (first year, 1 device) $39.95 View Deal MacPaw (one time purchase) $117.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $39.95 at MacPaw (first year, 1 device) $117.95 at MacPaw (one time purchase) Covers: macOS The thing about CleanMyMac is that it is a Mac Cleaner and optimizer first and an antivirus second, but the fact that CleanMyMacs antivirus protection is built into the suite of tools makes it worth assessing as an antivirus solution. The question is whether if you use CleanMyMac for its primary purpose, will it also protect you from malware? Looking at CleanMyMac as an antivirus tool, we found that the software offers a good level of customization, and its easy to choose between the three scan modes (Quick Scan, Balanced Scan, and Deep Scan), each of them offering quick performance as CleanMyMac scans your hard drive and external drives. Its also easy to configure scan behaviors, such as whether or not to include external drives in your scans or target .DMG files, and whitelists can also be created to exclude specific volumes and folders from the scans. In our tests results were mixed though. The software teamed up well with macOS GateKeeper feature, stopping questionable software that hasnt been signed as safe by Apple from being installed, but it was still possible to get a fair amount of malware past these systems and on to our Mac. The Quick Scan feature caught two elements from CrossRat and a threat in the form of the infamous AdWind malware. The Balanced Scan function was able to root out most of the Elite Keylogger malware. The Deep Scan feature found the remnants of the AdWind malware, but we had to dig that out with a third-party utility. CleanMyMac was able to catch some elements of malware as they were being opened for the first time, but there were questionable chunks of software that remained even after theyd purportedly been removed and the Mac had been rebooted. CleanMyMac also offered no tangible warning against visiting questionable websites and allowed us to click on every questionable link to be found in Gmails Spam folder without warning. The interface is excellent, and MacPaw makes good use of its potentially great MoonLock antiviral engine to catch a fair amount of viral activity, but it still left adware and malware behind. Read our full CleanMyMac review 12. Malwarebytes Premium Security Pros Friendly user interface. Impressive scan speed. Reliable malware removal. Cons Left some malware. Lacks custom scan feature. Features from the Windows version not included. Price When Reviewed: Standard: $44.99 a year for one device; Plus (inc VPN): $59.99 a year; Total: $94.99 a year (usually $189.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Malwarebytes (first year, 1 devices) $44.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $44.99 at Malwarebytes (first year, 1 devices) Covers: macOS Malwarebytes Premium Security for Mac offers antiviral, VPN, and Real-Time Protection features and is available at $3.75/2.50 a month for its Basic version, $5.00/4.15 a month for its Security + VPN version, and $7.92/ 6.25 a Month (down from $15.83/12.50 a month) for its Complete Protection version. Malwarebytes Premium builds from the handy free version of Malwarebytes , which has been a convenient catch-all that needs to be run manually. The paid-for version sports a bright, friendly user interface and a good array of features. It includes quick viral scans, functional scheduling for scans, decent customization elements including whitelist creation, a good VPN client, and Real-Time protection that keeps an eye on whats attempting to be installed. The software performed well, offering speedy scans. Malwarebytes was able to quarantine and remove almost all the malware I installed, although it left elements behind such as the controversial Wave web browser, an incompatible version of MacSecurity, and a fake Adobe Album application. The VPN isnt as customizable as a dedicated VPN client, but it performs well and gets the job done. There doesnt seem to be a custom scan element that allows you to easily scan an external volume such as a thumb drive, and the Real-Time Protection feature doesnt kick in and scan an external volume once its mounted, nor can you drag and drop a volume into Malwarebytes for it to scan which you can do in the Windows version of Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes offers no warnings against questionable websites and links either. Read our full Malwarebytes Premium Security review 13. ClamXAV Pros Effective antivirus protection. Cons Annual subscription for basic malware protection with no other features. Price When Reviewed: From $29.95 a year, 3 Macs Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Canimaan Software Ltd (first year, 3 devices) $29.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $29.95 at Canimaan Software Ltd (first year, 3 devices) Covers: macOS Installing ClamXAV from the ClamXAV website is quick and easy. The installation file is automatically downloaded. After the initial setup, where you need to grant permission to access the Downloads folder and modify security settings, you are all set. You can run a manual scan from the main screen, but there are several other options. A quick scan checks system files and other areas on your Mac, you can select just your hard drive to run a scan on all folders and files on the disk, and dragging and dropping a single folder or file onto the scanning pane checks it for malware. You can also select an external drive or connected USB stick for scanning. Theres also a real-time scanning componentSentrythat is always on guard. It is possible to schedule any type of scan to run on specific days and times. By default, any malicious files are automatically quarantined, but you can decide whether or not to quarantine infected files. You can open the quarantine folder to see what files were caught. ClamXAV proved effective at detecting and stopping test malware files, but theres nothing more to the program beyond the basic antivirus scanning and options. ClamXAV is certainly effective at virus scanning, but thats a capability found in many free and equally effective security products for the Mac. AV Test, September 2023: 100% Read our full ClamXav review 14. F-Secure Total for Mac Pros Includes virus protection, secure browsing, ID monitoring, a VPN, and a password vault in one package. Effective and flexible VPN. Cons Missing quick virus scan and a scheduled scan. Lacks features of the Windows version. No notification for malware infections. Price When Reviewed: From $69.99 a year (1 device) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price F-Secure (first year, 1 device) $69.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $69.99 at F-Secure (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS F-Secure Total for Mac is a simple-to-use security software suite that works on macOS, iOS, Windows and Android devices and protects your data from a wide range of threats. It includes several useful features, but lacks certain key options, especially in virus scanning. The program is $69.99/59.99 a year for one device, which is steep, but theres a free 30-day trial that requires no credit card and even gives you free technical support if you need it. Clicking the Scan button runs a full virus scan that checks your entire system, while clicking the link for Viruses & Threats takes you to another screen where you can scan just specific folders. But there are no options to run a quick scan or even to schedule a scan, unlike the Windows version which includes a quick scan. It provides real-time virus and spyware scanning to automatically block malware, and DeepGuard monitors applications for any changes indicative of a malware infection. You can set up ID monitoring to check your email address for data breaches among your online accounts. The VPN is another defense and includes tracking protection to prevent advertisers from monitoring your online activity and a kill switch to quickly cut off all internet traffic. F-Secure offers a password vault that creates and stores secure logins for all your accounts. The password vault requires an extension that supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Safari isnt yet supported. Unfortunately, F-Secure doesnt let you review blocked or deleted malicious files, and no setting allows you to quarantine files instead of removing them. F-Secures Safe (which was the old name for F-Secure Internet Security) was tested by AV-Test in June 2023 and scored 5 out of 6 for protection, 5.5 out of 6 for performance and 6 for usability. AV Test, December 2024: 100% Read our full F-Secure Total review 15. Eset Home Security Pros Good level of antiviral and real-time protection. Excellent customization and preference options. Cons Extremely slow drive scan. Didnt include the promised password manager or encryption features. Mac App Store purchase option doesnt work. Price When Reviewed: Essential: $49.99 a year for one device; Premium: $59.99 a year for one device Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ESET (first year, 1 device) $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $49.99 at ESET (first year, 1 device) Covers: macOS, Windows and Android ESET Home Security (available in Essential, Premium and Ultimate configurations) is developed by Slovakian software company ESET. The suite will protect your Macs (as well as PCs, and other smartphones and tablets, but unfortunately not iOS). We tested ESET Home Security Premium, which offers extensive antiviral and malware protection, and Real-time File System Protection, as well as a password manager, an encryption tool although it turned out the latter two were missing from the version we reviewed, which appears to be an error. The software can be downloaded from ESETs website . There is a 30-day trial available with only an email address and no credit or debit card needed. ESET Home can also be found on the U.S. version of the Mac App Store, but the download doesnt actually work. ESET Home Security Premium retails at different price points given the number of devices its installed on and the number of years you subscribe for. Its usually $59.99/44.99 for one device for one year, scaling up from there, but there are discounts from time to time which can be seen on the ESET website . The application allows for changes such as blacklists and whitelists to be created, different levels of detection and sensitivity, access to the logs and proxy servers, reactions as to new volumes being mounted, and an impressive level of customization. Scheduled scans can be set up easily, and its fairly simple to designate which areas of a local or cloud-based drive will be scanned and when. In our tests ESETs initial scan was able to locate and quarantine 18 suspect files without incident. However, issues within the software included: extremely long scan times ranging from seven to more than 24 hours to look over an internal solid-state drive, the scheduler feature failing to activate a scan, a lack of a progress bar or elapsed time readout during a scan, the softwares uninstall feature failing to install multiple times, and our copy of the ESET Home Security Premium software arriving without the advertised password manager or encryption features. While ESET Home Security Premium completes its primary task of antiviral and malware prevention, several bugs and omissions need to be fixed. Read our full Eset Home Security review Best Free Mac Antivirus Looking for a free antivirus for Mac? Here are our top five recommendations: Avast Free Antivirus AVG Antivirus for the Mac . Bitdefender Virus Scanner for Mac . Avira Free Security for Mac Intego VirusBarrier Scanner Best Mac Antivirus: Specs Comparison Developer Product name USB scan Ransomware protection Adware prevention Anti phishing protection Email protection Firewall VPN iOS version Parental Controls Support Trial Price Intego Internet Security X9 Y Y N Y N Y N Y Y Y 7 days $49.99/49.99/ ye ($24.99/20.99 /yr deal) AVG AntiVirus for Mac N N N N Y N N Y N N 60 days Free (Paid for version is $2.49 per month for one year / $2.39 a month for two-years / $2.29 a month for three-years) Norton 360 Deluxe Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 30 days $39.99/34.99/yr McAfee Total Protection Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 30 days $34.99/34.99/yr Avast Premium Security Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y N Y 60 days $44.99/39.99/yr Bitdefender Total Security Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 30 days $39.97/34.99/yr Eset Cyber Security Pro Y Y N Y Y Y N N Y Y 30 days $49.95/39.95/yr Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 30 days $39.99/49.95 Avira Prime Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y 30 days $99.99/85.99 Best Mac Antivirus: Buying Advice FAQ 1. Do Macs even need antivirus software? Plenty of Mac users will tell you that Apple computers are inherently secure and dont require protection. Wed argue that they are wrong, or at very least overconfident. Not long ago, the Silver Sparrow malware was detected on Macs powered by the M1 processor and infected hundreds of thousands of Macs. And its just one example. The bad guys are absolutely targeting Mac users and theyre getting smarter and greedier. Cyber security is something you cant afford to ignore, and good Mac antivirus will help keep you safe. Macs are generally more secure than their Windows brethren because macOS is a Unix-based operating system, which means it is sandboxed. This is like having a series of fire doors: even if malware gains access to your Mac, it is unable to spread to other areasof the machine. But while they are more difficult to exploit than Windows PCs, it is not impossible. You can read more about this topic in our article do Macs need antivirus? More general advice can be found in our Mac security tips ; and those who have been hit by a malware attack should see how to remove a virus from a Mac . 2. What features should I look for in Mac antivirus? All Mac antivirus software packages find viruses using both on-demand- and always-on protection. The former examines individual files either during scheduled scans or when you decide to run one. This can take a long time, especially if you have a lot of files, and some antivirus products will hog your Macs processor power to prioritize the scan, so its worth selecting a convenient time. Always-on malware protection protects you when a scan is not currently active. If malware arrives perhaps via an email or a downloaded file your antivirus software should detect and quarantine it. Quarantining a file involves moving it to a safe folder, allowing you to decide what to do with it. Youll typically receive a notification of the discovered malware, but some Mac antivirus products can be more informative than others in these notifications (something we keep in mind in our testing). The effectiveness of this on-demand and always-on virus protection is absolutely the most important thing when it comes to choosing Mac antivirus, but additional features may also affect your choice. Many Mac security suites now include ransomware protection. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a fee to decrypt them. An anti-ransomware feature will typically block any app from writing to a users home folders, such as Documents or Photos, unless that app has been whitelisted. Some apps, such as Microsoft Word, are pre-approved, and you can whitelist any that you trust. Web protection via browser plugins or extensions is also a common component and aims to stop you (or your children) from visiting infected websites or handing over personal information when you shouldnt. Different vendors offer different add-ons, and it is certainly a case of you get what you pay for: free products will have fewer bells and whistles, but the most comprehensive Mac security suites will include password managers, parental controls, cloud storage and more. The underlying antimalware engine will usually be the same for all security products from a particular company, so you can save money if you dont need all those extra features. 3. Should my Mac antivirus include a VPN? One of the add-ons you might find with Mac security products, although also commonly sold separately, is Mac VPN (virtual private network). For many users, these are of interest because they can mask your location and allow you to view things (like streaming series) that are otherwise off-limits in your location. But they also have a very real benefit for security, protecting your internet connection by encrypting it, which is especially useful when using public Wi-Fi networks. In this day and age we should all be using VPNs and, while wed recommend buying a dedicated Mac VPN product, one built into your antivirus software is better than nothing just be prepared to be nagged to upgrade to the full product. 4. What is the best value Mac antivirus? Value is perceived differently by all users: for some the best value Mac antivirus is the free one, and for others, it is the one that is affordable but includes the most useful add-ons. We prefer to consider value in terms of which is the best all-round offering, rather than the budget deal. That said, there are ways you can save money even on the more expensive products. Bear in mind that all antivirus for Mac apps are sold as yearly subscriptions, and often the first year has a hefty discount. When that first year is up, theres nothing stopping you switching to another product and benefiting from that discount again. Alternatively, opt for a three- or even five-year subscription to save even more money and why not: its not like viruses are going to disappear in the meantime and you wont need it. Some of the best Mac antivirus products can also cater to your other devices and not just iPads and iPhones, but also Windows and Android devices. If you have multiple devices in your household, this can present a huge saving. Take a look at our recommendations of the Best Mac Antivirus deals , which includes the cheapest options. 5. How do I spot fake Mac antivirus software? Because many of us are waking up to the idea that malware is a threat to the Mac, malware writers have made it their business to play on that fear. There have been cases of malware writers disguising their viruses as antivirus apps two notable examples are Mac Auto Fixer and MacDefender. Its important to always read reviews on reputable sites such as Macworld before installing any software on your Mac or MacBook. At the same time, dont believe everything you read. MacKeeper is a great example of an antivirus program that has got a bad rap, but its worked hard to repair its reputation. It has gained Apple Notarization, which means the software has been checked by Apple for malicious components, and the company has garnering certification from various bodies to prove it isnt a PUP (potentially unwanted program), including an AV-Test certificate. That said, we havent recommended it here, and thats simply because we feel that there are better options available. If you have already installed MacKeeper and wish to try one of our alternative recommendations, we explain How to uninstall MacKeeper . 6. What cant Mac antivirus protect you from? Using a Mac antivirus product, especially one that includes tools to improve your online privacy, may lull you into believing youre completely safe from personal and private information leaking out and that you no longer need to keep your wits about you. Thats not quite the case. While theres no reason to panic, you should still practice caution and there are a few more issues you should consider when using Mac antivirus, too. First, an antivirus for Mac product may upload the complete text of files flagged to the cloud, where it can be analyzed by separate tools hosted there. This practice is normal and sensible: some malware can detect when a running process may examine it, and will then engage in subterfuge. Antivirus software makers also can access their massive databases to examine files with characteristics that trigger their algorithms certain elements that match known malware. As a result, security researchers discover new viruses, worms, Trojans horses, and the like. However, helping the greater good means youll have to be comfortable with trusting a third-party with your file contents. Where appropriate, we noted privacy policy issues in individual reviews. Second, this software may also rely partly or entirely on cloud-based checks of URLs, malware, and the like. Accordingly, an antivirus package might upload every URL you visit, metadata about files, signatures of files, information about your computers hardware, a list of running or installed applications, and more. Companies vary on their disclosure of such policies, and may not let you opt out of this kind of sharing. We note issues in each review as appropriate. Third, antivirus software makers also get a sense of what behavior is happening on your computer thats being monitored or blocked, and may use that information for their own purposes. In some cases, you can opt out of this information gathering. 7. How we test Mac antivirus software Each software package is evaluated by creating a clean installation of macOS, cloning it for each antivirus product, and then booting separately into each one to install a different package. This is to ensure that previous app installations dont interfere with new ones sometimes antivirus software treats other antivirus software as an infection. In addition to visiting malicious websites, downloading known malicious software, and even running said malware on our Mac, we also reference the most recent reports from two labs that regularly cover macOS malware: AV Comparatives and AV-TEST . These laboratories test antivirus software against sets of known malware as well as products that are grouped as potentially unwanted applications (like adware). The latter doesnt damage or expose your computer or its files but may consume power and CPU cycles. Because the testing effectively looks at a combination of virus databases and behavior, they remain good gauges even after many months. When an antivirus for Mac software package lacks a rating from a known security research lab, we do more extensive testing with real malware. Finally, while we gave props for a lot of different features and behaviors, we mark down products if they lack any or all of the following: A nearly perfect score on macOS malware detection Ransomware monitoring Native browser plug-in or system-level Web proxy A high score on Windows malware detection

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Best cloud storage for Mac: online storage for Macs and other Apple devices

Macworld These days cloud storage is all the rage, offering the convenience of access to your digital files without having to clog up your mobile devices storage. Its also particularly useful now that so may of us work from home and need to be able to access our data outside the office. Provided youve got internet access, everything is hunky-dory. A good cloud storage solution backs up your important documents, photos, and videos, but it also helps keep all your devices in sync. Its a great way to make sure your desktop, laptop, phone, and tablet all have instant access to all your digital content. It should also allow you to access and edit documents from a web browser and easily share files and folders with others. Another reason to use a cloud service or any service that offers offsite back up for your Mac is that it protects your data if something happens at the location where your Mac and backup are located. PROMOTION Secure Cloud Storage for Growing Businesses Get ample space for all your files with Google Workspace. Enjoy up to 5 TB of secure cloud storage, plus business versions of Gmail, Calendar, Meet, and more. Now with Gemini for Workspace to boost productivity with AI. Try free for 14 days Owners of Macs, iPads and iPhones will naturally tend to favour iCloud, Apples own cloud service, because its so well integrated with those devices operating systems. Heres our full guide to using iCloud and here is iClouds current pricing structure . However, iCloud only really syncs your data and it isnt a way to back up your Mac. If you want to back up your Mac to the cloud you need to look at options like Backblaze, Carbonite and Acronis included below and in our guide to the Best Mac backup software . You may only be looking for a way to store a few items so you can access them anywhere, or so you can share them with others, in which case iCloud and other options like Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive could meet your needs. In this article, we round up all the best iCloud alternatives: the cloud storage services for Mac, iPhone and iPad that offer the most appealing combination of price, features, security and reliability. If you use Apple products, we think these are the best cloud storage solutions to which you should subscribe. We are starting with iCloud because Apples service is simple to use and mostly intuitive. Its available on all Apple products and syncs all your data as long as you have enough iCloud storage. It doesnt act as a backup for your Mac, but you can access a backup of your iPhone or iPad via iCloud. Read: Time Machine vs iCloud: Do you need to use both and can one back up to the other? Read on to find out what the alternatives offer. Apple iCloud Drive Best for Apple fans Price When Reviewed: Free (5GB), 99c (50GB), $2.99 (200GB), $9.99 (2TB), $29.99 (6TB), $59.99 (12TB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Apple (Monthly) $0.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $0.99 at Apple (Monthly) View Apple iCloud here As an Apple user, youll have heard of iCloud, but we dont blame you if you find it confusing. Its Apples own cloud-based storage system, and if you own an iPhone or iPad and have an Apple ID , youll already have 5GB free storage. Its the easiest way for those bought into the Apple ecosystem (users of iPhone, iPad and Mac) to sync contacts, notes, files, photos and more across devices and access them on all their devices. For example, you can use the Files folder on an iPhone or iPad to view all your files stored in the cloud. Because it integrates so seamlessly with all of Apples products and services, iCloud really is the best cloud storage solution for someone who is all-in with Apple. And I do mean all-in : All your computers are Macs, your mobile devices are iPhone or iPads, you work in Apples productivity software (Pages, Numbers, Notes), and so on. Frustratingly, Apple only provides a paltry 5GB of free iCloud storage, which isnt so bad if all you want to do is store some Pages and Numbers documents, but is grossly inadequate for photos and videos. Apple is years overdue for increasing this limit (Google offers 15GB free), but at the very least, it should stop counting iOS backups against it. Since the fall of 2021, Apple has offered to loan you as much iCloud storage space as you need to backup and restore your data onto a new device, for up to two weeks. Its a good feature for those buying a new Apple device, but it wont help you protect your data if your iPhone gets lost/stolen/damaged. From there, its $0.99/0.99 per month for 50GB, $2.99/2.99 for 200GB, $9.99/8.99 for 2TB, $29.99/26.99 for 6TB and $59.99/54.99 for 20GB. See: iCloud storage plans . You can enable family sharing on the 200GB and above plansif you do, it doesnt mean your family members can see all your cloud stuff. It just means your whole familys iCloud usage will count against the same storage limit. These paid tiers are branded iCloud+ and include several benefits. Theres iCloud Private Relay , free storage for HomeKit enabled security cameras, a Hide My Email feature, custom domain names for iCloud email accounts, and additional contact options for recovering your account. These are all excellent features that help solidify our view that iCloud is by far the best choice for those who are all-in on Apple devices. The main benefit of paying for more iCloud storage is that nearly all of Apples apps can seamlessly sync through it. Photos, productivity apps, Mail, Calendar, and anything you drop into your iCloud Drive folder in Finder on a Mac are immediately available across all your Apple devices. A significant number of iOS apps optionally back up and sync through iCloud, too. If you use non-Mac computers or non-iOS mobile devices from time to time, Apple provides a full suite of web apps at iCloud.com , but theyre sort of mediocre. Apple also provides an iCloud Windows app that syncs data and integrates your iCloud mail with common Windows apps like Outlook, but there are no native productivity apps for Windows or Android: If you want to edit a Pages document, you have to use the web interface. We like using iCloud, but we also pay for it. Most decent cloud services require you to pay a small fee. If youre a heavy Apple user, you might consider the Apple One service bundle . Its much more than a cloud storage solution, and thus beyond the scope of this article, but the value offered may tip the scales in iClouds favor for you. Read our full Apple iCloud review Google Drive King of Cloud Price When Reviewed: Free (15GB), $1.99 (100GB), $2.99 (200GB), $9.99 (2TB) a month. If you don't see the 200GB deal select 100GB and upgrade from that. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Google (monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1.99 at Google (monthly) View Google Drive here While the idea of using Googles tools on Apple hardware may make some squirm, its deep integration with Google Docs, Sheets, and other popular Google tools means its never been easier to share a document with a colleague, collect feedback, and make amendments. Googles system, alongside Dropbox and OneDrive, is arguably one of the most common file-sharing options. Its much more prevalent than, say, iCloud Drive, making it much more useful across multiple platforms. If your workflows and job require any degree of rapid sharing of files back and forth, its a perfect fit. Outside of work, Google Photos may also appeal as a nice backup option to have, but itll start to eat into your storage pretty quickly. That said, Google Drive does comes with a whopping 15GB of free storage thats triple what Apple offers for free oniCloud Drive. 15GB is plenty generous, but you can enjoy 100GB for just $1.99/1.59 a month, 200GB for $2.99/2.49, and 2TB for $9.99/7.99 per month. Theres even a massive 30TB for $150 a month. You can use Google Drive on Mac through a dedicated app, or via the web interface. Whether youre on Mac, iPhone, iPad, or just about any other platform, Google Drive remains the best option around. Read our full Google Drive review Box Best for businesses Price When Reviewed: Free (10GB, limited to 250MB files), $14 (100GB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Box (monthly) $14 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $14 at Box (monthly) View Box here One of the best cloud storage options for businesses, Box, has a whole host of excellent tools and is probably the most slick and well-supported cloud-based storage service weve tested, but it might go beyond a general consumers needs. Boxs incorporates a host of security options, API calls, and over 1,500 integrations across office mainstays like Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office apps and Zoom, so its an easy pick for anyone looking for a plug-and-play solution for file-sharing across larger teams. Its essentially a menu bar app that can pop out into a handy search bar to trawl through anything inside your Box folder, which will also appear in your Finder sidebar. A keyboard shortcut brings up the search bar, so Box is always just a keypress away. Theres a note section that syncs across devices and a document signing tool thats very handy if youre exchanging a lot of contracts. Its secure, too, with encryption standard across all plans and end-to-end encryption offered via Box KeySafe so users can issue their own encryption keys. The web app is fast and stable (unlike some rivals) making shifting files between folders when away from the Mac much simpler. Box offers a very generous free plan offering 10GB of storage and a 250MB file upload limit, but the next tier up is $14/11 monthly for individuals ($10/8 per month if you pay annually), which is a steep increase compared to the likes of Google Drive. Box nails just about anything you could want from a cloud storage service in 2025. Its fast, secure, and gets out of the way when you need it to, making it an easy pick for businesses. Read our full Box (Cloud Storage) review pCloud Budget-friendly cloud storage Price When Reviewed: Annual: $59.88 (currently $49.99) for 500GB for a year; $119.88 (currently $99.99) for 2TB; Lifetime: $299 (currently $199) for 500GB; or $599 (currently $399) for 2TB; $1,890 (currently $1,190) 10TB Best Prices Today: Retailer Price pCloud (annually) $59.88 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $59.88 at pCloud (annually) View pCloud here pCloud will let you upload and sync files on your Mac, so you can point it at a specific location and know itll keep things up to date. Its a nice, hands-free backup option to have switched on just in case you need it. Youll get access to 4GB of free storage, which is less than were used to, but can be raised to can be raised to 10GB if you invite friends. There are varied annual prices, ranging from $49.99 a year for 500GB, and lifetime options from $299. pClouds web app is clean and easy-to-navigate. You can store and share all types of files, and set a directory or a local folder on your Mac to keep backed up. Media plays well within pCloud. Saved a video? Youll be able to watch it via the in-window player, and the same can be said for audio and images, too. pCloud is pretty fantastic as an alternative to some of the usual suspects. If youre looking for lifetime cloud storage, pCloud is well worth a look. Its also easy to use and has some great extra features that could make it a dream for big libraries of home movies and pictures. Read our full pCloud review IDrive Online backup Price When Reviewed: Basic: Free; IDrive Mini: $2.95 (100GB) | $9.95 (500GB) a year; IDrive Personal: $69.65 (5TB) a year Best Prices Today: Retailer Price iDrive (Annually) $2.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $2.95 at iDrive (Annually) View IDrive here. lDrive is an online backup service like Backblaze and Carbonite, although it differs from them in a number of ways. Firstly, it has a free tier you can back up 5GB without paying anything. After that, though, its more expensive than either its competitors. Currently, the annual charge for the Personal tier is $59.62 (approx 46) for the first year and $79.50/year (approx 61) after that, but that only allows you to backup 5TB of data, while Backblaze and Carbonite allow unlimited data. However, that 5TB can be spread across multiple computers, whereas Backblaze and Carbonite limit you to one computer. Also, if you prefer to restore by having data physically shipped to you, lDrive provides that for free for the first restore each year though if youre outside the US youll have to pay for the shipping. Like Backblaze, lDrive also allows you to back up external hard drives. Even with external drives backing up, its unlikely most people will breach the 5TB limit bearing in mind that youre not backing up applications or system files. Features like Rewind and Snapshots allow you to restore from earlier versions of files or snapshots of the complete data set. And all data is encrypted, with the option to set your own private encryption key. lDrives user interface makes using it very straightforward. Your Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures folders are automatically selected for backup, along with the contents of ~/Library/Mail. To add other folders, click Change at the bottom of the window thats not exactly intuitive. You can add videos to the backup, but locating them in lDrives interface takes a great deal of doing. Both scheduling and restoring are straightforward, however. As is choosing a local drive as the destination for a backup in place of lDrives servers. lDrives free tier and the ability to spread your data allocation in the paid tiers across multiple computers makes it attractive. Overall, though, its expensive for a single machine. Read our full IDrive review Backblaze A good solution for offsite backup Price When Reviewed: $99 a year, $9 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Backblaze (yearly) $99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $99 at Backblaze (yearly) View Backblaze here . Offerings like OneDrive, Google Drive, and even Apples own iCloud Drive offer a cloud-based storage area that can also be used to share files between users, usually with a link to a specific spot. Others, like Backblaze (and IDrive and Carbonite) are storage services in the strictest term. Backblaze takes your data, ferries it off-site, and backs up your Mac to its servers. Its not for quickly sharing a document or collaborating on a piece of work, its for recovering data you may lose if something happens to your local machine. While you could share a file with Backblaze, doing so requires using Backblazes separate B2 Cloud Storage service which, admittedly, comes with flexible, pay-as-you-go options. Backblaze backs up the contents of your Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music folders, but excludes your Applications folder. You can view and share backed up files on an iPhone or iPad with the Backblaze mobile app. Backups are incremental so only files that have changed since it last ran are copied. Backups are encrypted and kept for 30 days. When it comes to restoring your data you can restore via Backblazes web interface or you can have files sent to you on a USB stick or hard drive for an additional (refundable) fee. A Find My-like Locate your Computer service tracks your Macs location to help you find it if its stolen. The Mac can tell you its current IP address and show you recently backed-up data. If you need an offsite back up of your Mac, Backblazes simplicity and price give it the edge over Carbonite and IDrive. Read our full Backblaze review Microsoft OneDrive Cloud storage home workers Price When Reviewed: Free (5GB), $1.99 (100GB), $6.99 (1TB) a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Microsoft (monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $1.99 at Microsoft (monthly) View Microsoft OneDrive here If you need a cloud plan for a family or small team, and youre already leaning on Microsofts Office apps, then OneDrive is a great option. One of the best parts of OneDrive is that it opens up the Office ecosystem, both for Mac and iPhone or iPad. With access to Microsoft mainstays like Word, Excel, and with those apps using OneDrive to sync across platforms, its got potential for the workplace or for families with kids working on school projects. If youre not keen on Google Docs or Sheets, or Apples Pages and Numbers, having Word and Excel documents spread across your devices could be a huge boon. The 5GB base storage is painfully low for free users (although still better thanDropboxs2GB). Microsoft clearly wants to nudge you to one of its paid plans. You can spend$99.99/79.99per year to get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more, with 1TB storage per person for up to six people (6TB total). Alternatively, the Microsoft 365 Personal version with 1TB storage costs $69.99/59.99 a year, and Microsoft 365 Basic is $19.99/19.99 a year for 100GB cloud storage. Whichever option you go for, OneDrive is a model citizen when it comes to macOS. The app is lightweight and sits in Finder for you to drag and drop as you see fit. While its not as intuitive as Google Drive, if youre using Microsoft Office to any degree youll find a lot to like. Read our full OneDrive review Dropbox the original cloud syncing service Price When Reviewed: Free (2GB), $9.99 a month for a year (2TB, $119.88 paid up front), $11.99 a month (2TB, paid monthly) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Dropbox (monthly) $9.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.99 at Dropbox (monthly) View Dropbox here No discussion of cloud storage solutions would be complete without discussing the company that popularized consumer cloud syncing: Dropbox . Dropbox is the app that kickstarted the cloud storage arms race , but in recent years it has been usurped somewhat. A stalwart for many modern workflows, Dropbox remains a reliable way to sync data and files to the cloud, but it gets harder to recommend if you are looking to share files with others, as a backup solution, or as a means to access your content from wherever you are. It just doesnt offer any must-have features and rivals have much more generous free tiers. The paltry 2GB starting offering is way behind Googles 15GB. The next their up is 2TB for $11.99/9.99 per month (billed monthly), or $9.99/7.99 a month if you pay for a year upfront. Its a big leap with no options in between. There is some good. Dropbox offer a sizeable drop-down window so you can see more information about recently uploaded and updated files, compared to the basic menu bar apps of the competition. Features like PDF signing are useful additions. Unfortunately, Dropbox just doesnt feel as straightforward to use as many other cloud storage services. Read our full Dropbox review Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office Price When Reviewed: From $49.99 a year 1 Mac, no cloud storage; Advanced: $57.99 a year, 1 Mac 50GB cloud storage; Premium: $124.99 a year, 1 Mac, 1TB cloud storage Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $9.56 View Deal Acronis $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $9.56 at Amazon $39.99 at Acronis View Acronis here . Acronis True Image for Mac, functions as both a customizable backup utility as well as an antiviral/anti-malware app. It starts at $49.99/42.99 per year for one computer with local backup and anti-ransomware. The software installed easily and was configured for full disk access without hassle. It is centered around Backup, Protection, Disk Cloning, and Archive modules. the Backup module allows you to designate source and destination volumes as well as choose which files are backed up and to where. Its easy to create exclusion lists as to which files can by bypassed when it comes to backing up, and the scheduling feature worked well. The Backup module also leads to True Images Acronis Survival Kit, which allows for a bootable backup drive to be created that your Mac can boot and install a new operating system from. Disk Cloning module works well, and makes quick copies of volumes as needed. the Archive module allows you to offload local data to Acronis cloud structure, which is handy for freeing up local space The Protection module offered a good degree of antiviral protection, catching no less than 23 potential threats from a sample archive off the bat. During our testing there were bugs that couldnt be avoided and user interface elements that were either inconvenient or needed a complete overall. Carbonite Safe Price When Reviewed: $71.99 per year (Basic) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Carbonite $71.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $71.99 at Carbonite View Carbonite here . Carbonite is very similar to Backblaze in that it allows you to back up your Mac to remote servers and recover files when you need to. Like Backblaze, you sign up for an account and download a Mac application, and it automatically selects files to download. Also like Backblaze, Carbonite doesnt back up applications or system files. One key difference is that Carbonites basic plan doesnt automatically back up the contents of your Movies folder either although you can select videos manually to be backed up. Neither does Carbonite back up the contents of external drives. Files are protected with 128-bit encryption, but theres no option to add your own password. Restoring data is done online, using the Carbonite application the option to ship media containing your data is only available within the US. And you can restore from any backup run within the last 30 days, allowing you to roll back to earlier versions of files. The Carbonite mobile app allows you to view and download files to an iPhone or iPad. Carbonite is very simple to use. In fact, it almost feels too simple. Download the app, install it and launch it, and Carbonite starts backing up your Documents and Pictures folders straight away. In the left-hand sidebar, theres a list of volumes and the main user folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music). By clicking on those you can select files to be backed up or excluded. Restoring files is just as easy. If you want to restore a complete backup, click the Restore option in the sidebar and choose whether to download files to a folder or put them back where they were originally. To restore individual files and folders, navigate to them using the folders in the sidebar and choose the download option. Carbonite, at the time of writing starts at $71.99 (approx 55) per year for a single computer. If you want to back up external drives and back up videos automatically, that jumps to $111.99 (approx 86). That makes it expensive compared to its nearest competitors. Cloud storage for Mac: Prices compared The cloud storage option you should choose depends largely on how much youre willing to pay. If you want free space, Google crushes the competition with 15GBMicrosoft and Apple both need to up their game. The 100GB for $1.99 level is a good deal for most people and equals the capacity Microsoft gives you with OneDrive. Apples iCloud gives you 200GB for $2.99, which is the minimum youre going to have to spend if you plan to back up iOS devices to the cloud along with photos and videos. Google matches Apples price and storage at this level. Theres a $0.99 tier below that, but even 50GB will fill up fast when youre backing up your iPhone and all its photos and videos. If you want to spend ten bucks a month, youll get 2TB from either Google or Apple, but Microsoft will give you six accounts with 1TB each, plus Office apps. Thats a sweet deal. Dropboxs 2GB is the worst free tier, and its cheapest paid tier is $11.99 a month and doesnt even include all of Dropboxs features. Tier iCloud Google One Drive Microsoft One Drive Box pCloud DropBox Free 5GB 15GB 5GB 10GB 10GB 2GB 50GB 99c / 99p 100GB $1.99 / 1.59 $1.99 / 1,99 $4.50 / 5.50 200GB $2.99 / 2.99 $2.99 / 2.49 500GB $4.99 / 4.99 1TB $6.99 / 5.99 2TB $9.99 / 8.99 $9.99 / 7.99 $9.99 / 9.99 $9.99 / 7.99 For more advice about the best storage for your Mac take a look at the following: Best SSD for Mac Best hard drive for Mac Best NAS drive for Mac

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Wankhede, since 1974: Celebrating 50 glorious years of the iconic stadium!

The iconic Wankhede stadium celebrates Golden Jubilee this year. It has been a historic landmark for cricket witnessing some of the biggest moments of the sport. The ground situated off Marine Drive near South Mumbai, has seen extraordinary brilliance that will forever remain etched in our memories with history been made time and again. Here is a look at some of the finest encounters that are gonna be unmatched, a class apart as they only belong to the Wankhede: 50 years of Wankhede is hitting with nostalgia bringing alive all the fantastic triumphs, be it MS Dhoni finishing it off with that six up in the air at the 2011 World Cup final or the 1991 Ranji trophy final or the most recent India Semifinal victory for the 2023 World cup. Let us catch upon these one by one- Starting with the December 1979 test between neighboring rivals India and Pakistan. Pakistan had toured India in the season 1979-80 where they played six tests against hosts. The Sunil Gavaskar led India won the series 2-0. The third test played at Wankhede was won by India by 131 runs. India put up a target of 334 runs and restricted Pakistan to 173 runs in 68.3 overs. Then the 1991 Ranji trophy final , nothing less of a thrill between Mumbai and Haryana. The former could come close enough, falling two runs short of its victory. In the first innings for Haryana, Deepak Sharma scored a terrific 199 runs. On the other side, Dilip Vengasarkar fought valiantly with an unbeatable 139 for Mumbai while chasing down in the second innings. The loss was big for Mumbai, Dilip Vengasarkar weeped like a child. Three years later, the 1993 - 94 Ranji trophy which was won by Mumbai after a wait of 10 long years. The young team of players was led by Ravi Shastri, which faced a very experienced Bengaluru in the final with players like Ashok Malhotra, Arun Lal and Sourav Ganguly. It stands as the second best for India and the fourth best in the world. Then comes, another Ranji trophy final played between Mumbai and Tamil Nadu in 2002 - 03 . The 69 th season of the prestigious tournament was won by Mumbai, where it defeated Tamil Nadu by 141 runs. It was this year, when the elite and plate divisions were introduced in Ranji trophy. Another superb win came for Mumbai in the 2007 Ranji trophy final against Bengal at Wankhede. Mumbai clinched the title for the 37 th time. Here, Zaheer Khan led the state to victory taking 9 wickets in two innings. Rohit Sharma, Wasim Jaffer and Sachin Tendulkar scored major runs for the team. Mumbai won by a massive 132 runs taking the title back home. Who can forget the 2011 ODI World Cup final ? It was when India was on the chasing side following a target of 275 runs. The Indian openers fell off early, then Gautam Gambhir took the responsibility scoring 97 runs, and a youngster Virat Kohli adding 35 to the scoreboard. Then came MS Dhoni (91) and Yuvraj Singh (21) standing tall and fierce. With four balls still remaining, MS Dhoni hit off the six achieving the target and landing at 277 runs. Chants of Vande Mataram echoed the stadium, already in the celebratory fervor. This memory will forever be iconic for everyone, be it the cricketers, the fans, the administrators or the journalists. No one can ever deny this fact for sure, and its been scripted in the history! Let us also consider the very recent 2023 World Cup semi - final win of India against New Zealand that was again, at the Wankhede. India had put up a target of 397 runs at the loss of four wickets, with some amazing show with the bat by Virat Kohli (117), Shreyas Iyer (105), Shubhman Gill (80), Rohit Sharma (47) and KL Rahul (39). Apart from this, what led India to an enormous victory by 70 runs was the Mohammad Shamis 7 wicket haul. His class bowling could restrict New Zealand to 327 only. Did you know that the Wankhede stadium has also hosted the Hockey World Cup ? That means the stadium is significant not only for Cricket, but also for the national game of the country, Hockey as well. Even though Pakistan lost to India in 1979 test, it still has pleasant memories of winning the 1982 Hockey World cup against Germany. The Wankhede stadium with the Bombay Hockey Association hosted the tournament, notably which was the last of its kind to be played on grass. Well, India and Pakistan didnt face one another during the tournament being in separate pools. The Celebrations The Mumbai Cricket Association is holding a 7- day programme to celebrate the 50 -year milestone of the Wankhede stadium. It will organize various celebrations and events with some heartfelt tributes marking the momentous journey of Wankhede. Kick starting on January 12, there was an exciting cricket match played between MCA officials and a team of consul generals and bureaucrats. On Wednesday, the MCA honored the 1974 team of Mumbai that was the first one to play a Ranji match at the ground. There are 8 surviving recipients of the team to an award of Rs.10 lakhs each, including Sunil Gavaskar, Farokh Engineer, Karsan Ghavri, Ajit Pai, Padmalkar Shivalkar, Milind Rege, Abdul Ismail and Rakesh Tandon. The team rose to win the biggest domestic cricket tournament for 15 times in a row. In the morning ceremony, MCA also honored its workers at the grassroot level, the grounds men. It recognized around 175 ground staff members including curators. Followed with a grand celebration hosted by BCCI on the day itself, i.e. 19 th January 2025. The event will be held at the Wankehede Stadium from 6:00 pm onwards in the presence of some of the legendary cricket players of the Indian team including the former and current greats who have represented Mumbai. These include Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengasarkar, Ravi Shastri, Sachin Tendulkar, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. Cricket stalwart like late Ajit Wadekar was also from the city of dreams. The evening will also have special live performances by Ajay-Atul and Avdhoot that will enhance the spirit and energy of the stadiums rich history and significance. And, the new trend of laser show will also be organized for the audience. Additionally, a coffee table book and a commemorative postal stamp will also be released. Rohit Sharma had a special recorded message for the occasion which was shared by MCA on its X handle. He said, Hello everyone. On 19 th of January this month, Wankhede will be celebrating its 50 th anniversary. Its a very, very proud moment for all the Mumbaikars especially who are involved in Mumbai cricket for so many years. Personally for me, I have a very, very special connection with this ground. So many memories. I started playing my age group cricket at this very venue. And since then, till now, its been a wonderful journey. With this, the Wankhede Stadium will embark on a new eventful journey in its coming era after 50 years. The evolution and the journey has been remarkable till now, and shall be more glorious in the years that follow. Let us be a part of the celebrations and gear up for more victories at the stadium!

Make 2025 the year where those annoying ads and pop-ups are *finally* gone

Macworld You probably spent more time than you could imagine in 2024 closing out of pesky ads and pop-ups. Want to make your browsing, shopping, or gaming experience better? Youll want to add iProVPN to the mix to banish ads for goodand protect yourself and your device from malware and IP leaks. 2025 might just be the year where your online experience gets the upgrade it deserves, at least if you grab iProVPN while a one-year plan is price-dropped to $9.99 (reg. $28). Youll be able to protect up to 10 devices , including Mac, PC, Android, iOS, and desktops. Say bye-bye to ads and pop-ups for good since this VPN can eliminate almost any kind and block malicious domains to ensure your YouTube streaming and Reddit scrolling remains uninterrupted. iProVPN never logs or tracks your online activity, either. Your data is protected with military-grade encryptionAES 256-bitso bad actors cant access it. Heres another reason why youll want this VPN: it lets you bypass geo-restrictions so you can rewatch The Office or Rick and Morty , even if theyre not available on Netflix U.S. 2025 is the year you can ditch interruptions and geo-restrictions for good. Grab this $9.99 iProVPN one-year subscription while supplies last! iProVPN 1-Year Subscription Only $9.99 at Macworld StackSocial prices subject to change.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to play Ranji Trophy? Here's how both stalwarts performed in their last domestic game

Attention is focused on Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the second phase of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 approaches.

Halwara airport nears completion: 100% civil works finished, flights to begin soon

Deputy Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal announced the completion of all civil work at Ludhiana's Halwara Airport terminal. Collaboration with IAF is accelerating final connectivity tasks. Air India plans to commence flights post regulatory approvals. The new airport aims to drive industrial growth, boost employment, and enhance various sectors such as real estate and exports.

Three Rajasthan-based universities debarred from awarding PhD degrees for not following UGC rules

NEW DELHI: Three Rajasthan-based universities, that failed to follow provisions of PhD regulations and academic norms for the award of degrees, have been debarred for five years, the University Grants Commission (UGC) announced Thursday. These three universities - OPJS University, Churu; Sunrise University, Alwar, and Singhania University, Jhunjhunu - have been debarred from awarding Ph.D degrees for five years 2025-26 to 2029-30. Speaking to The New Indian Express , UGC Chairman Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar said that the commission is also assessing the quality of PhD programmes in other universities. We are also in the process of checking the quality of PhD programs in a few other universities. If they are found to violate the PhD regulations, action will be taken against them too, he said. The UGC Chairman said that universities should be committed to maintaining the highest standards in PhD programmes. UGC will take appropriate action against institutions that fail to follow UGC's PhD regulations. It is necessary to single out such erring institutions and prevent them from admitting Ph.D students. We should ensure that the integrity and global reputation of Indian higher education remain uncompromised, he added. In a public notice on Thursday, UGC Secretary Prof. Manish Joshi, said, a standing committee has been constituted by the UGC to monitor whether universities are following the procedure and awarding PhD degrees in accordance with the UGC regulations. One of the mandates of the standing committee is to suggest corrective measures and recommend action to be taken against erring universities. He said after examining the information submitted by the universities, the standing committee has found that three universities do not follow the provisions of the UGC PhD regulations and also the academic norms for the award of PhD degrees. These universities were given an opportunity to explain why they failed to comply with the provisions of the UGC PhD Regulations, however, the responses received from these universities were not found satisfactory, the notice added. The standing committee has, thus, recommended that the UGC may debar these Universities from enrolling PhD students for the next five years, the notice said. The three universities have been informed about the UGC decision and have been directed to immediately discontinue enrolling PhD students. Prospective students and parents are hereby advised not to take admission in the PhD programme offered by the three universities from now onwards, UGC said. In the absence of UGC approval, PhD awarded by the three universities shall not be treated recognized/valid for higher education and employment, it further said.

UGC debars three universities from enrolling scholars under Ph.D. program

New Delhi: University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken strict action against three univiersities which are found to be compromising the integrity of the Ph.D. degree. These institutions have been barred from admitting new Ph.D. students for the next five years. This is a strong message to all universities that maintaining rigorous academic standards is non-negotiable for UGC. A public notice by the UGC has been put out in the public domain and UGC has communicated this decision to the universities separately. The universities include-- OPJS University, Churu, Sunrise University, Alwar, Rajasthan and Singhania University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. We urge prospective students and their families to exercise due diligence when selecting a university for doctoral studies. Verify the UGC recognition status of the programme and institution before applying, the UGC stated. University Grants Commission has taken strict action against 3 universities who are found to be compromising the integrity of the Ph.D. degree. These institutions have been barred from admitting new Ph.D. students for the next five years. This is a strong message to all pic.twitter.com/C3IwU7sIBY UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) January 16, 2025

Congress is fighting Indian State, says Rahul, BJP attacks him

New Delhi: A war of words has broken out between the BJP and the Congress over the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's frontal attack on the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Inaugurating the new party office in the national capital, Mr Gandhi hit out at Mr Bhagwat, saying that the RSS chief's remark that India got Independence after the Ram temple was built amounts to treason. Mr Gandhi asserted that besides the BJP and the RSS, the Congress is ow fighting the Indian state itself, giving the BJP an opportunity to hit back, claiming the Congress' ugly truth is out. In his address to the Congress leaders, Mr Gandhi said that in any other country, he (Mr Bhagwat) would have been arrested and tried. To say that India did not get Independence in 1947 is an insult to every single Indian and it's about time we stop listening to this nonsense that these people think they can just keep parroting out and shouting and screaming, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said, adding, The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself. Joining Mr Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned Mr Bhagwat's remarks. It is a matter of shame that even though we got Independence in 1947, they are not acknowledging it because they did not struggle for it, go to jail and therefore they do not remember. We remember because our people died for independence and struggled for it, he said. Retaliating, the BJP claimed that by saying that the Congress' ugly truth has been exposed. BJP president J.P. Nadda alleged on X that it is not a secret that Mr Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with urban naxals and the deep state who want to defame, demean and discredit India. He said Mr Gandhi's repeated actions have also strengthened this belief. Everything he has done or said has been in the direction of breaking India and dividing our society, the BJP chief said. Hidden no more, the Congress' ugly truth now stands exposed by their own leader, Mr Nadda said, adding, I 'compliment' Mr Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows -- that he is fighting the Indian state! The BJP also attacked the Congress over the choice of name of its new headquarters. The saffron party claimed that naming it Indira Bhawan has clearly unmasked the fact that for the Congress only the dynastic family comes first. The Congress did dirty politics over the samman (honour) of (former PM) Manmohan Singh, but now, despite a huge demand to name their new headquarters after Manmohan Singh, they ignored him and named it after Indira Gandhi. Shameful mindset to abuse and insult the Sikh community and always practice 'Family First'. Narsimha Rao Ji, Ambedkar Ji, Pranab Da and all stalwarts insulted by the Congress, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X. Reacting to the BJP attack, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said the name Indira Bhawan was accepted by all party leaders. Indira Bhawan is accepted by all. No one from Manmohan Singh's family has any objection to it, he said. Veteran Congress leader Pawan Bansal said the name of the new Congress headquarters was decided 10 years ago. Now there should be no controversy regarding the name, he said. The Congress moved to its new headquarters on Kotla Road from 24, Akbar Road which had been its home for nearly five decades and has witnessed the party's political and electoral ups and downs. Sonia Gandhi, along with Mr Kharge, inaugurated the new office by cutting the ceremonial ribbon after the national anthem. Mr Gandhi and other senior functionaries were also present.

Sonia Gandhi inaugurates Congress new Kotla Road headquarters Indira Bhawan

The new state-of-the-art AICC headquarters Indira Gandhi Bhawan - symbolises the Congress party's continuing mission to uphold the vision of its stalwarts, the party had earlier said

Sonia Gandhi Inaugurates Cong's New HQ

New Delhi: Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the party's new headquarters located at 9A, Kotla Road here on Wednesday, marking a key moment in the history of the grand old party which has operated from the 24, Akbar Road premises for the last 47 years.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal, among other senior party leaders, were present on the occasion. @kharge , CPP @RahulGandhi ' ' , , pic.twitter.com/dBwTwOIz8G Congress (@INCIndia) January 15, 2025 The event saw party leaders hoist the party flag at the new headquarters and the singing of Vande Matram and the national anthem. Sonia Gandhi then inaugurated the building, asking Kharge to join her in cutting the ribbon at the entry of the building. The new state-of-the-art AICC headquarters -- Indira Gandhi Bhawan - symbolises the Congress party's continuing mission to uphold the vision of its stalwarts, the party had earlier said. It is time for us to move ahead with the times and embrace the new,AICC general secretary, organisation, Venugopal had said. The construction of Indira Gandhi Bhawan was started during Sonia Gandhi's tenure as Congress chief. Situated at 9A, Kotla Road, New Delhi, the Indira Gandhi Bhawan is designed to meet the evolving needs of the party and its leaders, featuring modern facilities to support administrative, organisational, and strategic activities. This iconic building reflects the Congress party's forward-looking vision while paying homage to its extraordinary past, which has shaped the political and social fabric of India, he had said. Sources have said the party will not vacate its present 24, Akbar Road office, which has been its headquarters since 1978 after the Congress (I) was formed, and it will continue to house some of its cells. The construction of the new AICC headquarters was delayed by several years owing to paucity of funds ever since the Congress lost its government at the Centre. The BJP has also not vacated its old party headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road, even after shifting to its new headquarters at Deendayal Upadhyay Marg. Congress old-timers and romantics agree that modern amenities and a larger area are the need of the hour but the emotional connect and unfolding of history associated with the 24, Akbar Road address will always stay strong. The Akbar Road bungalow once housed Sir Reginald Maxwell, who was a member of Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's executive council. It was also home to a teen Aung San Suu Kyi in 1961 when her mother was appointed ambassador to India. The Congress has been its mainstay though. More than just an office for the party, the premises set in expansive lawns was witness to the tenure of seven Congress presidents.

Sonia Gandhi inaugurates new Congress headquarters at Kotla Road, New Delhi

NEW DELHI: Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the party's new headquarters located at 9A, Kotla Road here on Wednesday, marking a key moment in the history of the grand old party which has operated from the 24, Akbar Road premises for the last 47 years. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal, among other senior party leaders, were present on the occasion. The event saw party leaders hoist the party flag at the new headquarters and the singing of Vande Matram and the national anthem. Sonia Gandhi then inaugurated the building, asking Kharge to join her in cutting the ribbon at the entry of the building. The new state-of-the-art AICC headquarters -- Indira Gandhi Bhawan - symbolises the Congress party's continuing mission to uphold the vision of its stalwarts, the party had earlier said. It is time for us to move ahead with the times and embrace the new, AICC general secretary, organisation, Venugopal had said, The construction of Indira Gandhi Bhawan was started during Sonia Gandhi's tenure as Congress chief. Situated at 9A, Kotla Road, New Delhi, the Indira Gandhi Bhawan is designed to meet the evolving needs of the party and its leaders, featuring modern facilities to support administrative, organisational, and strategic activities. This iconic building reflects the Congress party's forward-looking vision while paying homage to its extraordinary past, which has shaped the political and social fabric of India, he had said. Sources have said the party will not vacate its present 24, Akbar Road office, which has been its headquarters since 1978 after the Congress (I) was formed, and it will continue to house some of its cells. The construction of the new AICC headquarters was delayed by several years owing to paucity of funds ever since the Congress lost its government at the Centre. The BJP has also not vacated its old party headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road, even after shifting to its new headquarters at Deendayal Upadhyay Marg. Congress old-timers and romantics agree that modern amenities and a larger area are the need of the hour but the emotional connect and unfolding of history associated with the 24, Akbar Road address will always stay strong. The Akbar Road bungalow once housed Sir Reginald Maxwell, who was a member of Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's executive council. It was also home to a teen Aung San Suu Kyi in 1961 when her mother was appointed ambassador to India. The Congress has been its mainstay though. More than just an office for the party, the premises set in expansive lawns was witness to the tenure of seven Congress presidents. Congress moves to new headquarters as '24, Akbar Road' ends 47-year history

US removes malware allegedly planted on computers by Chinese-backed hackers

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Jacqueline Fernandez In Her Desi Avatar! Stuns In A Casual Pink Salwar Kameez | N18S

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Pregnant Bengal Police Personnel Can Now Wear Khaki Salwar-Kameez On Duty, Women Cops Hail Move

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How stalwarts interpret a raga?

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Ram Charans Game Changer Rakes in 25 Crore Despite Mixed Reviews

The much-anticipated film Game Changer, starring Ram Charan, opened strongly on its first day in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, raking in 25 crore. Marking Ram Charans return to the big screen after five years, the film was heavily hyped and aimed to deliver a blockbuster. Ram Charan proved his box office stamina, drawing large crowds even for a film that was in production for three years, said a distributor. He added, The movie needs to capitalise on the upcoming holidays to sustain its collections in the days ahead. Director Shankar made his Telugu debut with this film after achieving success with his dubbed movies in the region. Shankar, known for his commercial hits, was praised by industry stalwarts like Pawan Kalyan and Rajamouli ahead of the release, the distributor remarked. However, for his Telugu debut, he could have chosen a script more in sync with the preferences of the new-age audience. Mixed Reception and Audience Feedback Mega fans turned out in large numbers, filling 4 a.m. shows across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Despite the enthusiasm, the film received mixed reactions in certain areas. The Ram Charan-Shankar combination sparked immense interest, but the movies political action theme dampened the spirits of some audiences, a trade analyst observed. Shankar seems stuck in the 90s, unable to cater to millennial viewers. The analyst further noted, Shankar, who delivered a groundbreaking film like Robo, chose to showcase an IAS officer as the protagonist in Game Changer. Unfortunately, this approach felt outdated to Telugu audiences who have already seen numerous political dramas. Challenges Ahead With two more films, Daaku Maharaaj and Sankranthiki Vasthunam, slated to release within the next few days, Game Changer faces stiff competition. To break even, the film must earn over 100 crore in the Telugu states alone. The coming days will determine whether Game Changer can sustain its momentum and live up to its ambitious expectations.

IMD warns of rain, hailstorm in parts of Rajasthan

Jaipur: The India Meteorological Department has forecast rain and hailstorms in around 15 districts of Rajasthan on Friday. A Western Disturbance will be active in the districts of the Bikaner division late Friday evening, bringing light rain, the weather office said. Bikaner, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Dausa, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Sharad Pawar praises RSS commitment to its ideology, seeks similar dedication for his party's ideals

MUMBAI: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has praised the RSS for dedication to its ideology and urged his party to create a worker base with commitment to progressive thoughts of Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, BR Ambedkar and political stalwart Yeshwantrao Chavan. Addressing party workers at a meeting in south Mumbai on Thursday, the former Union minister noted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has committed cadres who show unwavering loyalty to the Hindutva organisation's ideology and do not deviate from their path at any cost. We, too, should have such a cadre base which is committed to the ideology of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, BR Ambedkar and Yashwantrao Chavan, Pawar said. Reflecting on the Nationalist Congress Party (SP)'s severe drubbing in the November assembly polls in Maharashtra, he said, We became complacent after the Lok Sabha election success, while the ruling alliance (BJP-led Mahayuti) took immediate steps to contain its reverses in the parliamentary polls. The Sharad Pawar-led party put up a good performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra held in April-May, winning eight of the 10 seats it contested. However, in the November assembly polls, the party could win just 10 of the nearly 90 seats where it fielded candidates. We failed to communicate to the OBCs (a major vote bank) what we did for their uplift, the former CM noted. He stressed the need for social engineering to end the caste divide in Marathwada, the epicentre of the Maratha quota movement, especially after the death of a Dalit man in judicial custody in Parbhani district and the brutal murder of a village sarpanch in Beed district. Both districts are located in Marathwada, a region in central Maharashtra. Such a situation prevailed even during the Marathwada university renaming controversy, but I went to the university and interacted with all stakeholders, recalled Pawar, who was the Maharashtra CM at the time. Similar steps for engaging with people and social engineering strategy were needed now, he asserted. Pawar declared that 50 percent of the tickets will be allotted by his party to new faces for upcoming local bodies elections in the state. He also indicated that the organisation will be overhauled to strengthen the party. The NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) is a key constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Year of uncertainty looms ahead for Indian cricket

It does not need a Nostradamus to see that the Indian cricket teams prospects in 2025 look uncertain. The team is undergoing a phase of transition. The old stalwarts are very likely to bow out and the new stars must step into their shoes. Its not just Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who will make Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Revenue officer arrested on charges of accepting bribe in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team in Jaipur have arrested Revenue Officer Yuvraj Meena outside the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on the charges of demanding and accepting bribe. Meena, currently posted at the Alwar Municipal Corporation, was apprehended during a sting operation by the ACB team. It was revealed that Meena is a cousin of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer who was part of the team that arrested former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a liquor scam. According to ACB officials, Revenue Officer Meena had demanded a bribe of 3 lakh to expedite the processing of a private company's file related to a municipal contract. The companys representative filed a complaint, prompting the ACB to set up a trap to catch him red-handed. ASP Omprakash Kilaniya said, The accused instructed the company representative to deliver the bribe money near the Legislative Assembly. Around 8 pm on Tuesday, Meena arrived at the location along with an associate. While Meena remained inside the car, his associate collected the money from the complainant. The ACB team immediately arrested both individuals. Further investigations revealed that the company had won a tender for collecting Urban Development (UD) tax in Alwar during October-November but faced delays in the approval of their file due to Meena's demands for a bribe. Following the arrest, the ACB conducted searches at Meena's residence in Jaipur and his office in Alwar, recovering documents and other evidence. The operation continued until early Wednesday morning. ASP Abhishek Pareek reiterated the ACBs commitment to combating corruption, stating, We urge the public to report any instance of bribery or corruption. Immediate action will be taken against offenders. The ACB has assured that its crackdown on corruption will persist, aiming to ensure transparency and accountability in public administration.

'No possibility of trial concluding in near future': HC grants bail to Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale in Elgar Parishad case

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to researcher Rona Wilson and activist Sudhir Dhawale, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, noting that they were in jail since 2018 and the trial was yet to start. A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Kamal Khata said the two had spent more than six years in jail as under-trial prisoners. They are in jail since 2018. Even the charges in the case are yet to be framed. The prosecution has cited over 300 witnesses, and thus there is no possibility of the trial to conclude in the near future, the court said. A trial starts after the charges are framed. The NIA, the prosecution agency, did not seek a stay to the HC order. Defence lawyers Mihir Desai and Sudeep Pasbola had argued that the two accused were incarcerated since their arrest in the case. While granting relief, the high court said it was not dealing with the merits of the case at this stage. Wilson and Dhawale were directed to submit a surety of Rs 1 lakh each, and appear before the special NIA court for the trial hearing. They shall surrender their passports and not leave the city until the trial is over, the HC said. Rona Wilson was arrested in June 2018 from his home in Delhi and was described by the probe agencies as one of the top brass of urban Maoists. In February 2021, a report by the US-based Arsenal Consulting stated that Rona Wilson's computer was repeatedly hacked for over two years. the report further stated that the 'letters cited by the authorities to establish his 'extremist' links, were planted as folders in his computer through a malware. Wilsons lawyers submitted a copy of the report to the Bombay High Court and sought to quash the case against him. Sudhir Dhawale, who was arrested on 6 June 2018, was accused of being an active member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). Apart from Dhawale and Wilson, 14 other activists were arrested in the case. Eight of them -- Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Anand Teltumbde, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Shoma Sen, Gautam Navlakha and Mahesh Raut -- have been granted bail till now. Mahesh Raut remained in jail as the appeal filed by the NIA against his bail is pending before the Supreme Court. But on Tuesday the special NIA court granted him interim bail for 18 days to enable him to appear for an LLB exam. Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activistwho is one of the accused in the case, died while in prison on July 5, 2021, due to cardiac arrest following his contraction of COVID-19. Swamy, who also suffered from Parkinson's Disease, was repeatedly denied bail by the court, prompting many to call his death an institutional murder. In a statement released on February 2022, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared Swamy's detention arbitrary and his death utterly preventable. The case pertains to provocative speeches allegedly delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017. According to the case, the speeches delivered by the activists allegedly triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima in Pune district the next day. The Pune police had claimed the conclave was backed by the Maoists. The NIA later took over the probe.

Jagdish Mittal: God-father of art in Hyderabad passes away

Hyderabad : Renowned art collector Jagdish Chandra Mittal, a Padma Shri awardee who had made the city his home, and museum, passed away on Tuesday afternoon during his 100th year. He is survived by three daughters. His wife Kamla, with whom he set up a museum here, predeceased him. Mittal, an artist turned collector and art historian, had entered his 100th year on September 26 last year. His last rites will be performed on Wednesday. Mittal, who was born in Mussorie, now in Uttarakhand, shifted to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. He and Kamla graduated from Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan, in 1945 and settled in Hyderabad in the 1950s. In 1976, they established the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art. A point of reference for art institutions around the globe, Mittal leaves behind a repository of over 2,000 art pieces that span two millennia, a legacy that is tied to the lives of those he touched. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, condoling the death of the renowned collector, said Mittals immense efforts to preserve and promote Indian art and heritage were invaluable. He said the legacy left behind through the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art would continue to inspire generations of artists, art lovers and historians. The modest home in Domalguda, which is a treasure trove of paintings, sculptures, and manuscripts collected over time, place, and genre, is the vision of the Mittals, who saw value where others saw none. He is not gone. He is with me. He is with us, said artist Laxma Goud, his voice faltering, as he grappled with a loss that felt personal. Mittal, for him, was far more than a collector of art, he was a collector of lives, of potential, of history.I am what I am because of him, noted the artist, a Padma Shri awardee himself. Goud's relationship with Mittal is half a century old. It began in the artist's second year of college when Mittal recognised his potential and acquired his works. He was like my father, teacher, mentor, professor, Goud said. He created opportunities for so many of us. You name Hyderabad Art Society, fellowships for young artists, recommending names for higher studies, acquiring works to ensure we survived - all was Jadgish Mittal. Mittal's meticulousness was beyond curation and nurturing careers. Artist Laxman Aelay credited Mittal for his own rise in the art world. He made me, Aelay said simply. It was Mittal who inaugurated Aelay's first solo exhibition in 1999 and was also his first collector, acquiring over 20 of his works. He even wrote the catalogue for my second show in Mumbai, Aelay recalled. It wasn't just painters whose lives Mittal impacted. He was very fond of my music. He would introduce me to everyone as 'mera beta' (my son),' said his close associate and musician Jaywant Naidu. He often narrated how his collection began with minimum savings. Once, he couldn't afford a piece he wanted, but Kamla-ji, his wife, brought out some savings to make it happen. That's how much they believed in what they were building.This shared vision culminated in the Jagdish and Kamla Mittal Museum of Indian Art, a collection that scholars and connoisseurs from around the world revered. Despite its acclaim, Mittal's dream of a permanent home for the museum remained unfulfilled during his lifetime. It saddens me deeply that he didn't see it take shape, Naidu said. Nonetheless, Mittal's home in Domalguda, a simple single-storey structure, became a treasure trove of artworks. B. Narsing Rao, artist and filmmaker, narrated scenes of days spent there. We would sit for hours surrounded by handicrafts, listening to him narrate their histories. His library alone could be a museum, Rao said. It was also here that Mittal identified artists who would later become stalwarts of Indian art. He recognised talent before anyone else - Surya Prakash, Vaikuntam, you name them. Vaikuntam once told me Mittal bought 30 of his paintings in one go. That's what launched him. Mittal's dedication to preserving the past often came at a personal cost. His life was a series of sacrifices, be it financial, professional, and emotional, but all in service of art. When it cames to Hyderabad, Mittal was its cultural conscience, a man whose life's work made a vital part of the city's artistic heritage. His influence lived in the artists he mentored, the traditions he revived, and the respect he commanded across disciplines. As Goud said, We have lost someone who was everything to us. Nonetheless, in every artwork he saved, every artist he supported, and every life he changed, Jagdish Mittal remains. Not in the past, but here, he is alive in the art, in the memories, in the people.

Fervor marks Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam

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The Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors are rolling out later in the year, introducing improved performance and better protection against malware.

Cancel licence if a tea garden closed for 3 months: Didi

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has come up with a standard operating procedure (SOP) stating that if a tea garden is closed for more than three months, its lease will be cancelled. The government has asked the district magistrates to prepare a list of the closed tea gardens and the period of closure, officials said. The SOP was notified as it was found that many owners did not re-open their tea gardens even after the government addressed the workers issues, an official said. The Paschim Banga Cha Majoor Samity (PBCMS) has backed the governments move. PBCMS workers met the state labour commissioner and called for implementation of the SOP. There are about 25 abandoned tea gardens in north Bengal, particularly in the Terai and Dooars region, said Anuradha Talwar, chief adviser to the tea garden union. PBCMS president Kirsen Kharia said tea gardens appear picturesque from outside but there are plenty of issues relating to the plight of workers. He said many garden operators run the gardens in the tea plucking season and leave the workers to their own fate when the tea leaves are not plucked. Persistent wage delays in multiple gardens, coupled with the non-payment of wages have pushed workers into financial despair, Kharia said. The union representatives expressed their anger against a particular company that runs over a dozen gardens in north Bengal. The union raised concerns regarding payment of provident fund and statutory benefits to majority of retired tea garden workers. PBCMS made a public list of PF contributions of 30 tea gardens of which only four gardens have deposited PF for workers till September 2024, Kharia said.

Viral video: Little girl's adorable dance to 'Laung Da Lashkara' wins hearts, watch

In the trending clip, the little girl stuns in a black kurta and salwar, effortlessly blending energy and grace in her movements.

Pawan Kalyan justifies ticket price hike as revenue booster for AP

Vijayawada : Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan defended the increase in ticket prices for certain films, highlighting that the 18% GST levied on tickets contributes significantly to the states revenue. He cautioned against the black-market sale of tickets, stressing that such transactions result in unaccounted money. Speaking at the pre-release event of Ram Charans Game Changer , set to release on January 10 in Rajahmundry, Pawan urged filmmakers, producers, and industry representativesnot actorsto approach the government for permissions regarding ticket pricing. He appealed to fans to prioritise safety and avoid stampede-like situations during film-related events. The Deputy Chief Minister emphasised the importance of original and value-driven storytelling in films, urging filmmakers to guide the youth positively and keep politics out of the industry. He advocated unity among Indian cinema industries, lamenting their division into Bollywood, Tollywood, Kollywood, and Mollywood since the 1990s, and stressed the need for discipline within the film fraternity. Pawan credited stalwarts like Raghupathi Venkata Naidu and Dadasaheb Phalke for their foundational contributions to Indian cinema, urging current filmmakers to remember their roots. He thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for supporting the event in Rajahmundry and expressed gratitude to Chiranjeevi for his unwavering support throughout his career. Reflecting on his journey, Pawan revealed that the remuneration from Vakeel Saab, produced by Dil Raju, helped sustain the Jana Sena party. He also lauded veteran actors, including NTR, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Krishna, and Sobhan Babu, along with the younger generation, for their efforts in elevating Telugu cinema. Concluding his address, Pawan wished Game Changer immense success at the box office, expressing hope it would set new records.

Pakistani actress Hania Aamir's groovy dance moves on Katrina Kaif's Chikni Chameli, Do Dhari Talwar win internet; watch

Hania Aamir's electrifying dance at a wedding on Bollywood songs goes viral, winning fans' hearts with her grace and energy.

Surprised at Indian camp's wording for Rohit's exclusion: Ponting

Sydney: Australian batting great Ricky Ponting on Friday said he was surprised by the Indian camp's wording around Rohit Sharma's absence from the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but admitted that the move was on expected lines. The match started here on Friday with the visitors eyeing a win to level the series and retain the trophy. However, Jasprit Bumrah, who walked out for the toss, said Rohit has opted to rest from the Sydney Test. I think the reaction has been that they all sort of expected that it might happen, Ponting told The ICC Review. The chat's been for the last couple of days that everyone expected that Rohit would not play this game, that Shubman Gill would come back in and that (Jasprit) Bumrah would probably take over the captaincy again and that's the way it's turned out. Given the circumstances, Ponting was totally in agreement with the woefully out-of-form Rohit skipping the decider at SCG but the former Australia captain was surprised by the wording of the news that came from the India camp. I was very surprised when I heard the term 'opting out' coming into such an important game, Ponting said. We know he's been a great stalwart for Indian cricket over a long period of time. So the way that they've actually worded it, you can only take it on face value. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ICC (@icc) We've got to believe what we're hearing coming out of the Indian camp, but being such a big game, knowing that they have to win this one to retain the trophy, it was an interesting time for one of their more experienced players to opt out. The 37-year-old white-ball great looked like a pale shadow of himself in the ongoing series Down Under, struggling to execute even his bread and butter shots including the trademark front foot pull. During the customary pre-match warm-up session, Rohit was seen playing football with Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan, who along with Abhimanyu Easwaran will end the series without getting an international game. Ponting did not say it in as many words but he very well understands that it could be the end of road for Rohit in the game's traditional format. You'd think it's probably a long way back for Rohit Sharma now in this format of the game, Ponting said. India don't play a Test match, I believe, until the middle or late June, which is a long way away when you're sort of coming to the back end of your career. I think he's been a terrific player for India so with those sort of guys, you wish them all the best and hope to see them back out there again, but as I said, I think it will be a long - and probably difficult road - back for him. Catch off Kohli's bat was clean Ponting had no doubt that the attempt made by Steve Smith at second slip off Kohli's blade was a clean take. Kohli edged a length delivery from Scott Boland to second slip, where Smith was positioned. Smith dived low to his right, seemingly catching the ball near the ground before flicking it upward toward gully, where Marnus Labuschagne completed the catch. However, the decision was referred to the TV umpire, who ultimately ruled Kohli not out. I was in the back of the (commentary) box as it happened and from what I saw, and what I believe to be the interpretation of the rules, that seemed to be out to me, Ponting said. The ball may have touched the ground. It may not have touched the ground, but the fact that his right index finger was still underneath the ball, I thought it was a clear catch. The incident took place in the eighth over, off the first ball Kohli faced and Ponting admitted the limited angles available did not help. It might be one of those ones that depends which dressing room he's (Kohli) sitting in as well. Every Indian fan and Indian player will say that's not out as it clearly touched the ground, but you could tell by the reaction of the Australians when it happened and even when they saw the replay on the big screen that they were all pretty confident that it was out. I'm sure over the course of this Test match we'll talk about it a whole lot more, Ponting said.

Armando to be conferred with Dronacharya award

Staff Reporter Panaji Former Dempo coach Armando Colaco will be conferred with the Dronacharya Award in the Lifetime Category, the highest recognition for coaches in the country. A stalwart of Indian football, Colaco led Dempo SC to an unprecedented five I-League titles, cementing his legacy as one of the finest coaches in Indian football history. [] The post Armando to be conferred with Dronacharya award appeared first on The Navhind Times .

7-Year-Old Girl Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Rajasthan's Alwar

A seven-year-old girl was mauled to death by a group of stray dogs at a field in Rajasthan's Alwar, officials said on Thursday.

Two drug peddlers held with cannabis worth Rs 21.5 lakhs in Delhi

New Delhi: Delhi Police has arrested two men, hailing from Rajasthan, and claimed to have seized 21.6 kilograms of cannabis worth Rs 21.5 lakhsfrom their possession, an official said on Thursday. The accused were arrested from Vihar Mohan Garden area in Delhi on December 23, a police officer said. A police team found a car with two occupants in it parked in front of a junk yard. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of 21.6 kg of cannabis, said the officer. The duo was identified as Kamal Singh (33) and Ashok Kumar (26), residents of Rajasthan's Alwar, he said. Kamal is a history-sheeter and is facing charges in 25 cases involving the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, Arms Act, and attempt to murder, he added. Ashok, another addict, has a history of criminal activity with three prior cases of robbery and thefts, the officer said. The accused worked as drug peddlers in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, he said.

Gautam Gambhir's handling of India's transition raises eyebrows

Sydney: As Indian cricket deals with the fading form of its two stalwarts in captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli, head coach Gautam Gambhir and his support staff's role in handling a team in transition has also come into focus. The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a difficult ride for the side has struggled to get the right combination in the face of an aggressive and highly-driven Australian team. The visitors will be playing the must-win fifth and final Test here from Friday. The on-field roller-coaster is causing some off-field issues as well with murmurs of unrest in the dressing room beginning to grow. It is learnt that Gambhir is not on the same page with most of the players in the team and the communication isn't as good as it used to be during the time of Ravi Shastri and Rahul Dravid. Skipper Rohit Sharma has maintained that he speaks individually to the players about selection issues. But after Gambhir took charge in July, Rohit, it is said, hasn't actually given clarity to some of the not-so-junior players about why they were being excluded at times from the side. His own poor form hasn't helped Rohit's cause. But it is also reliably learnt that Gambhir, who is considered a more assertive person, hasn't earned a lot of confidence from the group of players, who aren't as old as Kohli or Rohit but are also not rookies like Harshit Rana or Nitish Reddy. There is a Test match to be played and then there is Champions Trophy. If the performance doesn't improve, even Gautam Gambhir's position wouldn't be safe, a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Gambhir's equation with the selection committee is also not particularly clear at this point. There are players in the team, who are feeling insecure because of his proclivity to experiment with the playing eleven. In the ongoing BGT, a punt like Nitish Reddy has worked out brilliantly but the handling of Shubman Gill is still being debated. BCCI secretary Jay Shah has now been elevated to the ICC chief's position and the Board will have his full-time successor only after January 12. Once that administrative stability is in place, the BCCI brass will have some thinking to do. Till Shah was in-charge of BCCI, he called the shots. Former India seamer Roger Binny, who is the current president of the Board, hasn't been seen taking any policy related calls. But if India's performance is not drastically better in the Champions Trophy in February-March, Gambhir will certainly have his wings clipped. He was never BCCI's first choice (it was VVS Laxman) and some of the well-known overseas names didn't want to coach all three formats, so he was a compromise. Obviously, some other compulsions were also there, the official said. Gambhir has already been asked a few tough questions after the 0-3 defeat at home to New Zealand and if the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is also lost, it can all go downhill for the feisty former opener from Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar. Already there is a school of thought that Gambhir should only be given charge of the T20 team, a format in which he has been a successful captain and then mentor for both Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow SuperGiants. One question that is being asked in the corridors of power is whether he has been able to offer any solutions to Virat Kohli with regards to his never-ending dismissals in the outside off-stump channel? By the look of things, the answer to that seems to be an emphatic no. Gautam, all his life, while playing in England and Australia, would dab the ball towards slip and gully. So, he knows exactly what Kohli's problem is. He has seen that as a player (in 2014) and as a commentator and now as a coach. If he knows what is wrong, he should tell him, a former India great, with the experience of more than 90 Tests, said. Support staff for support staff The BCCI mandarins are also keeping a tab on certain other developments about one of the key members of the support staff, who is being accompanied at all the venues by his personal assistant. It is leant that the person in question used to have FOP (Field Of Play) access during the IPL where he would stride into the playing arena after games in a franchise jersey. In Australia, his presence in the box dedicated to BCCI members hasn't really been appreciated, according to a top source.

The Gambhir gambit: Head coachs handling of Indias transition raises eyebrows

Sydney, Jan 1: As Indian cricket deals with the fading form of its two stalwarts in captain Rohit Sharma and senior batter Virat Kohli, head coach Gautam Gambhir and his support staffs role in handling a team in transition has also come into focus. The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a difficult ride for the side has struggled to get the right combination in the face of an aggressive and highly-driven Australian team. The visitors will be playing the must-win [] The post The Gambhir gambit: Head coachs handling of Indias transition raises eyebrows appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Who is Honey Singh's ex-wife Shalini Talwar? Has worked with THIS big actor, accused star rapper of domestic violence

Honey Singh in an interview revealed how his marriage was affected during the initial phase of his career. His ex-wife who accused him of domestic abuse and took a huge alimony. They separated last year.

Farewell to a Statesman: Top Leaders Attend Manmohan Singh's Last Rites at Nigambodh Ghat

NEW DELHI: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was laid to rest with full state honors at Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi. The somber ceremony was attended by prominent leaders from across political parties, paying their final respects to the stalwart of Indian politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah led the tribute from the ruling government, acknowledging Dr. Singhs immense contributions to India's economic and political landscape. Members of the Gandhi family, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were also present, underscoring the cross-party admiration for the late leader. Dr. Singh, known for his quiet demeanor and transformative leadership, served as India's Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. Under his tenure, the country witnessed major economic reforms and significant strides in international relations. His legacy is celebrated not only for his political achievements but also for his integrity and humility. The funeral procession saw an outpouring of grief, with citizens from all walks of life paying their respects. Political leaders, dignitaries, and well-wishers recalled his pivotal role in steering India through economic liberalization and fostering inclusive growth. The Indian tricolor was draped over Dr. Singh's body as he was given a ceremonial farewell. The state honors included a 21-gun salute, reflecting the nation's gratitude for his service. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh, hailing him as one of Indias most respected leaders. In a written tribute, PM Modi remarked, India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble beginnings, he emerged as a respected economist and served in various pivotal roles, including as Finance Minister. His impact on Indias economic policies has been profound, and his insightful interventions in Parliament will always be remembered. As Prime Minister, he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Addressing the nation in a televised message, PM Modi emphasized the magnitude of the loss, calling Dr. Singhs demise a big loss to the nation. Reflecting on the late leader's virtues, he said, Dr. Manmohan Singh was a remarkable parliamentarian whose life epitomized honesty and simplicity. His journey serves as an inspiring lesson in rising above challenges and achieving success through determination and hard work. Dr. Manmohan Singh's demise marks the end of an era in Indian politics. As leaders bid their final goodbye, the unity displayed at the ceremony symbolized the respect he commanded across political and social spheres.

Get Hooked to the Vibey Beats of Sawadeeka from Ajith Kumar's Vidaamuyarchi

Star actor Ajith Kumar teams up with acclaimed director Magizh Thirumeni for the big-budget action extravaganza 'Vidaamuyarchi', which is slated for a worldwide release during Sankranthi 2025. Ever since it was launched, the film has built enormous excitement among the audience. The recently released teaser garnered an overwhelming response, further building expectations for the movie. To up the ante, the makers now release the first single, Sawadeeka. Composed by musical stalwart Anirudh Ravichander, Sawadeeka is a peppy track blending vibrant Mexican tunes with the lively essence of Tamil folk music. Its infectious beats are sure to get listeners grooving and dancing in no time. The vocals of popular folk artist Anthony Daasan and Anirudh bring a whole new spirit to the catchy lyrics penned by Arivu, giving rise to an uplifting vibe. Ajith Kumar and Trisha's elegant yet effortless dance moves, gracefully choreographed by Kalyan, elevate the song to an entirely new level. This high-budget project is being produced by the Lyca Productions banner, founded by Subaskaran and headed G.K.M. Tamil Kumaran. Vidaamuyarchi features star actress Trisha and Action King Arjun will be seen as the lead cast. Other notable cast members include Arav, Regina Cassandra, and Nikhil Nair, among others. Om Prakash served as the Director of Photography and NB Srikanth is working as the editor of the movie. Milan is the Production Designer. While Sundar composed the action sequences, Anu Vardhan designed the costumes. Subramanian Narayanan serves as the executive producer, with J. Girinathan and K. Jayaseelan as production executives. Other crew members include G. Anand Kumar (stills), Gopi Prasanna (publicity designer), Hariharasuthan (VFX), Suresh Chandra (PR Tamil), and Naidu Surendra Kumar and Phani Kandukuri (PR Telugu). Sun TV bagged the satellite rights and Netflix acquired the OTT rights of the project. The audio of the film will be released through Sony Music.

India Inc. mourns death of former PM Dr Manmohan Singh

Mumbai : India Inc on Friday mourned the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, describing him as the architect of India's economic liberalisation who ushered in path-breaking reforms across all areas of the economy. Besides, industry giants such as billionaire Gautam Adani, Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran and business tycoon Anil Ambani also paid tributes to former Dr Singh, calling him the architect of economic reforms and one of the tallest leaders. With his visionary leadership, Chandrajit Banerjee, director general, CII said that Dr Singh set India on a new journey of growth, all-round development and global engagement and he played a pivotal role in shaping the country's economic destiny. Under his leadership as finance minister and later as Prime Minister, India witnessed unprecedented economic growth and emerged as a global economic powerhouse, the industry body said. Engineering exporters' body EEPC India's chairman Pankaj Chadha described Dr Singh as a man of exceptional calibre who unleashed economic reforms that catapulted India into a different league. Singh's relentless efforts put the Indian economy on a strong footing. His series of policy measures took India out of the fiscal crisis and ushered in a phase of high growth and prosperity. The economic boom that followed the reforms significantly improved the purchasing power of the common man and saw the emergence of a growing middle class, he said. For India Inc, the biggest support came in the form of the new industrial policy in 1991, which addressed industrial licensing and Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act (MRTP). Foreign direct investment or FDI in specified high priority industries was raised to 51 per cent, approval for which he said would be prompt, subject to the condition that equity inflows are sufficient to finance the import of capital goods at the stage of investment. Singh also permitted foreign equity up to 51 per cent for trading companies primarily engaged in export activities. History will forever honour his pivotal role in the transformative 1991 reforms that reshaped India and opened its doors to the world. A rare leader who spoke softly but achieved monumental strides through his actions, Dr Singh's life remains a masterclass in leadership, humility and service to the nation and will inspire generations to come, Adani group chairman said in a post on X. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran also called Dr Singh as one of the stalwarts, who envisioned a new, liberalised India that is taking its rightful place in the world. We mourn the passing away of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, one of the stalwarts who envisioned a new, liberalised India that is taking its rightful place in the world, he said in a statement. With Dr Singh's demise the nation has lost one of its tallest leaders and finest economists. His most defining contribution -- the epochal 91 reforms spurred a multi-decadal economic boom and more importantly reshaped the calculus of possibilities for India and Indians. Over several decades in public life, his intellect, wisdom, and humility stood as exemplars, leaving an indelible mark on the nation's conscience, Birla said in a statement. Reliance Group head Anil Ambani said that the former prime minister's life was a testament to humility, wisdom and service to India. As the Guru Granth Sahib says, 'Nanak Naam Chardi Kala, Tere Bhane Sarbat Da Bhala' - 'With the Divine Name comes eternal optimism; by You will, may there be well-being for all'. His vision and integrity will inspire generations, he said in a statement. In a post on X, JSW Group chairman and managing director Sajjan Jindal described Singh as a statesman of humility and wisdom-India owes him a debt of gratitude. Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Singh ji, former Prime Minister of India and the visionary leader behind India's economic liberalisation, Jindal wrote. RPG Enterprise chairman Harsh Goenka wrote, India mourns the loss of Dr. Singh, a true statesman whose quiet demeanour belied his transformative impact. An architect of economic reforms, he shaped modern India with intellect, grace, and integrity. A leader who let actions speak louder than words, Goenka said. Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra in a post on X said: Farewell Dr. Manmohan Singh. You loved this nation. And your service to it will long be remembered, Biocon Ltd executive chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw posted on X: Manmohan Singh, 2-Time PM And Architect Of India's Economic Reforms, Dies At 92 - He was an erudite economist and a man of high integrity. A PM to whom we owe our economic turnaround.

Gavaskar and Langer bat for grit of Pujara, Rahane

Amid India's faltering performances in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, cricketing stalwarts Sunil Gavaskar and Justin Langer have reignited discussions on the critical need for resilient and gritty batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar ...

Manmohan Singh among stalwarts who envisioned new, liberalised India: Tata Sons chief Chandrasekaran

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, expressed condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, crediting him with envisioning a liberalised India and earning global respect through inspirational leadership. Singh, a key figure in transforming India, passed away at the age of 92 in Delhi.

No Compromise on Law and Order, No Benefit Shows, Revanth Tells Tollywood Biggies

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday said that the state government will stand by the Telugu film industry but made it clear that there would be no compromise on law and order, public safety and law enforcement. During his meeting with the representatives of Telugu film industry at the Police Integrated Command Control Centre in Banjara Hills, Revanth Reddy reportedly reiterated that benefit shows and ticket price hikes would no longer be permitted, as such events often lead to overcrowding and security risks. Official sources said that the Chief Minister also took a strong stance against the behaviour of private security personnel, commonly referred to as bouncers. The Chief Minister stated that the state government would be firm in dealing with bouncers hired by actors. Revanth Reddy also said that celebrities must control their fans and the industry must be responsible. The discussions revolved around pressing issues confronting the film industry, including benefit shows, ticket price hikes for benefit shows and the shows in the first week of the films release, and measures to ensure public safety during film-related events. The meeting, attended by nearly 50 stalwarts from Tollywood, gained prominence in the aftermath of a stampede at Sandhya Theatre during the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. The tragic incident, which occurred earlier this month, claimed the life of a woman and critically injured her son. The meeting included a screening of a 10-minute video prepared by the police, showcasing CCTV footage of the December 4 stampede incident at Sandhya Theatre. The government defended its actions and emphasised the importance of adhering to safety protocols. Revanth Reddy expressed dismay over the undue criticism faced by the police, particularly as they had denied permission for the event. The Chief Minister reportedly warned that event organisers and actors employing bouncers would be held accountable for any misconduct. He stressed that actors and cast members must avoid public roadshows unless explicitly cleared by the police to prevent incidents like the Sandhya Theatre stampede. Revanth Reddy urged the film fraternity to actively participate in government campaigns addressing social issues, such as drug abuse prevention and womens safety. He also encouraged the industry to promote Telanganas initiatives, including ecotourism and temple tourism. Despite the firm stance, the Chief Minister assured the delegation of the government's cooperation in resolving industry concerns. He proposed the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to address challenges faced by the Telugu film industry, with a focus on long-term solutions. He laid out ambitious plans to elevate the Telugu film industry to new heights. The Chief Minister highlighted the Congress governments commitment to fostering the film sector, equating its importance to that of the IT and pharmaceutical industries. Our main objective is to promote the film industry to the next level. The government has decided to create a new brand image for the Telugu film industry and ensure its prosperity, the Chief Minister said. He stressed the state governments determination to transform Hyderabad into a global hub for cinema by attracting Bollywood and even Hollywood productions to the city. Steps are underway to organise large-scale conferences aimed at attracting other film industries to Hyderabad. These events will highlight the citys advantages as a filmmaking destination and encourage collaborations across industries, he explained. Calling Hyderabad the best among all cosmopolitan cities, Revanth Reddy asserted that the government is taking steps to enhance the city's appeal as a film production destination. Actors and producers voiced their condolences for the victims of the stampede, acknowledging the need for better planning and cooperation with authorities. Actor Murali Mohan conveyed the industry's pain over the loss of life, stating, We are deeply hurt and will work to ensure such incidents are not repeated. Speaking to the media later,the chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation Dil Raju said issues such as allowing benefit shows and ticket rate hikes were miniscule when compared to the Chief Ministers vision of taking Telugu cinema to the global stage. These small things like benefit shows and ticket rates do not matter. Nearly 200 Telugu films are released every year. The Telugu film industry and government will work together to take Telugu cinema to the global stage, it is a big responsibility that the Chief Minister has given us, he said. The delegation comprised actors Akkineni Nagarjuna, Daggubati Venkatesh, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, and Ram Pothineni, producers Allu Aravind, D. Suresh Babu, K.L. Narayana, and Sudhakar Reddy, and directors Trivikram Srinivas, Boyapati Srinu, and K. Raghavendra Rao. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, cinematography minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and Telangana DGP Dr Jithender were also present.

NDA leaders including Amit Shah, Chandrababu Naidu meet at BJP chief's residence

NEW DELHI: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) met here at BJP president JP Nadda's residence on Wednesday on the birth centenary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, JD-U leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, were present at the meeting. Bihar's Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, also a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, were also present at the meeting. Though there was no official word on the agenda of the meeting, sources said good governance and political issues were discussed. Good governance was a key theme of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. It was decided to hold a meeting of the alliance on the birth anniversary of the BJP stalwart, who is credited with successfully running the first coalition government for its full term. The NDA meeting comes amid the alliance's focus on simultaneous elections, with all constituents lending support to the proposal. A JPC constituted to scrutinise two bills for simultaneous polls is expected to meet on January 8.

Naidu joins prayer ceremony to pay tributes to Vajpayee

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu were among the dignitaries who joined a prayer ceremony at the memorial of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Wednesday to pay tributes to him on his birth centenary. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, including JP Nadda, Amit Shah,, besides BJP allies such as Lalan Singh of the JD(U) and Jitam Ram Manjhi of (HAM)S paid homage to the BJP stalwart at 'Saidav Atal'. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla besides the members of Vajpayee's adopted family were also present. Modi said in a post on X that the impact of how Vajpayee preserved constitutional values and gave new direction and momentum to the country will remain forever.

A tribute to Atal Ji, the statesman whose vision shaped India

Today, December 25, is a very special day for all of us. Our nation marks the 100th Jayanti of our beloved former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. He stands tall as a statesman who continues to inspire countless people. Our nation will always be grateful to Atal Ji for being the architect of Indias transition into the 21st century. When he took oath as PM in 1998, our nation passed through a period of political instability. In about nine years, we had seen four Lok Sabha elections. The people of India were getting impatient and also sceptical about governments being able to deliver. Atal Ji turned this tide by providing stable and effective governance. Coming from humble roots, he realised the struggles of the ordinary citizen and the transformative power of effective governance. One can see the long-term impact of Atal Jis leadership in so many sectors around us. His era marked a gigantic leap in Information Technology, telecom and communications. This was particularly important for a nation like ours, blessed with a very dynamic Yuva Shakti. The NDA Government under Atal Ji made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to ordinary citizens. At the same time, there was foresight in connecting India. Even today, most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which connected the length and breadth of India. Equally notable were the Vajpayee Governments efforts to enhance local connectivity as well through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Similarly, his government pushed for metro connectivity by doing extensive work for the Delhi Metro, which stands out as a world-class infrastructure project. Thus, the Vajpayee Government boosted economic growth and brought distant regions closer, fostering unity and integration. When it comes to the social sector, an initiative like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan highlights how Atal Ji dreamt of building an India where modern education is accessible to people across the nation, particularly for the poor and marginalised sections. At the same time, his government presided over many economic reforms, which set the stage for Indias economic surge after several decades of following an economic philosophy that encouraged cronyism and stagnation. An excellent example of Vajpayee Jis leadership can be seen in the summer of 1998. His government had just assumed office, and on May 11, India conducted the Pokhran tests, Operation Shakti. These tests exemplified the prowess of Indias scientific community. The world was stunned that India had done the tests and expressed their anger in no uncertain terms. Any ordinary leader would have buckled, but Atal Ji was made differently. And what happened? India stood firm and resolute with the government calling for another set of tests two days later, on May 13! If the tests of the 11th showed scientific skill, the ones on the 13th showed true leadership. It was a message to the world that gone were the days when India would buckle under threats or pressure. Despite facing international sanctions, the then NDA government of Vajpayee Ji stood firm, articulating Indias right to safeguard its sovereignty while simultaneously being the strongest proponent of world peace. Atal Ji understood Indian democracy and also the need to make it stronger. Atal Ji presided over the creation of the NDA, which redefined coalitions in Indian politics. He brought people together and made the NDA a force for development, national progress and regional ambitions. His parliamentary brilliance was evident throughout his political journey. He belonged to a party with a handful of MPs, but his words were enough to rattle the might of the all-powerful Congress Party at that time. As Prime Minister, he blunted the Oppositions criticisms with style and substance. He spent his career mainly in the opposition benches, but he never carried any trace of bitterness against anyone, even though Congress stooped to new lows by calling him a traitor! He was also not one to cling to power through opportunistic means. He preferred to resign in 1996 instead of following the path of horse-trading and dirty politics. In 1999, his Government was de-feated by 1 vote. Many people told him to challenge the immoral politics that were happening then, but he preferred to follow the rules. Eventually, he came back with another resounding mandate from the people. When it comes to commitment to protecting our Constitution, too, Atal Ji stands tall. The martyr-dom of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee deeply impacted him. Years later, he was a pillar of the anti-Emergency movement. In the run-up to the 1977 elections, after the Emergency, he agreed to merge his own Party (Jan Sangh) into the Janata Party. I am sure it would have been a painful decision for him and the others, but safeguarding the Constitution was all that mattered to him. It is also noteworthy how deeply rooted Atal Ji was in Indian culture. Upon becoming Indias External Affairs Minister, he became the first Indian leader to speak in Hindi at the United Nations. This one gesture showcased his immense pride in Indias heritage and identity, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage. Atal Jis persona was magnetic, and his love for literature and expression enriched his life. A prolific writer and poet, he used words to inspire, provoke thought, and even offer solace. His poetry, often reflective of his inner struggles and hopes for the nation, continues to resonate with people across age groups. For so many Bharatiya Janata Party Karyakartas like me, it is our privilege that we were able to learn and interact with a person like Atal Ji. His contribution to the BJP was foundational. In those days, spearheading an alternative narrative to the dominant Congress showed his greatness. Alongside stalwarts like Shri L.K. Advani Ji and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi Ji, he nurtured the party from its formative years, guiding it through challenges, setbacks and triumphs. Whenever he had to choose between ideology and power, he always chose the former. He was able to convince the nation that an alternative worldview from Congress was possible and that such a worldview could deliver. On his 100th Jayanti, let us rededicate ourselves to realising his ideals and fulfilling his vision for India. Let us strive to build an India that embodies his principles of good governance, unity, and progress. Atal Jis unwavering belief in the potential of our nation continues to inspire us to aim higher and work harder. Narendra Modi Prime Minister

A Tribute to Atal Ji, Statesman Who Shaped India with His vision

Today, 25th December is a very special day for all of us. Our nation marks the 100th Jayanti of our beloved former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. He stands tall as a statesman who continues to inspire countless people. Our nation will always be grateful to Atal Ji for architecting Indias transition into the 21st century. When he took oath as PM in 1998 our country had passed through a period of political instability. In about 9 years, we had seen 4 Lok Sabha elections. The people of India were getting impatient and sceptical about governments being able to deliver. It was Atal Ji who turned this tide by providing stable and effective governance. Coming from humble roots, he realised the struggles of the common citizen and the transformative power of effective governance. One can see the long-term impact of Atal Jis leadership in so many sectors around us. His era marked a gigantic leap in the world of Information Technology, telecom and communications. This was particularly important for a nation like ours, which is also blessed with a very dynamic Yuva Shakti. The NDA Government under AtalJi made the first serious attempt to make technology accessible to the common citizens. At the same time, there was foresight in connecting India. Even today, most people recall the Golden Quadrilateral Project, which connected the length and breadth of India. Equally notable were the Vajpayee Governments efforts to enhance local connectivity as well through initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Similarly, his Government gave a push to metro connectivity by doing extensive work for the Delhi Metro, which stands out as a world-class infrastructure project. Thus, the Vajpayee Government not only boosted economic growth but also brought distant regions closer, fostering unity and integration. When it comes to the social sector, an initiative like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan highlights how Atal Ji dreamt of building an India where modern education is accessible to people across the nation, particularly for the poor and marginalised sections. At the same time, his government presided over many economic reforms which set the stage for Indias economic surge after several decades of following an economic philosophy which encouraged cronyism and stagnation. A wonderful example of Vajpayee Jis leadership can be seen in the summer of 1998. His Government had just assumed office and on 11th May, India conducted the Pokhran tests, known as Operation Shakti. These tests exemplified the prowess of India's scientific community. The world was stunned that India had done the tests and expressed their anger in no uncertain terms. Any ordinary leader would have buckled, but Atal Ji was made differently. And what happened? India stood firm and resolute with the government calling for another set of tests two days later, on 13th May! If the tests of the 11th showed scientific skill, the ones on the 13th showed true leadership. It was a message to the world that gone were the days when India would buckle under threats or pressure. Despite facing international sanctions, the then NDA government of Vajpayee Ji stood firm, articulating Indias right to safeguard its sovereignty while simultaneously being the strongest proponent of world peace. Atal Ji understood Indian democracy and also the need to make it stronger. AtalJi presided over the creation of the NDA, which redefined coalitions in Indian politics. He brought people together and made the NDA a force for development, national progress and regional ambitions. His Parliamentary brilliance was seen throughout his political journey. He belonged to a party with a handful of MPs but his words were enough to rattle the might of the all-powerful Congress Party that time. As Prime Minister, he blunted the criticisms of the Opposition with style and substance. His was a career spent largely in the Opposition benches but never carried any trace of bitterness against anyone, even though the Congress stooped to new lows by going to the extent of calling him a traitor! He was also not one to cling to power through opportunistic means. He preferred to resign in 1996 instead of following the path of horsetrading and dirty politics. In 1999, his Government was defeated by 1 vote. A lot of people told him to challenge the immoral politics happening then but he preferred to go by the rules. Eventually, he came back with another resounding mandate from the people. When it comes to commitment to protecting our Constitution too, Atal Ji stands tall. He was deeply impacted by the martyrdom of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Years later, he was a pillar of the anti-emergency movement. In the run-up to the 1977 elections after the Emergency, he agreed to merge his own Party (Jan Sangh) into the Janata Party. I am sure it would have been a painful decision for him and the others, but safeguarding the Constitution was all that mattered to him. It is also noteworthy how deeply rooted Atal Ji was in Indian culture. Upon becoming Indias External Affairs Minister, he became the first Indian leader to speak in Hindi at the United Nations. This one gesture showcased his immense pride in Indias heritage and identity, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage. Atal Jis persona was magnetic and his life was enriched by his love for literature and expression. A prolific writer and poet, he used words to inspire, provoke thought, and even offer solace. His poetry, often reflective of his inner struggles and hopes for the nation, continues to resonate with people across age groups. For so many Bharatiya Janata Party Karyakartas like me, it is our privilege that we were able to learn and interact with a person like Atal Ji. His contribution to the BJP was foundational. In those days to spearhead an alternative narrative to the dominant Congress showed his greatness. Alongside stalwarts like Shri L.K. Advani Ji and Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi Ji, he nurtured the party from its formative years, guiding it through challenges, setbacks and triumphs. Whenever the choice came between ideology and power, he always chose the former. He was able to convince the nation that an alternative worldview from Congress was possible and such a worldview could deliver. On his 100th Jayanti, let us rededicate ourselves to realising his ideals and fulfilling his vision for India. Let us strive to build an India that embodies his principles of good governance, unity, and progress. Atal Jis unwavering belief in the potential of our nation continues to inspire us to aim higher and work harder.

Congress takes on AAP: Veteran Farhad Suri to challenge Sisodia in Jangpura

NEW DELHI: The Congress party has fielded veteran leader and former Delhi Mayor Farhad Suri against AAP stalwart and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Jangpura assembly constituency. This development sets the stage for a high-stakes battle in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The announcement came late Tuesday evening with the release of Congress's second list of 26 candidates. The partys Central Election Committee (CEC) finalized the names during a meeting chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, with former party chief Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders participating via video conference. In another key contest, Jitender Kumar Kochar will take on AAPs Somnath Bharti in the Malviya Nagar constituency. Bharti has held the seat for three consecutive terms, making it a crucial battleground for Congresss revival efforts. Among other notable candidates, Rajesh Lilothia has been fielded for the Seemapuri seat, Asim Ahmed for Matia Mahal, and Devender Sehrawat for Bijwasan. The grand old party is also considering former MLA and All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba to contest against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi from the Kalkaji constituency. Lamba, a former AAP member, previously won the Chandni Chowk seat under the AAP banner but later switched to Congress. Her potential contest with Atishi promises to be a closely watched fight given their shared political history. The first list, released last Thursday, included 21 names, notably featuring former MP Sandeep Dikshit, who is set to take on AAPs Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency. This sets up a direct contest between Dikshit and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, a significant battle in the upcoming elections. Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin, the Congresss Delhi in-charge, emphasized that the second list was finalized after extensive deliberations. The screening committee had already reviewed candidates, and the CEC provided a detailed, seat-specific analysis. Most seats have been cleared, and the remaining names will be announced soon, he said. With the inclusion of seasoned leaders and high-profile candidates, Congress is aiming to mount a formidable challenge against the Aam Aadmi Party, signaling its intent to regain lost ground in Delhi politics.

Shyam Benegal: Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Manoj Bajpayee Mourn Death Of India's 'Most Humane Storyteller'

Tributes continued to pour in for filmmaker Benegal, with Amitabh Bachchan, Nafisa Ali, Karisma Kapoor and Ajay Devgn remembering the 'stalwart' and 'legend' for his contribution to Indian cinema.

Condolences pour in for legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal

Tributes poured in for the veteran filmmaker, with political leaders, parties, members of the film industry, and people from various walks of life hailing Shyam Benegal as a master storyteller who redefined cinema, inspired audiences with his visionary films, and nurtured great actors into stars. Benegal, the pioneer of Indian parallel cinema, whose iconic films such as Ankur , Mandi , Nishant , and Junoon became milestones of the 1970s and 1980s, died on Monday at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital due to chronic kidney disease. He was 90. Shabana Azmi, a close associate and frequent collaborator of Benegal, shared the funeral details on social media. The last rites will take place at 3 pm on Tuesday at Shivaji Park Electric Crematorium in Mumbai's Dadar neighbourhood. President Murmu said Benegal started a new kind of cinema and crafted several classics. A veritable institution, he groomed many actors and artists. His extraordinary contribution was recognised in the form of numerous awards including Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan. My condolences to the members of his family and his countless admirers, she posted on X. The passing of Shri Shyam Benegal marks the end of a glorious chapter of Indian cinema and television. He started a new kind of cinema and crafted several classics. A veritable institution, he groomed many actors and artists. His extraordinary contribution was recognised in the President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 23, 2024 PM Modi said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti, he posted on X. Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Shyam Benegal Ji, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 23, 2024 Bachchan paid homage to the director in an X post. We have lost another stalwart of the Film Industry today . Shyam Benegal passes away. Prayers and condolences (sic) he wrote. T 5233 - We have lost another stalwart of the Film Industry today .. Shyam Benegal passes away .. Prayers and condolences Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 23, 2024 Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar shared a photo of Benegal with her stepmother Azmi and Smita Patil, the actors of his acclaimed film Nishant, at its Cannes Film Festival premiere in 1976. The OG Mr Benegal. Cannes 1976 with his film Nishant. With him were the two leading ladies he had introduced to the screen, Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi. RIP Sir. Thank You For The New Wave. Thank You For The Films, Akhtar wrote on Instagram. Actor Shreyas Talpade called Benegal an institution in himself. The duo worked together in the 2008 comedy drama Welcome To Sajjanpur. Dear Shyam sir. I consider myself blessed that I had the privilege of working with you. Every day on the sets of Welcome to Sajjanpur felt like attending a mesmerising masterclass. The Shreyas who started the film and the Shreyas who walked off the sets after the shoot were different individuals--all thanks to you, Talpade wrote. Top actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder-chief Kamal Haasan on Tuesday hailed legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal as the most humane storyteller, who brought real India to the screen. In a post on 'X' Kamal Haasan said India has lost the most humane storyteller of our time, and I've lost a guru. Through his lens, Shyam Benegal brought real India to the screen, making us love the ordinary while tackling profound social subjects. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who cherished his art. India has lost the most humane storyteller of our time, and Ive lost a guru. Through his lens, Shyam Benegal brought real India to the screen, making us love the ordinary while tackling profound social subjects. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who pic.twitter.com/N6PVP37UYM Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) December 24, 2024 Benegal tribute | Long live Shyam Babu. You are a story well told Actor Manoj Bajpayee said Shyam Benegal passing is heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema. He said Shyam Benegal wasn't just a legend, he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations. It was an absolute honor to have had the opportunity to work with him. His legacy will live on in the stories he told and the lives he touched. Rest in peace Shyam Babu, Om Shanti,' he posted on X. A heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema. Shyam Benegal wasnt just a legend, he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations. Working with him in Zubeidaa was a transformative experience for me, exposing me to his unique style of storytelling & nuanced pic.twitter.com/EH0eosqkAR manoj bajpayee (@BajpayeeManoj) December 23, 2024 Akshay Kumar said he is pained after learning about Benegal's death. One of the finest filmmakers in our country, truly a legend. Om Shanti, he said. Pained to know of Shyam Benegal jis demise. One of the finest filmmakers in our country, truly a legend. Om Shanti pic.twitter.com/FGbMf0l0jO Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 23, 2024 Telugu superstar and politician Chiranjeevi also paid tributes to Benegal. Deeply saddened at the departure of Shri Shyam Benegal, one of the finest film makers and great intellectuals of our country. He discovered & nurtured some of the brightest film talents of India. His films, biographies and documentaries form part of India's greatest cultural treasure!! A fellow Hyderabadi & former Rajya Sabha member, Benegal Sab's masterful works will always be held in great esteem in Indian Cinema! Rest In Peace Sir!! he wrote. Deeply saddened at the departure of Shri Shyam Benegal,one of the finest film makers and great intellectuals of our country. He discovered & nurtured some of the brightest film talents of India. His films, biographies and documentaries form part of Indias greatest cultural Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) December 23, 2024 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also condoled the death of the filmmaker. Saddened by the demise of our iconic filmmaker Shyam Benegal. A pillar of Indian parallel cinema, he was loved and admired by all connoisseurs. My condolences to his family, friends and followers. Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 23, 2024 , Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) December 23, 2024 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Benegal was a visionary filmmaker who brought India's stories to life with depth and sensitivity. His legacy in cinema and commitment to social issues will inspire generations. Heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and admirers worldwide. Saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal ji, a visionary filmmaker who brought Indias stories to life with depth and sensitivity. His legacy in cinema and commitment to social issues will inspire generations. Heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and admirers worldwide. pic.twitter.com/J6ARdNiVNV Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 23, 2024

Day temperatures drop sharply in North India; intense cold wave persists in Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Day temperatures dropped sharply in several areas of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh after light rain hit parts of north India on Monday, even as intense cold wave conditions persisted in Kashmir with mercury dipping several degrees below freezing point. In Himachal Pradesh, Shimla and nearby areas also witnessed light snowfall which led to the closure of 30 roads in the state. People in the national capital woke up to a drizzle and fog with the minimum temperature settling at 8.6 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The maximum temperatures in Haryana and Punjab witnessed a sharp dip as rain lashed many parts the two states. According to the Met office, Chandigarh, which received light rain during the day, recorded a maximum temperature of 13.7 degrees Celsius, down six notches against normal. In Haryana, Ambala recorded a maximum temperature of 13.2 degrees Celsius, down six notches against normal while Hisar also had a cold day at a high of 14.1 degrees. High altitude areas in Uttarakhand including the famous Himalayan temples received fresh snowfall and icy winds sweeping across the state. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib in Garhwal Himalayas and Munsiyari in Kumaon region received fresh snowfall intensifying cold throughout the state. The sky remained overcast throughout the day at many places including Dehradun which also received a drizzle. Mussoorie, Dhanolti and Chakrata also received snowfall, much to the delight of tourists. Temperatures dropped sharply. People were seen sitting around bonfires along the roadside to warm themselves. VIDEO | Severe cold freezes waterfalls in Uttarakhand. Visuals from Chamoli's Niti Valley. (Full video available on PTI Videos- https://t.co/n147TvrpG7 ) pic.twitter.com/DwE2bHFrsj Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 23, 2024 Cold weather conditions also prevailed in Karnal during the day at 13.6 degrees while Sirsa recorded a high of 14.8 degrees. However, minimum temperatures hovered above normal at many places in Haryana including Hisar (10.8 degrees), Rohtak (11.8), and Gurugram (11.4). In Punjab, Patiala braved the chill recording a high of 13 degrees Celsius, which was six notches below normal. Amritsar recorded a maximum of 16.4 degrees while Ludhiana recorded a high of 14.5 degrees. The minimum temperatures at many places in Punjab hovered close to or below normal limits, with Gurdaspur reeling under severe chill at 4 degrees. In Jammu and Kashmir, the weather office asked tourists to follow the advisory issued by the traffic police in view of the sub freezing temperatures and icy conditions over roads of important higher reaches in the Kashmir valley. Snowfall in Himachal brings cheer to tourists, orange alert issued Intense cold wave conditions persisted in the valley leading to the freezing of water supply lines while a thin layer of ice covered the surface of several water bodies. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius on Sunday night, rising by nearly four degrees from the previous night, the meteorological office said. Pahalgam, the base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra in South Kashmir, registered a minimum temperature of minus 5 degrees Celsius, almost unchanged from the previous night, it said. The Met office has predicted a dip of two to three degrees in minimum temperatures over the next 48 hours. Shimla, the Himachal capital, on Monday recorded the season's second light snowfall while some other parts of the state received intermittent rain and snow. The nearby tourist spots of Kufri and Narkanda and the higher reaches of Kharapathar, Chaurdhar and Chanshal South portal of the Atal tunnel, and Samdho also received snowfall. Shimla recorded 8 cm of snowfall while Kalpa recorded 7 cm. As GRAP fails, Delhi pollution strategy looks suspect A few areas in Himachal's lower hills received light intermittent rain, the Met office said. The snow led to the closure of 30 roads, including the national highways between Attari and Leh, and Khab Sangam in Kinnaur district and Gramphoo in Lahaul and Spiti district, the State Emergency Operation Centre said. The snowfall brought cheer to tourists, locals and farmers. The Met had forecast rain and snow in the mid and higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh on Monday, Tuesday and Friday and Saturday. The snowfall also brought cheer to apple growers, raising hope for good yields in the upper Shimla region. Tourism stakeholders said the snowfall was also expected to boost footfall. Local hotelier Sushant Nag said occupancy was set to rise as snowfall drew tourists. However, intense cold wave persisted in the lower hills, including Una, Hamirpur, Chamba and Mandi. The Met office issued an 'orange' warning for severe cold in Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi till Thursday. There was a marked fall in maximum temperatures. Una recorded the day temperature at 16.8 degrees Celsius. Tabo was the coldest place in the state, recording a minimum temperature of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius. Power cuts add to Jammu and Kashmir winter woes The Met office said an active western disturbance was likely to affect the western Himalayan region and adjoining plains from Friday. Light rain and snow are likely at many places on Monday and Saturday and at isolated places on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, causing a gradual fall in temperatures, it said. The high-altitude tribal areas and mountain passes continued to experience biting cold, with temperatures plummeting 14 to 18 degrees below freezing point, the Met office said. In Rajasthan, light rain, triggered by a western disturbance, hit several parts of the state over the past 24 hours, accompanied by dense fog at some places, the Met office said. Rainfall ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm was logged in several areas including Ganganagar, Churu, Bikaner, Anupgarh, Pilani (Jhunjhunu), it said. Fog prevailed at many places of western Rajasthan with Alwar recording the lowest minimum temperature at 7.4 degrees Celsius. A fresh western disturbance is expected to become active on Thursday and Friday and its effect will be seen in Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer and Bharatpur divisions, the weather office said.

Congress targets Centre over Pegasus case

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday criticised the government over the recent US court ruling on Pegasus spyware, which revealed that 300 out of 1,400 targeted WhatsApp numbers belonged to Indians. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala called for the Supreme Court of India to reopen the Pegasus case and conduct a fresh inquiry based on the US judgment. The US court held Israel's NSO Group liable for violating state and federal hacking laws and WhatsApp's terms of service. WhatsApp welcomed the ruling, stating it sends a clear message to spyware companies about accountability for illegal activities targeting journalists, activists, and civil society. In 2022, India's Supreme Court formed a technical panel to investigate allegations of snooping using Pegasus spyware. While Pegasus was not detected in the examined phones, malware was found in five devices. Surjewala demanded the government disclose the identities of the 300 Indians targeted, including two Union ministers, three Opposition leaders, and other key figures. He also questioned how the information gathered was used or misused and whether criminal cases would be filed against the officials involved. Additionally, he urged the Supreme Court to release the technical committee's findings and ask Meta to provide the list of targeted Indian numbers to ensure justice. He also called on Facebook and WhatsApp to fulfil their duty of care by disclosing the targeted names.

Shreya Sen-Handley | Alternative awards for the year-end warp-up

We wrap every year up at its end with tinsel, and meaningless pleasantries about the next. But lets not mince words this time, certainly not mince-pie (aka sugarcoat) em. Politesse changes nothing and what we need is change. This years skullduggery, for example, will impact us for decades. The murderous madmen we elect, and the lethal canards they, and other evil folk spread, will result in democracys end and the onset of another Dark Age. Thats why its not a wrap this year-end, but a warp. Warped means dangerously twisted and this world is plenty that. But what if, like a trick mirror at a fun fair, we can warp reality to our advantage, for a laugh if nothing else? When all the lifesaving vaccines are banned by Trumps new antivaxxing ministry, laughter will be the only medicine we have left. The year-end also brings loot by the limoloads, with which tiny cliques of privileged people reward each other for scratching their backs well. Always afraid that the rest of us plebs might snatch their bootee (not to be confused with booty, up next!), they frostily batten down the hatches. Why not, therefore, discombobulate them, by giving them more of what they crave? Awards more fitting, I promise you, than the outrageous annual payments they gift themselves (do I smell a Muskrat or is that $56bn in ill-gotten gains?), or the made-much-of awards that are handed out like party favours amongst the One Per Cent. These poor little rich prats might have cornered the worlds resources, but have they got what they truly deserve? NO, but Im not that bitch Karma, sadly, so I cant deliver just desserts. Yet, ask yourself, what do you give someone who has EVERYTHING? Here are six prizes so perfect for avaricious fat cats and ruthless despots that theyve never even considered them (but, goodness, arent they worthy): The Fattest Bear of The Year usually goes to the Alaskan bear thats piled on the most pounds before ambling into hibernation. Theyve wolfed all the salmon for the right reasons survival but this year, it should go to a beary, beary bad human. Many politicians would be serious contenders, bloated with greed and lust for power, yet, our accolade isnt for body shape but fatheadedness, and must go to Bobby Bear. Named thus for illegally killing a beautiful bear, who was hurting no-one, Bob Kennedy Jr, Trumps health tsar, on the other hand, will hurt all of humanity by outlawing the lifesaving vaccines and vital medicines that have made our planet safe for us. All because his desire for power and mental capacity are inversely proportional. The Ugliest Dog Contest was bagged by so-ugly-shes-stunning Peggy this year, going on to star as Dogpool in the Hollywood blockbuster of a similar name, but should really have been scooped up by goggle-eyed, prune-faced Nigel Farage, who gives kuttas a bad name. His pug-ugly mug may not matter but his mangy soul is a problem. When not getting his fangs into immigrants and Musk-money, deadly misinformation is his currency. Cravenly running to Trump every time he whistles, Farage is no British bulldog. The World Moustache Championship should have been won by Adolf Hitler time and again, instead of the lands he brutalised, and so should the prize for genocide (though the British in India should share in this gory did I miss an L? No siree). Yet, in Netanyahu, currently, theres a new contender for his crown. 46,000 civilian deaths and counting, this villain doesnt even need a silly moustache. The Darwin Award is won every year by a poor fool whos literally shot himself in the foot (or done one better and removed themselves from the gene pool). This one must go to British PM Keir Starmer in 2024, who came to power on the back of a landslide and then proceeded to muck it up in the short span of a few spattered months. Now his approval rating is lower than Rishi Sunaks and he aint even brown (which, keeping Kamala in mind, is the least popular colour in the Western political spectrum) The Caber Tossing Championship in Scotland is generally snagged by brawny, kilt-wearing Scots stalwarts, but even the petite, late Queen Elizabeth II is said to have tried her hand at it, so why not our own dearest Narendra? Involving tossing a log an impressive distance, it would give our manly Prime Minister a chance to flex his muscles, far from home where little damage can be done (except to highland cows whom, Im sure, he wouldnt harm a hair on), while showing off the girth of his calves 56-inches again, na ? Rear of The Year is presented anallyoops, annuallyto the celebrity with the cutest butt. What if we awarded it, not for the hottest derriere, but for being the worlds worst a-h*l*? This honour can only be conferred on the person whos done the most to condemn the earth to calamity and devastation. Not many can poison more than their own patch, and so, we must give it to either the worlds biggest fart, Donald Trump, or his malodorous henchman, Elon Musk. Both of whom infect everything in their path with their maleficence. You decide. Now then, dont you feel better? Having handed your superiors largesse to which they arent entitled, just like at every election? And why not? This festive time of year is about giving, after all!

Man's headless body found in Tamil Nadu

Alwarkurichi: A 45-year-old man's headless body was found in this town in Tenkasi district, police said on Saturday. Police identified the victim as Irudayaraj and said his body was found dead near a water body in which he had a fishing lease. He was allegedly killed by unidentified members and the severed head was also lying nearby, police added. Citing preliminary investigation, police said a property dispute could have led to the murder.

Kohli Leaving India, Set To Move To UK With Wife Anushka And Kids: Coach

Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has claimed that the India stalwart is planning to move to the UK soon.

Ashwin deserved a fitting farewell, says Kapil Dev

New Delhi: Unable to comprehend R Ashwin's sudden decision to retire from international cricket, a shocked World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev says the premier off-spinner deserved a fitting farewell, ideally on home soil. Ashwin stunned one and all by calling it quits on Wednesday, right after the Brisbane Test against Australia ended in a draw. Kapil felt Ashwin seemed unhappy with something. I was shocked by how one of India's greatest cricketers chose to leave the game. The disappointment among the fans was widespread, but I also saw a tinge of hurt on his face. He looked unhappy, and that was sad. He deserved much better, a fitting farewell, Kapil said in a statement to PTI. As has been his wont, Ashwin chose to walk his own way while retiring in the middle of an important series. Kapil said he would like to hear the Tamil Nadu man's side of story. He could have waited and announced his retirement on Indian soil, but I don't know why Ashwin called it a day. I would want to hear his side of the story. Give him that respect. He has played 106 Tests for the country. I don't think anyone can match his humongous contribution to Indian cricket. Kapil hoped that the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) would arrange a grand farewell to Ashwin. I'm sure the parent body of cricket in India, BCCI, shall plan a grand farewell for this giant match-winner of Team India, he said. Kapil, 65, said Ashwin was a stalwart, a versatile and unorthodox bowler, who constantly hustled the batters with his change of pace and cleverly disguised line and length. He was ready to experiment, and that is what set him apart. In a game where the batters get the most accolades, Ashwin stood out with his prowess. Ashwin was brave. He could bowl at any stage of the contest. Do you find bowlers with such tremendous tactical sense who can adapt quickly? He was his captain's go-to man, he said. Praising both his cricketing brain and off-field character, Kapil said Ashwin was a match-winner with no parallel in modern cricket. He has won India's highest number of Man of the Series awards. That is a tremendous compliment that puts his game and consistency in perspective. He was not a yes man and came across as a gritty fighter. He was a rare spinner who could bowl with the new ball, just like Anil Kumble. Thank God I didn't have to play alongside him. I would have lost my place to Ashwin. He could bat, bowl, field. He had the carrom ball, a superb slower one; if need be, he could pull out a leg-spinner too. Amazing. He could do everything possible on the cricket field, he said, eulogising the man who ended with 537 Test wickets. Only a champion is not insecure, and Ashwin was a champion. He has given us great joy. I wish him all the joy of the world, he said.