Ben Duckett's record-breaking ton powers England to a commanding total against Australia

England's Ben Duckett scored a record-breaking 150 runs against Australia in the Champions Trophy at Lahore, surpassing the previous highest individual score in the tournament's history. Duckett's explosive innings featured 17 fours and 3 sixes. Joe Root also contributed with a half-century, helping England post a formidable total despite early setbacks.

'Pay heed to Trump's remarks on paper-ballot voting': Congress to PM Modi

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to heed to his friend, US President Donald Trump, for using paper ballots and not machines for voting to address the concerns of the entire country on the integrity of India's electoral process. Congress general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal wondered why the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is feigning ignorance to what the entire world is saying and why is its government running away from transparency. Will PM Modi pay heed to his best friend Donald Trump's message on ballot papers and same day voting, and address the concerns of the whole nation about the integrity of our electoral process? Venugopal asked in a post on X. I'm sure his best friend will also be appalled at the abnormal increase of lakhs of voters in Maharashtra, or the surgical deletions of opposition votes, he said, citing Trump's remarks at a governors' meeting. At the meeting, Trump was heard urging governors to switch to paper ballots and same-day voting, claiming that machines are expensive. It is tragic that the BJP is feigning ignorance to what is evident to the entire world, that the electoral system can be severely manipulated and their attitude of running away from transparency is only confirming our suspicions about their malpractices, Venugopal said. The Congress has been demanding a return to the paper-ballot system for voting for quite some time, alleging that the results of electronic voting machines are doubtful, even as the Election Commission (EC) has been saying that no one has been able to prove anything wrong with EVMs. The government has repeatedly told Parliament that there is no going back to the paper-ballot system.

Action to be taken against those involved in death of Nepalese student on KIIT campus: Odisha govt

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Saturday said all those responsible for the death of a Nepalese student of a private engineering institute KIIT and the alleged assault on the pupils from the Himalayan country would not be spared. Congress activists also held a demonstration, demanding the immediate arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta. A large number []

Action to be taken against those involved in death of Nepalese student on KIIT campus: Odisha government

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Saturday said all those responsible for the death of a Nepalese student of a private engineering institute KIIT and the alleged assault on the pupils from the Himalayan country would not be spared. Congress activists also held a demonstration, demanding the immediate arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta. A large number of youth and student activists of Congress staged the protest before the main gate of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and burnt effigy of Samanta. A scuffle broke out between the security personnel and the agitators when Congress workers attempted to barge into the KIIT campus. The Congress activists held the demonstration a day after the party MLAs in the assembly demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of a 20-year-old Nepalese student and subsequently, the alleged attack on pupils from the neighbouring country. Odisha's Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, however, said that the state government was committed to taking stringent action in the KIIT incidents. The government is waiting for the findings of a high-level committee, he said, adding that eight top functionaries of KIIT, including its founder, have deposed before the government panel and recorded their statement on the incidents. Based on the findings of the committee, the government will initiate action, Suraj said. The police are also investigating the matter and at least 10 people including, bouncers, security guards and other officials of the institute, have been arrested so far, the minister said. He said the police took action based on the evidence from the CCTV footage. Referring to the death of the female student, the minister said one person has been arrested on the charge of abetment to suicide and police have been verifying his involvement in harassing the student. The police have sent a viral audio clip for the voice spectrograph test to ascertain its authenticity, the minister said, adding that if found true, a case under IT Act will also be framed against the accused. Dissatisfied with minister's reply on KIIT student suicide issue BJD, Congress stage walkout in Odisha Assembly Senior Congress leader and former Odisha chief secretary Bijay Patnaik, at a press conference here on Saturday, alleged that there was acial discrimination among students at KIIT as the Nepalese students alone were evicted from the campus. The private institute's staffers also used insulting words against Nepal, which has close ties with India, he claimed. Patnaik also wondered about the alleged silence of the University Grants Commission (UGC) or the central government over the KIIT incidents. The KIIT should immediately be issued a show cause notice asking it to explain why its Deemed to be University' status would not be withdrawn for the racial and discriminatory activities, he alleged. Stating that the KIIT incidents have earned a ad name for the state, Patnaik said foreign students and their parents will henceforth think several times before sending their wards to study in Odisha. One special cell should be opened at the governor's house here for receiving complaints from foreign students, he said. Patnaik alleged that the KIIT founder was a BJD MP and therefore got patronage from the previous government. Now, the KIIT incident has come as a challenge for the new BJP government to prove that it is different from the BJD dispensation, he added. Odisha govt panel summons KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta over Nepalese student's death

Action to be taken against those involved in death of Nepali student on KIIT campus: Odisha govt

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government Saturday said all those responsible for the death of a Nepalese student of a private engineering institute KIIT and the alleged assault on the pupils from the Himalayan country would not be spared. Congress activists also held a demonstration, demanding the immediate arrest of KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta. A large number []

Manipur valley sees mass protests against arrests and PR

Imphal: Widespread protests erupted across Manipurs valley regions on Friday night, with residents denouncing the arrests of village volunteers and the imposition of Presidents Rule. Torchlight rallies and sit-in demonstrations were held in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur districts, demanding the restoration of normalcy and the immediate formation of a new state government. In [] The post Manipur valley sees mass protests against arrests and PR appeared first on NorthEast Now .

Karnataka bus conductor attacked over language row in Belgavi

Bengaluru: Tension prevailed in the border district of Belagavi on Saturday following the assault on an RTC bus conductor by a group of people for asking them to speak in Kannada. Kannada organisations staged a protest and blocked the Belagavi-Bagalkot road, demanding that the police take action against those who attacked the bus conductor. The 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 .

Champions Trophy: Bangladesh Hope For Mahmudullah Boost Ahead Of Must-win New Zealand Clash

Champions Trophy: Bangladesh are optimistic about senior batter Mahmudullahs availability for their crucial Champions Trophy match against New Zealand in Rawalpindi on February 24. Bangladesh need to secure a win in the match to keep their semifinal chances alive. Mahmudullah, who had been in fine form with four fifties in his last four ODIs, sustained a calf muscle injury during training ahead of the India game. His absence was felt as Bangladesh crumbled to 35/5 early on before Towhid Hridoys century and Jaker Alis fifty led a fightback. Despite their efforts, India chased down the target in the 48th over, winning by six wickets. Although Bangladesh stretched the game with their bowling on a slow pitch, their under-par total proved costly. With the Champions Trophys short format, they now find themselves in must-win territory. We are hopeful regarding his (Mahmudullah) availability (for remaining part of the tournament). He is recovering well but a final decision in this regard can only be taken after the last practice session ahead of our game against New Zealand in Rawalpindi, Cricbuzz quoted Bangladesh team manager Rabeed Imam as saying. We had a scan after he sustained the injury and there was no tear found. It's a good sign and whenever he feels comfortable he will be ok to play I guess as there is no tear, he added. Meanwhile, New Zealand enter the contest brimming with confidence after a commanding 60-run win over Pakistan in Karachi on February 19. They are also coming off a dominant tri-series victory in Pakistan, where they remained unbeaten, including two wins over the hosts. Given the formidable challenge ahead, Bangladesh will greatly benefit from Mahmudullahs experience and composure in their high-stakes clash against the Black Caps. Bangladesh team manager confirmed that Towhid Hridoy, who suffered cramps while scoring his maiden ODI century, is fit and has no fitness concerns. Bangladesh have arrived in Pakistan and will hold their first practice session on Saturday, where Mahmudullahs recovery will be closely monitored by the team management. Bangladesh team manager confirmed that Towhid Hridoy, who suffered cramps while scoring his maiden ODI century, is fit and has no fitness concerns. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Army Officer Chairs Multi-Agency Security Review Meeting In Jammu

Jammu, Feb 22: General Officer Commanding of Jammu-based White Knight Corps Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva on Saturday conducted a joint security review meeting here with focus on maintaining peace in the region, the Army said. The meeting comes amid intensified search operations across Jammu to counter terrorists, who have shown their presence in different districts of the division by carrying out a number of attacks last year. A Joint security review meeting chaired by GOC White Knight Corps was conducted [] The post Army Officer Chairs Multi-Agency Security Review Meeting In Jammu appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Greater Noida shocker: Woman drags crying boy out of lift after he pleads over unleashed dog

A woman in Greater Noida's Gaur City 2 was detained after being caught on video manhandling a young boy who pleaded with her to keep her unleashed dog outside a lift. Residents of the society are demanding strict action following the incident, which has sparked widespread outrage.

'Officer on Duty' Movie Review: Kunchacko Boban excels in an intense but formulaic thriller

At a crucial point in the initial half of Officer on Duty , Kunchacko Bobans character Harishankar witnesses a horrific sight of a hanging dead body. It triggers in him flashes of his traumatic past, leading to a severe panic attack. When was the last time we saw a police officer experiencing a traumatic breakdown? Not sure. But if you notice, most of Shahi Kabirs works have one such disturbing scene. InJoseph(2018), the protagonist is never able to return to normal life after witnessing his ex-girlfriends half-decomposed body. Something similar happens to Sunitha and Praveen inNayattu(2021) and Madhu in Shahis directorial debutEla Veezha Poonchira(2022), as well. Malayalam cinema, which once celebrated its foul-mouthed, macho police heroes, is gradually slanting towards more realistic portrayals. And Shahi, a cop himself, has been at the forefront of this remarkable evolution. Through cops of different characteristics and shades, he has often shown a special interest in exploring their mental health. In Officer on Duty , his protagonist Harishankar is introduced as a hot-headed and haughty police officer, who returns to duty after being demoted. We get a hint about his traumatic past through a phone conversation where his wife asks him about taking medicines. Harishankars aggressive nature is underlined in his very first scene when he stomps a woman, who claims to be pregnant, on her stomach. Kunchacko Boban is terrific here, easily a few notches higher than his underappreciated police performance inAllu Ramendran(2019). The actor comes across as intimidating with his commanding body language and ruthless aggression in his dialogue delivery. As the narrative progresses, we also see him ably handling the characters guilt, angst, and perseverance. Debutant director Jithu Ashraf shows great urgency with how he sets up the initial half of the film. Harishankars investigation into a petty chain case leads him to a series of grave crimes that also involve his family. Unlike Shahis usual works, the screenplay here is racy without offering much of a breathing space, neither for the characters in it nor for the viewers. Things come to a sudden jolt with the aforementioned suicide scene. The terrifying shot and the build-up towards it are superbly choreographed by the makers, enabling us to feel the tension and claustrophobia. Shahi, despite his affinity for police stories, doesnt always glorify the force. Even in Officer on Duty , he doesnt shy away from exposing the weeds in the system. In fact, it is a cops inhuman act that sets off a chain of heinous crimes in this story.Similarly, Harishankar is also not portrayed as a flawless character. Though theres a feeble attempt, in the end, to wash him of the sins, its undeniable that its his impulsive and violent behaviour that leads to an unfortunate death. The writing, however, is not always this effective, particularly after the introduction of the villain gang and the familiar routes traversed to nab them. The film resorts to the stereotypical portrayal of hoodie-wearing, tattooed druggies, hailing from... where else but Bangalore. The substance abuse portions are filmed with hardly any novelty; just repeated close-up shots of a white powder, its snorting, and the dash of ecstasy it offers. The performances of the actors cast as the gang members are also typically one-note, with Ramzan managing to stand out. Vishak Nair, as the gangs leader, does well with the stunts but fails to invoke the terror his character is supposed to. Despite these missteps, the film has enough in it to keep one engaged. The action sequences, especially the ones in a mortuary and rubber shed, are filmed with the right intensity. You know a stunt sequence is well thought out when you see characters grabbing whatevers available in their vicinity to fight and protect themselves. With the characters being eccentric, theres also a crazy energy evident in the choreography. With a formulaic second half thats more into action and thrills, it seems like the makers were keen to ensure Officer on Duty doesnt face the same box office fate asNayattuandEla Veezha Poonchiria. Both these films, despite their overall excellence, were criticised for being too slow. With Officer on Duty , Chaman Chakkos racy cuts offer hardly any time to sit back and rethink about the loopholes. As a result, it trades tension for pace, and the characters, except for Harishankar, dont have much depth. It would have been nice to know a little more about his wife Geetha (Priyamani) and how she coped with the loss of a dear one. Officer on Duty could have been among the riveting cop thrillers in recent times, if not for the commercial compromises it settles for. Film: Officer On Duty Director: Jithu Ashraf Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Vishak Nair, Priyamani, Jagadish, Vishnu G Warrier, Leya Mammen, Aiswarya Raj, Vaisakh Shankar, Amit Eapen Rating: 3/5

Cong MLAs spend night inside Raj assembly on 'Dadi' remark

Congress MLAs in Rajasthan continued their sit-in protest inside the Assembly, demanding the withdrawal of a minister's remarks about former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The protest began after six Congress MLAs were suspended following an uproar in the House over the minister's comment. The Speaker adjourned the House until Monday, but the Congress MLAs remained in the Assembly and spent the night there. The opposition claims the government is deliberately creating the issue to avoid running the House.

Govind Bhog, Jhilli rice to be offered in Kotha Bhog at Shri Jagannath temple

PURI: The Govind Bhog and Jhilli varieties of rice will be offered in Kotha Bhog to the Trinity in Shri Jagannath temple. In a release on Thursday night, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Arabinda Padhee said Mahaprasad was cooked separately using five varieties of rice from Koraput and other parts of the state and offered to the deities in Kotha Bhog. After assessing the taste, flavour and quality, SJTA officials and members of the Suar and Mahasuar nijogs recommended Govind Bhog and Jhilli varieties of rice for offering in Kotha Bhog, he informed. Kotha Bhog is the statutory offerings of Mahaprasad to the deities in prescribed quantity while the Mahaprasad sold in Ananda Bazaar is prepared by supakaras for commercial use to cater to the need of devotees. The SJTA chief said the officials concerned have been asked to ensure the production of these two varieties of rice in large quantities for use in Kotha Bhog. Other varieties of rice could also be offered in the Mahaprasad meant for commercial use. The rice varieties were selected under Amrut Anna, a special project launched by the SJTA to make Mahaprasad more tastier and healthier. Under the project, rice and vegetables grown organically without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides will be offered to the deities in Kotha Bhog. Earlier, the Srimandir administration had banned the use of spurious ghee in lighting of lamps and preparation of all types of bhogs including the famous khaja which are offered to the Trinity. The SJTA has now mandated the use of ghee and other products supplied only by the state-run Omfed.

Farmers hit streets demanding free power in Odisha

BARGARH : Demanding free electricity, farmers of Bhatli block took to the streets and gheraoed the local tehsil office on Friday. In the morning, the agitators under the banner of Jay Kisan Andolan took out a procession from Bhatli town hall and reached Bhatli tehsil office shouting slogans. They also held a protest meeting on the spot. Led by block president Manabhanjan Pradhan, the farmers also submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, to additional tehsildar Abhiram Seth. In the memorandum, they demanded free electricity for agricultural purposes. The farmers said at least 300 units of electricity should be provided to each family and also demanded an end to privatisation of the electricity sector. This apart, they said mill owners should be prevented from intervening in the paddy procurement process. The millers should also not force farmers to use nano fertilisers. Convener of Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS) Lingaraj said the protest against privatisation of the electricity sector had started from Bhatli and spread to the entire district. Due to the unity of farmers, the oppressive tactics of Tata Power were stopped in Bargarh. However, the state government is yet to provide free electricity up to 300 units which it had announced during the elections, he said. Lingaraj further claimed that though the current Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government in the state has provided input subsidy of `800 per quintal of paddy to farmers, the practice of deduction in mandis and exploitation by millers has increased compared to previous years. Besides, use of nano fertiliser has been made compulsory in the current kharif season, which is being opposed by farmers. The government should seriously consider these concerns of farmers and take immediate steps to resolve the issues. If our demands are not met, protest will be intensified across the district, he threatened. The agitating farmers also warned that if electricity of any farmer is disconnected during the cropping season, it will lead to an ugly situation.

US offers UN resolution on war in Ukraine that stops far short of competing European statement

The United States has proposed a draft resolution for the U.N. General Assembly that stops far short of a competing European-backed statement demanding an immediate withdrawal of all of Moscows forces from Ukraine

Modi govt gave tribals rightful recognition, says Amit Shah

NEW DELHI, Feb 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday emphasised the upliftment and empowerment of the tribal community, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the tribals their rightful recognition. Interacting with students of the rural and tribal community from Santokba Dholakiya Vidya Mandir in Gujarats Dang district, he said language has been a barrier for tribal students in medicine, engineering and technical education. To tackle the problem, the Modi government has provided the option for students to take exams [] The post Modi govt gave tribals rightful recognition, says Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

BJPs narrative was aimed at diverting attention from own sins: Congress on USAID row

NEW DELHI, Feb 21: A row erupted on Friday over a media report, which claimed that an amount of USD 21 million approved by the USAID was meant for Bangladesh and not India, with the Congress demanding an apology from the BJP and alleging that the ruling partys narrative was aimed at diverting attention from []

Nepali KIIT student death: A death in hostel and a campus on the boil

On February 16, a female student from Nepal was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Bhubaneswar. When protests demanding justice for her grew on campus, the university evicted more than 500 Nepali students, prompting a response from the Nepali Prime Minister and nearly triggering a diplomatic crisis.Satyasundar Barikreports on the incident and the ongoing protests

Apple removes Advanced Data Protection from U.K. iPhones following backdoor demand

Macworld Earlier this month, news broke that Apple had been served an order from the U.K. government demanding extraordinary access to its customers cloud data. The order, which was issued secretly and forbids Apple from publicly discussing it, was extraordinary in its scope: The U.K. government demanded the ability to view all Apple customer data stored in the cloud, regardless of location. In no uncertain terms, the U.K. government wanted Apple to build a backdoor to access its cloud encryption, globally . In response to this extraordinary demand, Apple is removing its Advanced Data Protection tool from the U.K. Apple has consistently, and rightly, resisted creating backdoors to its customers data. Data for which Apple holds the encryption key is submitted to law enforcement and other agencies after a lawful request (in the U.S., that means a warrant signed by a judge), but it does not make tools that allow outside agencies to decrypt and access data on its own. Whats more, Apple has worked to make more of your data end-to-end (E2E) encrypted, meaning only the customer has the encryption key and Apple does not have the capability to decode it, even if ordered to. A handful of iCloud services are end-to-end encrypted, but by enabling a tool called Advanced Data Protection (ADP), nearly all iCloud services become so. We have an article that explains the difference between the two encryption methods and shows which services have regular encryption and which are E2E encrypted, both as standard and with ADP enabled. According to the BBC , the Advanced Data Protection feature is being eliminated from the U.K. in response to the governments order. If a new customer tries to enable to feature, they are met with a message stating, Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection (ADP) in the United Kingdom to new users. The BBC says the feature will be disabled for existing users at a later date. The UK government did not respond, and would not confirm nor deny the existence of the order that sparked this move. Apples comment to the BBC also did not mention the order or any other compliance steps it may be taking, but said it was gravely disappointed that the feature will no longer be available for UK customers: As we have said many times before, we have never built a backdoor or master key to any of our products, and we never will. Its not clear if Apple has taken any other steps to comply with the demand (as it cannot even acknowledge receiving it, by law), other than taking the extraordinary step of vastly weakening the privacy and security of all its users in the U.K.

Panel quizzes KIIT founder in Nepalese student's suicide

The founder of KIIT, Achyuta Samanta, and other top officials of the private engineering college were questioned by a government committee about the alleged suicide of a Nepalese girl in her hostel and the assault on students of her country. The incident sparked outrage in the Odisha Assembly, with opposition members demanding a judicial inquiry. Samanta was questioned for two hours, along with the institute's Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Dean, and two suspended women officials. The committee is investigating the circumstances surrounding the student's suicide, the alleged high-handedness of the institute's administration, and the decision to suspend specific students and shut down the institute for them. The Odisha government has assured Nepalese students that it will cover their travel expenses, arrange remedial classes, and reschedule their mid-semester examinations if necessary.

Traffic policeman sentenced to three-year imprisonment for demanding bribein 2009

BJP Demands Karnataka Deputy CM's Resignation Over 'God Can't Fix Bengaluru Traffic' Comment

Demanding Shivakumar's resignation, BJP said he should step down and make way for someone more capable if he is unable to take responsibility and address the issues.

Champions Trophy: I Think The Batting Was Not Good Enough Today, Says Afghanistan Skipper Shahidi After 107-run Defeat

ICC Champions Trophy: Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted his side fell short in the batting department after they suffered a comprehensive 107-run defeat against South Africa in their ICC Champions Trophy opener at the National Stadium. Chasing a daunting target of 316, Afghanistan faltered early and never recovered despite a valiant 90 from Rahmat Shah. I think the batting was not good enough today. The pitch was helping them in the second innings. We did well in the bowling, but not so good in the first 20 overs [batting], Shahidi said after the match. The toss was important, it was not a typical Karachi pitch. Their bowlers bowled well [too]. South Africa, led by Ryan Rickeltons maiden ODI century, posted a commanding 315/6 before their pacers dismantled the Afghan batting lineup. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen combined to put the chase beyond reach, restricting Afghanistan to 208 in 43.3 overs. Opting to bat first, South Africa built their innings around Rickeltons sublime 103. The left-hander, fresh off an impressive SA20 campaign, paced his knock to perfection, forming crucial partnerships with captain Temba Bavuma (58) and Rassie van der Dussen (52). Despite a strong 129-run stand between Rickelton and Bavuma, Afghanistans spinners managed to pull things back in the middle overs. However, late contributions from Aiden Markram (52*) and David Miller propelled South Africa past the 300-run mark. Under lights, South Africas pace attack immediately put Afghanistan on the back foot. Jansen and Ngidi extracted bounce and movement, and their relentless pressure yielded quick wickets. We can fight, but we didnt play the way we wanted, Shahidi conceded. We have two games left, so we will forget what happened and look forward. Rahmat played really well in tough times, and we will take that as a positive. Inshallah, we will play quality cricket in the next two games. Despite the wickets tumbling at the other end, Rahmat Shah displayed immense composure and resilience. He reached his half-century in 62 balls, playing calculated strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking. Though not flashy, his knock was a testament to his technique and temperament under pressure. We can fight, but we didnt play the way we wanted, Shahidi conceded. We have two games left, so we will forget what happened and look forward. Rahmat played really well in tough times, and we will take that as a positive. Inshallah, we will play quality cricket in the next two games. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

CT: Ton-up Rickelton, pacers shine in SA's clinical win over Afghanistan

Ryan Rickelton scored his first ODI century, leading South Africa to a commanding total of 315-6 against Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy. The South African bowlers, led by Kagiso Rabada, restricted Afghanistan to 208 runs, securing a convincing 107-run victory in the Group B match.

Farah Khans Holi statement lands her in legal trouble; FIR registered after complaint by ex-Bigg Boss contestant

Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has landed in legal trouble over her recent comment on Holi. Social media personality Hindustani Bhau filed a complaint against her for allegedly calling Holi a festival of chhapris in a video, which sparked outrage online. The remark led to widespread criticism, with many demanding an apology. A politician also hit back, calling Farah the iggest chhapri. The controversy has escalated, with an FIR reportedly registered against her.

Supreme Court notice on plight of over 25,000 madrasa students in U.P.

The top court notice is in response to a petition demanding that madrasa students be accommodated or transferred to other educational institutions since their courses were declared unconstitutional

BJP Minister's Indira Gandhi 'Dadi' Remark In Rajasthan Assembly Sparks Row

Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully objected to the minister's statement and asked whether he was referring to former PM Indira Gandhi while demanding that the statement be struck from the record.

Political row over USAID fund recipient: BJP accuses Rahul of colluding with foreign forces, Congress demands white paper

New Delhi: A political row erupted Friday after a media report claimed USD 21 million aid by USAID was meant for Bangladesh and not India, with the Congress demanding an apology from the BJP and the ruling party accusing Rahul Gandhi of colluding with foreign forces to weaken India. The Congress alleged that the BJPs []

Ministers satirical remark on Indira Gandhi sparks storm in Rajasthan Assembly; six MLAs suspended

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Assembly turned into a battleground during Question Hour as a huge controversy erupted over a remark regarding former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Friday. Heated exchanges led to multiple disruptions, forcing the House to be adjourned three times. The controversy stemmed from Social Justice Minister Avinash Gehlot's statement during a discussion, where he remarked, As always, you named this scheme after your 'Dadi' (grandmother) Indira Gandhi, in the last budget of 2023-24. In reply to a question by Congress MLA Rafeeq Khan, the minister quipped, Under previous Congress regimes schemes were launched in the name of your (Oppositions) Dadi (Grandma) Indira Gandhi. What was the fate (status) of those schemes? This comment triggered a sharp reaction from the opposition, with Leader of Opposition Tikaram Juli condemning it, asserting, Indira Gandhi was a former Prime Minister; such language is unacceptable. Strong protests from the Opposition benches, led by the Congress state chief Govind Singh Dotasara, saw opposition MLAs trooping into the well raising slogans against the Ministers utterance and demanding an apology from the latter. Dotasara retorted What Dadi? Is it the decorum of the House to use such language? Amid intense protests, Congress MLAs stormed into the well of the House, prompting disciplinary action. Following a proposal by Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg, Speaker Vasudev Devnani approved the suspension of six opposition members, including Congress State President Dotasara, Deputy Leader of Opposition Ramkesh Meena, and MLAs Amin Kagzi, Zakir Hussain Gesavat, Hakam Ali Khan, and Sanjay Kumar, for the remainder of the budget session. In retaliation, Congress legislators staged a sit-in protest inside the Assembly, denouncing the suspension of their colleagues. Consequently, the House was adjourned until Monday. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also weighed in on the issue, taking to social media platform X to criticize the BJP-led Rajasthan government. He tweeted, The BJP government in Rajasthan appears unwilling to conduct Assembly proceedings smoothly. Their ministers and MLAs make unfounded and inappropriate remarks - sometimes about the late Prime Minister, sometimes about the late Chief Minister. Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) February 21, 2025 Slamming Minister Avinash Gehlots remarks on Indira Gandhi, he further wrote, Today, Minister Avinash Gehlot has made an unacceptable and disgraceful comment about Indira Gandhi, who sacrificed her life for the nation. Ashok Gehlot also rebuked BJP MLA Gopal Sharma for his recent claims that former Chief Minister Shivcharan Mathur had plotted encounters against Kirori Lal Meena and Harish Sharma. Calling the allegations deeply unfortunate, he reminded that Mathur was not just a dignified CM but also a freedom fighter. Taking a dig at the ruling party, he concluded, This exposes the BJPs regressive mindset, which prioritises baseless accusations over discussions on the states development.

Telangana official calls police on farmer demanding fair compensation for land

Hyderabad: A mandal revenue officer from Karimnagar called the police on a farmer who demanded fair compensation, on par with others, to alienate his land for a national highway in Karimnagar. Vengala Srinivas, resident of Thadikal village in Shankarapatnam mandal of Karimnagar district approved the MROs office on Friday, February 21, in connection with the 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 .

Delhi Mohalla clinics scheme to be probed, says health minister Pankaj Singh; likely to be renamed 'Aarogya Mandirs'

Delhi's new BJP-led administration announced a significant healthcare reform strategy, addressing staffing shortages, integrating digital health services, and enhancing hospital infrastructure. The plan includes establishing 'Aarogya Mandirs' and completing ongoing construction projects. Additionally, the government will assess the Health Information Management System implementation and enforce the Clinical Establishments Act to improve healthcare services.

Mandira Bedi asks MS Dhoni about two places he would love to go right now, these are ... and ...

Legendary Indian cricketer and former captain MS Dhoni has a special love for nature, and adventure. Recently, he talked about his favourite places.

Detention of village volunteers trigger widespread protests in Imphal

GUWAHATI: Protests broke out in different parts of Manipurs Imphal valley on Friday after security forces apprehended 28 village volunteers. According to reports, the persons, believed to be from the Meitei radical group Arambai Tenggol, were picked up during an early morning raid carried out at Panjao Pallumda in the Kakching district. They were later taken to a camp in Thoubal district and were reportedly released. When news about their apprehension spread, protests erupted in the five districts of Imphal Valley. The protestors burnt tyres and blocked roads. In the wake of the lightning protests, shopkeepers downed their shutters. Women had come out in large numbers in different parts of the valley. They shouted slogans demanding the immediate release of the persons and the revocation of the Presidents rule. President's Rule imposed in Manipur following Biren Singh's resignation amid ethnic violence They said Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla s call to people to surrender weapons was unreasonable as the crisis was yet to be resolved while a stable government was yet to be established. The governor had on Thursday issued a seven-day ultimatum asking people to surrender the looted weapons within seven days or face strict action. In an appeal, he stated that people of Manipur, both in the valley and the hills, suffered immense hardship for over 20 months due to a series of unfortunate incidents affecting peace and communal harmony. In the greater interest of restoring normalcy, so that people can return to their normal day-to-day activities, all communities in the state must come forward to ensure cessation of hostilities and maintenance of peace and order in the society. It is in this regard that I sincerely request the people of all communities, particularly the youth in the valley and the hills, to voluntarily come forward and surrender the looted and the illegally held weapons and ammunition the governor had appealed.

Champions Trophy: Rickeltons Maiden ODI Ton, Markrams Late Blitz Lift SA To 315/6 Vs Afghanistan

ICC Champions Trophy Group: Opener Ryan Rickelton scored his maiden ODI hundred (103) as half-centuries from skipper Temba Bavuma(58), Rassie van der Dussen (52) and Aiden Markaram (52 not out) propelled South Africa to 315/6 in 50 overs against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy Group B clash at National Stadium. South Africa's lineup for the match was missing both Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs. Cricket South Africa (CSA) later confirmed that Klaasen had been sidelined as a precaution due to a soft tissue injury in his left elbow. Meanwhile, Stubbs was unlikely to have been in contention for the first-choice XI regardless. Opting to bat first, South Africa had a steady yet cautious start, with Afghan pacers Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai extracting significant movement off the surface. Tony de Zorzi struggled to get going and was the first to depart, falling to Mohammad Nabi for 11 after an attempted drive resulted in a mistimed shot straight to mid-on. With South Africa losing their first wicket early, Bavuma joined Rickelton at the crease, and together they navigated the testing conditions. Rickelton, fresh from impressive performances in SA20 and the New Years Test against Pakistan, looked in sublime touch. He rotated the strike well and capitalised on loose deliveries, bringing up his half-century in 48 balls. Bavuma, initially circumspect, grew into his innings, ensuring South Africas run rate remained stable. The duo stitched a crucial 129-run stand, frustrating Afghanistans bowlers. The introduction of spin brought some respite for Afghanistan, with Mohammad Nabi striking at a key moment. Bavuma, attempting to up the ante, mistimed a shot straight to deep midwicket and departed for 58 off 76 balls. Despite the breakthrough, Rickelton remained composed, crafting an authoritative innings. His hundred - his first in ODIs - came in fine fashion, making him the first South African to score a century on Champions Trophy debut. He joined an elite list alongside Gary Kirsten, who had struck 188* against the UAE in the 1996 World Cup. However, Rickeltons innings ended in dramatic fashion when Rashid Khan, fielding off his own bowling, fired a direct hit at the stumps. The left-handers bat bounced just short of the crease, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz was quick to dislodge the bails. Rickelton walked back after a superb 103 off 106 balls, an innings laced with seven boundaries and a six. Following his dismissal, Afghanistan attempted to put the brakes on South Africas scoring. Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi kept things tight, while Noor Ahmad struggled with his lengths, often bowling too short or too full. The middle overs saw a brief slowdown, with South Africa managing just 30 runs between overs 32 and 39. With the innings at a crossroads, Rassie van der Dussen provided the much-needed impetus. Coming into the tournament after a lean patch -having scored just 104 runs in his last six innings - he grabbed the opportunity in Heinrich Klaasens absence. Initially watchful, he soon found his rhythm, launching a counterattack against Afghanistans premier spinner. Rashid Khan bore the brunt of his assault, conceding boundaries through a fierce cut past point and successive slogs over midwicket. Just as van der Dussen looked set for more, Noor Ahmad removed him for 52 off 46 balls, but by then, he had done enough to keep South Africa on track. Aiden Markram, who had struggled to find his timing for the majority of his stay, flicked a switch in the death overs, ensuring South Africa finished strongly. The turning point came in the 46th over when he went inside out against Farooqi, following it up with a four and a six off Noor Ahmad. He then took apart Farooqi in the 48th over, smashing three consecutive sixes. While David Miller fell to a spectacular diving catch by Rahmat Shah at deep midwicket, Markram ensured South Africa did not lose momentum. Marco Jansen was bowled by Omarzai in the closing moments, but by then, the Proteas had posted a commanding total. Markrams unbeaten 52 off 43 balls proved instrumental in the latter stages, as South Africa added vital runs in the last five overs. Afghanistans bowlers had moments of success but struggled to contain the scoring in the death overs. Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers with 2-51 while Farooqi, Omarzai and Noor Ahmad claimed a wicket each. Rashid Khan, despite going wicketless, was economical in his spell. While David Miller fell to a spectacular diving catch by Rahmat Shah at deep midwicket, Markram ensured South Africa did not lose momentum. Marco Jansen was bowled by Omarzai in the closing moments, but by then, the Proteas had posted a commanding total. Markrams unbeaten 52 off 43 balls proved instrumental in the latter stages, as South Africa added vital runs in the last five overs. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Ragging horror in Kerala continues, demand for a strict action from administration

Another case of ragging has been reported in Kerala where a first year BSC biotechnology student of a government college in Thiruvananthapuram was allegedly assaulted by seven members of SFI, the student wing of Keralas ruling SPI (M). The members, all final-year students named Alan, Anandan, Velu, Salman, Shravan, Pardhan and Immanuel have been suspended from the college on Tuesday and a case has been registered against them. After the complaint of the first year student named Binz Jose, the Anti-ragging cell of Kariavattom Government college submitted a report which led to the suspension of the SFI members. As per the complainant, there was a clash between the seniors and juniors in the campus on February 11 in which a first year student got injured. This led the SFI members barging into the hostel looking out for the student who filed the complaint. When they couldnt find him, they took hold of Jose taking him to a room of SFI used for organizational activities. The seniors attacked Jose with sticks and stones at the campus before locking him in the room. They started beating him, and forced him to kneel down on his knees in front of them for an hour. When asked for water, the student was given a bottle by one of the members after spitting in it. He was beaten up further after refusing to drink. The anti-ragging cell checked the CCTV footage, verifying the allegations. The matter was then handed over to the police. A case has been registered under the Section 4 of Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act and other sections of BNS for unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint among others. There is already a public outrage in the state over the physical assault of juniors by senior students at Kottayam Government Nursing College. Earlier, a college student named Sidharthan died by suicide on February 18, 2023 in Wayanad, Kerala. He allegedly faced ragging, leading him take his life. SFI was criticized back then also, for its members involvement in the case. The incidents recently have triggered a political row where other political parties are demanding for the disbandment of SFI. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed his concern over the incident, calling it appalling. He took to X, One more case in todays news, this time from Thiruvananthapuram. Appalling. Evil clearly lurks not far from the surface of our society. The challenge for responsible adults is to stamp it out and also to instil the behavioral standards that alone will guarantee the survival and progress of our civilization. Kerala Minister of Higher Education and Social Justice, Dr. R Bindu has said that they are planning to form a state level anti-ragging cell in order to prevent ragging activities in campuses. She even stated that they have sought reports from Directorate of Collegiate Education and will ensure strict action in this regard. Until this happens, six more students from third-year have been booked for ragging a first-year BBA student in campus on February 14. The incident is of Holy Cross Institute of Management and Technology at Erhanipalam in Kozhikode city, Kerala. The Nadakkavu Police has registered a case against them on Tuesday, based on the victims complaint. The incident occurred after a cultural event, where the first-year student was asked to remove sunglasses he had worm for the programme. When he refused to do so, the seniors started beating him and kicking him. Two students have been suspended and disciplinary action was taken against the others. Its not that the incidents are only in recent times, ragging has existed in various institutions since long. Its just that a few are brought to attention and get reported. The rising ragging cases demand strict action and a serious attention towards these, until more students face brutality and lose their lives.

AIYF demands rollback of PSC members pay hike

It is unacceptable that the pay revision is being done when several sections are demanding a reasonable increase in wages, AIYF State executive says

Stop political parties from demanding donations from DPC staff: AITUC

Villagers block Delhi-Kolkata National Highway, burn tyres after teen's murder in Bihar

A day after a class 10 student was gunned down and another injured in Bihar's Rohtas district, hundreds of villagers on Friday blocked the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway (NH) at Dehri, demanding swift justice.

'Even God can't...': Shivakumar's statement sparks row

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's statement that even God can't fix Bengaluru traffic in the next two or three years, has come under severe criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, with leader of opposition R Ashoka on Friday demanding that the former step down and make way for someone more capable if he is unable to take responsibility and address the city's traffic issues.

Delhi-Kolkata Highway blocked as Bihar villagers protest teens killing

Patna: A day after a class 10 student was gunned down and another injured in Bihars Rohtas district, hundreds of villagers Friday blocked the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway (NH) at Dehri, demanding swift justice. The murder of 14-year-old Amit Kumar, who was returning home after his board exams, has led to outrage among locals, who are []

Whats BFSI up to this JFM

The January-February-March (JFM) quarter holds significant importance for the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector in India. Reports indicate that in 2025, the BFSI sector is poised for transformative growth, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer expectations. CIRIL's industry insights suggest that India's total banking assets are expected to cross $28.5 trillion, making it the third-largest globally by 2025. Additionally, the Union Budget 2025 has introduced measures such as raising the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in insurance to 100%, aiming to attract greater foreign capital and foster innovation within the sector. During this JFM quarter, BFSI brands are allocating substantial portions of their annual marketing budgets to engage consumers effectively. Geetanjali Chugh Kothari , Chief Marketing Officer at Future Generali India Life Insurance, emphasises the significance of this period. She said, Nearly 60% of our annual budget is allocated for the Dec-Jan period since people tend to prioritise purchasing life insurance solutions during this period for tax-saving purposes. To maximise reach, the company has curated digital media campaigns highlighting a wide range of life insurance and protection solutions. These efforts are complemented by digital and print media campaigns across key markets to ensure positive brand recall among potential customers. Abhishek Gupta , Chief Marketing Officer at Edelweiss Life Insurance, notes the dual focus during JFM. Since JFM is also a period of high activity for our advisors and distribution partners, we are actively enabling them with a lot of tools to make selling more convenient, said Gupta. Edelweiss Life Insurance plans to support these activities with significant investments in digital and outdoor advertising to enhance visibility and engagement. Engaging Gen Z As digital landscapes evolve, brands continually refine their strategies to stay relevant to younger audiences, particularly Millennials and Gen Z. This generation demands personalised experiences, values authenticity, and expects brands to engage them across multiple digital touchpoints. Industry experts highlight key considerations for brands looking to connect effectively with this segment. Chugh Kothari highlighted the significance of personalisation in brand communications. She explained, Marketing leaders ought to craft custom digital strategies for each customer segment, even as they strive to establish their brands presence across all digital channels frequented by millennial and Gen Z customers. Similarly, it is important to explore all available communication pathways, such as digital ads, social media reels, email marketing, and the like, amplifying the brands promise and market distinction through relatable yet engaging brand content. Similarly, Vikash Anand , Deputy Vice President, Brand & Marketing, Angel One highlighted the need for brands to adapt to evolving content consumption habits. He shared, Consumers now split their time across multiple video formats, with no single format holding more attention. Given users' diminishing attention spans, short-form videos offer the best opportunity to engage, entertain, and educate within seconds. This shift in behaviour indicates that brands should invest in bite-sized, engaging content formats such as reels and YouTube Shorts to maintain relevance and capture fleeting attention spans. Balancing tech, trust, and tradition In 2025, marketers anticipate navigating an evolving digital landscape where consumer expectations are higher than ever, demanding seamless, intuitive, and highly tailored experiences. One of the most significant trends redefining BFSI marketing is hyper-personalisation. Gupta said, BFSI is moving towards an era of hyper-personalisation. Its a classic case of segmentation where the segment type is just onethe individual. AI and data analytics will be at the core of this shift, enabling brands to craft experiences that cater to individual financial behaviours, goals, and needs. The integration of AI extends beyond personalisation into customer engagement strategies. Brands are increasingly leveraging digital tools to enhance user experiences. Highly personalised customer journeys and AI-driven digital interactions will define marketing campaigns in 2025 and beyond, shared Chugh Kothari. In addition to AI-powered automation, BFSI brands are also turning to edutainment. Brands are moving away from jargon-heavy communication, using everyday situations to explain financial products, added Anand. Financial decisions are often complex and intimidating, and simplifying them through engaging content can drive stronger customer relationships. Thus, this shift reflects a deeper understanding of consumer behaviour. While AI and automation offer immense potential, the increasing digitisation of financial services also brings risks. With deepfakes and advanced scams on the rise, BFSI marketers are expected to move beyond traditional trust-building measures. Emphasis on transparent communication, proactive fraud prevention, and clear, accessible security messaging is likely to play a crucial role in maintaining consumer confidence. Sheena Kapoor , CMO at ICICI Lombard General Insurance, shares that cybersecurity will remain a vital pillar, shaping how the insurance industry interacts with and builds trust among its customers. Kapoor said, Cybersecurity adds another layer of complexity, with sophisticated scams and deep fakes posing significant risks. Marketers will need to innovate responsibly, ensuring robust consumer protection while maintaining trust. Meeting demands for instant gratification and complete transparency will also remain critical, as customers expect seamless experiences coupled with clear, authentic communication. Beyond technology, an emotional and cultural shift is also taking shape in BFSI marketing. Gupta highlighted that spirituality is emerging as a recurring theme in financial campaigns. He shared that with Maha Kumbh underway, there is a surge in related communication, and this trend is likely to persist throughout the year. At the same time, changing media consumption habits are pushing brands to rethink their engagement strategies. Kapoor said, Consumers are becoming increasingly selective, discerning, and demanding in their content consumption while facing a constant barrage of information. The rise of 'cord-cutters' and the preference for personalised, on-demand content means marketers must rethink traditional engagement strategies to stay relevant. As BFSI brands step into 2025, success will be defined by the ability to balance cutting-edge technology with authentic consumer connections. Marketers who can seamlessly integrate AI-driven personalisation, cybersecurity safeguards, cultural relevance, and omnichannel engagement will not only capture attention but also build lasting trust in an increasingly complex and competitive financial landscape.

'From Jai Shri Krishna to Ram Mandir': Times when FBI chief Kash Patel showed his Hindu heritage

Is Kash Patel a Hindu? Kashyap 'Kash' Patel is now set to take over as the first Indian-origin Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director. From the traditional Jai Shri Krishna greeting for his family to support for Ayodhyas Ram Temple, Kash Patel has has often spoken about his faith unabashedly. Born to Gujarati immigrant parents, Kash Patel has now emerged as one of Trump's most loyal allies.

Telanganas Prison Break: At This Restaurant, Visitors Enjoy Biryani & That Locked-Up Feeling

The Jail Mandi restaurant, located in the Maithri Vanam area, is offering delicacies in a prison-themed decor

Why M&M shares crash 7% today; check latest news & targets

M&M share price: Shares of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd dropped 6.6 per cent to Rs 2,653.25 on Thursday, commanding a total market capitalization of Rs 3.33 lakh crore.

Heavy snowfall cuts off Lahaul Valley, Manali-Leh Highway closed

CHANDIGARH: The Manali-Leh Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic following heavy snowfall in higher areas of several districts in Himachal Pradesh, cutting off Lahaul Valley from the rest of the state and leaving both locals and tourists stranded. With snow accumulation reaching up to 60 cm on the road connecting the North Portal of the Atal Tunnel to Keylong-Jispa, the route has become impassable. The tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti is experiencing severe weather conditions. In response, the Lahaul-Spiti police have issued a travel advisory urging all travellers to avoid the Manali-Leh route until further notice. The closure has significantly impacted transportation, halting vehicular movement on the affected stretch. Road users have been advised to remain patient and stay updated through official channels regarding road conditions and weather. Tourists planning to travel in or out of the area have been urged to adjust their plans accordingly. Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti, Rahul Kumar, stated that efforts to restore road connectivity would begin as soon as weather conditions improve. The Border Roads Organisation and the PWD are on standby and will deploy their workforce and machinery to clear key roads once the weather permits, he said. Kumar also cautioned people against unnecessary travel, particularly into high-altitude areas prone to snow avalanches. Following heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of Manali, roads beyond Nehru Kund have been closed to most vehicles. Additionally, National Highway 5 (Hindustan-Tibet Road) has been shut at Narkanda due to snow, with traffic now being diverted from Sainj to Shimla via Luhri. Since Wednesday night, Shilaroo recorded 5 cm of snowfall, followed by Gondla with 3 cm, Kalpa 1.3 cm, and Sangla 0.3 cm. The upper areas of Manali, Narkanda, Rohru, Chansal, and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti also witnessed snowfall. Several areas across the state received light to moderate rainfall, with Dalhousie recording the highest at 22 mm, followed by Sundernagar with 21 mm, Bharmour 18.2 mm, Dharamshala 16.8 mm, Manali 16 mm, Mandi and Kangra 14.4 mm each, Bhuntar 13.6 mm, Bilaspur 13 mm, and Una 10 mm. The state capital, Shimla, was lashed by thunderstorms and received mild rainfall. The Met Office has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall, snowfall, and thunderstorms in the districts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, and Mandi on Thursday. It also warned that a fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from 24 February onwards. The state has recorded an average rainfall of 33 mm during the winter season from 1 January to 20 February, significantly below the normal of 154 mma deficit of 79 per cent.

Whenever Shami Plays In ICC Tournament, He Turns Into Different Bowler: Piyush Chawla

ODI World Cup: Former India spinner Piyush Chawla hailed Mohammed Shamis impactful comeback to ICC events in the Men in Blue's commanding win over Bangladesh in their Champions opener and said whenever the veteran pacer plays in the ICC tournament, he turns into a different bowler. Playing in his first Champions Trophy, Shami delivered high-quality performance, finishing with impressive figures of 5-53, leading India to a resounding six-wicket victory against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. With a five-fer in Dubai, Shami became Indias leading wicket-taker in ICC ODI events, surpassing Zaheer Khan (59 wickets), as he took his tally to 60 scalps. In the process, he also achieved a significant personal milestone of becoming the fastest Indian bowler to reach 200 wickets. He now has 202 wickets in ODIs. ICC tournaments and Mohammed Shamiit's a great love story. Whenever he plays in an ICC tournament, he turns into a different bowler altogether. Hes coming back from injury, and while he looked a bit rusty in the recent bilateral series, the positive sign was that he was getting his overs in. Today, he looked much better. Shami, 34, also became the second-quickest to pick 200 mens ODI wickets, where hes tied with former Pakistan spinner and head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, taking 104 matches to reach the milestone. The leader in this list is Australias left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc, who did it in 102 matches. Moreover, he is also the quickest ever bowler to reach 200 mens ODI wickets in terms of balls bowled, which stands at 5126 deliveries, ahead of Starcs 5240 balls. We are yet to see a 100 per cent Shami, but this five-wicket haul will definitely boost his confidence. Its crucial to assess the conditions, and Shami, with his upright seam position, knows exactly where to pitch the ball. He consistently hit the six-to-eight-meter mark, which allowed him to get movement off the surface. Thats why he was successful, picking up early wickets with the new ball. It was also great to see him using variations, including well-disguised slower balls, Chawla said on JioHotstar. The right-arm pacer was coming off a 14-month injury-induced hiatus, in which he had a heel operation on his Achilles tendon. He had injured his ankle during the ODI World Cup in 2023, which kept him out of action for more than a year. He consistently hit the six-to-eight-meter mark, which allowed him to get movement off the surface. Thats why he was successful, picking up early wickets with the new ball. It was also great to see him using variations, including well-disguised slower balls, Chawla said on JioHotstar. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Kerala, TN, Karnataka, Telangana adopt joint resolution against UGC draft rules, demand withdrawal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government-sponsored national convention on UGC draft regulations, 2025, attended by ministers of three other non-BJP ruled southern states, has passed a 15-point resolution mainly demanding the withdrawal of the regulations that diminishes the role of the states and goes against the federal spirit of the Constitution. Inaugurating the convention, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the regulations can only be viewed as part of an effort to undermine democratic values in higher education and to place the sector under the control of those promoting religious and communal ideologies. Pinarayi said the regulations infringe upon the powers of the states in legislating higher education and thus undermine the federal foundations of the country. The Chief Minister said the Union Government and UGC were trying to exclude state governments from their administration of universities. It cannot be the case that states will not have any real control over the universities established by laws enacted by State assemblies and run using the states financial and administerial resources, he added. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan who appreciated the governments efforts in organising the convention, reminded that the UGC should function within its Constitutional mandate. Higher Education Minister R Bindu who presided over the event said the draft regulations not only violate constitutional provisions but also threaten to dilute academic quality in state universities. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the draft regulations have left states as mere onlookers in their own universities. Similar views against the transgressions of the Union government and the UGC were echoed by MC Sudhakar and Govi Chezhiaan the higher education ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu respectively.

ASHA workers from across Kerala hold Maha Sangamam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thousands of ASHA workers from across the state gathered in front of the Secretariat on Thursday for Maha Sangamam. The workers are demanding an increase in their monthly honorarium from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000, along with retirement benefits and the clearance of pending payments. Protesters expressed anger at the governments decision to hike the salaries of PSC members and grant travel allowances to Delhis special representative K V Thomas while ignoring their long-pending demands. Political analyst Joseph C Mathew inaugurated the protest and said that people with a conscience in the state stand with the ASHA workers. He pointed out that ASHA workers played a major role during the Wayanad floods and the Covid-19 pandemic, yet were left with nothing more than words of gratitude. While the Health Minister collected awards for the states pandemic response, ASHA workers were overlooked. Freezing orders and shelving decisions for future governments to ignore is unfair. These women didnt gather here on a whim, they came because raising their voices is the only way to secure their rights, said Joseph. ASHA workers allege that while the government claims a financial crunch, it finds funds for high-ranking officials. We are being pushed to the edge. Is it only protests led by certain unions that get attention? The finance minister says theres no money, yet lakhs were distributed as salaries just yesterday, the protesters said. MLA Anoop Jacob urged the government to meet the ASHA workers demands and adjust their pay according to inflation. He criticised the states approach as dismissive and said that the budget has brought nothing but disappointment for frontline workers like ASHAs, MGNREGA labourers and Anganwadi staff.

Protestors meet Bishnupur SP demand release of VVs

A large number of meira paibi activists from Kumbi and Moirang areas staged protest in front of the office of Bishnupur SP around 10 am Thursday demanding unconditional release of 13 'village volunteers' arrested by the police from a house at Moirang Kiyam Leikai under Moirang police station earlier in the day Of the protesters, handful of activists were allowed to meet SP Kshetrimayum Ravikumar Singh, following which the agitation was called off According to reports, the 13 village volunteers were whisked away by district police to the Bishnupur SP's office after brief detention at Moirang police station Source Chronicle News Service

Champions Trophy: Action shifts to Group B after India's dominating win

India launched their pursuit of another ICC title with a commanding six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai. Shubman Gill's unbeaten century (101 not out) and Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul (5 for 53) were instrumental in India's success. Despite the win, though, India remain second in Group A, behind New Zealand on net run-rate.

India blank Jordan 2-0 in Pink Ladies Cup

SHARJAH, Feb 20: India kicked off their Pink Ladies Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Jordan here on Thursday. Midfielder Naorem Priyangka Devi (23) and winger Manisha (54) struck in each half to give India their first win with Crispin Chettri as the head coach. Priyangka opened the scoring for India with a long-range strike that caught Jordans goalkeeper off guard. India nearly doubled their lead soon but Manisha missed from close range. Jordan pressed early after [] The post India blank Jordan 2-0 in Pink Ladies Cup appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Honouring courage: Conclave at Chandimandir Military Station supports and empowers Veer Naris

Delhi Cabinet Meeting Highlights: From Ayushmann Bharat scheme to CAG reports', a look at key decisions by CM Rekha Gupta

Rekha Gupta, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister of Delhi, held her first cabinet meeting, finalizing the tabling of 14 CAG reports and the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive healthcare, transforming Mohalla Clinics into Ayushman Mandirs, with new centers planned across the city.

Rajasthan government denies phone tapping charges by its own minister that triggered uproar

JAIPUR: After a massive uproar over the alleged phone tapping of a cabinet minister, the Bhajan Lal Sharma government finally presented its response on the issue in the Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday. Minister of State for Home Jawahar Singh Bedham said Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meenas phone was not tapped by the government and claimed that Meena himself had denied the allegations. A fortnight ago, a huge political storm had erupted after Meena had accused his own government of snooping on him by tapping his phone. The charges reflected the internal strife in the ruling BJP and armed the Congress with substantial ammunition to attack the state government. On Thursday, however, Bedham said in the House that Meena's phone was not tapped. A few days ago a statement of Minister Kirori Lal Meena came to our notice through the media in which it was mentioned that his mobile phone was under surveillance. I would like to assure the house with full responsibility, that Kirori Lal Meena's phone has not been tapped by the present government, he said. In response, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Julie stood up in the House and asked the BJP government to take immediate action against the minister. Julie said, If the phone was not tapped, then why did Kirori Lal accuse the government? The government should take action against him. The Leader of Opposition also drew attention to a statement made by the same minister before the Rising Rajasthan Summit. Julie reminded the House that Meena had claimed that the Chief Minister was worried that he would cause a ruckus during the event. Julie added, But even then no action was taken. I want to know that when Kirori Lal has resigned, why is it not being accepted? Opposition leaders subsequently walked out of the House. It may be recalled that Meena had submitted his resignation last year but it has neither been accepted nor rejected. There was a commotion in the assembly on February 7 after the allegations of phone tapping were made by Meena in a public meeting. The opposition was adamant on demanding an answer from the CM on the allegations. They remained in the well throughout the speech of the CM and kept raising slogans which led to the House being adjourned till February 19.

TTD unions resent board members verbal abuse of an employee

Demanding action against Naresh Kumar from Karnataka, the unions have asked the board members not to behave like owners of the temple

Police refuse permission for protest demanding reopening of Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi

The Superintendent of Police issues a statement saying permission will not be given for any protests as the plant has been closed as per the court order

Students of unrecognised nursing college stage road roko in Aruppukottai demanding fee refund

Government launches campaign to screen people above 30 for non-communicable diseases, common cancers

NEW DELHI: In view of the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases in the country, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday launched an intensified special campaign to achieve 100 per cent screening of all individuals aged 30 years and above for diabetes, hypertension and other NCD diseases and common cancers. The campaign - which will run from February 20 to March 30 - aims to ensure early detection and timely intervention for NCDs and three common cancers - oral, breast and cervical cancer. The initiative is expected to lower healthcare costs and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals across the nation, the ministry said in a statement. The campaign will be executed across the more than 1.6 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and various healthcare facilities nationwide, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). As per World Health Organisation (WHO), in India in 2018, NCDs are estimated to account for 63% of all deaths in the country of which cardiovascular diseases lead to 27% of overall mortality cause followed by chronic respiratory diseases (11%), cancers (9%), diabetes (3%) and others (13%). NCDs include a wide spectrum of medical disorders both acute and chronic like cancers, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, chronic kidney diseases (CKDs), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPDs), asthma, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) etc. The campaign will include door-to-door outreach by trained ASHAs, ANMs, and frontline workers, who will conduct community visits to ensure maximum screening coverage, reaching individuals in their homes. The states and Union Territories (UTs) will guarantee the availability of essential medical supplies, including BP monitors, glucometers, and necessary medications at all healthcare centres. The idea of the campaign is real-time monitoring. The data will be screened, treated, and follow-ups will be uploaded daily on the NP-NCD portal, ensuring transparency and accountability. It will involve multi-level coordination. The nodal officers will be appointed at facility, block, district, and state levels to facilitate seamless execution of the campaign. States and UTs will provide updates to the ministry by 6 pm daily, allowing for continuous monitoring and technical support. The intensified screening campaign also aims to improve linkage to care by establishing structured treatment and follow-up protocols. The campaign also seeks to reduce complications associated with NCDs. According to WHO, the NCDs are collectively responsible for more than 74 per cent of all deaths worldwide including heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Lenovo Legion Go S review (Windows version): Not so fast

Lenovo has already teased the second-gen version of its flagship gaming handheld . But that wont be out until much later this year, so in the meantime, its come out with the Legion Go S, a slightly sturdier and more portable way to frag while youre out and about. Now the tricky thing about this device is that it will be available in a bunch of different configurations including one that comes pre-installed with SteamOS a first for any portable PC not made by Valve. Frankly, thats the version were most interested in. However, the one running Windows 11 is out now, so its a good time to get familiar with it and see if its worth the money or if you should just wait for the variant that comes with Valves OS instead. Design and display: A mid-cycle streamlining Regardless of what platform theyre based on, both models feature the same design with the only difference being that the Windows 11 version comes in white while the SteamOS variant features a dark purple shell. However, unlike the original Legion Go, the Go S doesnt have detachable controllers. But aside from that, many of the highlight features from its predecessor are still there. It sports a 1,920 x 1,200 display with a 120Hz refresh rate. At 8 inches, thats larger than most handhelds, though it is a slight downgrade from the 8.8-inch panel on its predecessor. You also get joysticks with precise Hall effect sensors, an assortment of face and shoulder buttons, dual USB 4 ports (which both support power and data), 3.5mm audio and a microSD card reader. Another small tweak is that instead of four paddles in back, you only get two, with Lenovo trading out the second pair for a set of toggle switches that let you adjust how deep you want the handhelds triggers to go. Its a nice touch for people who enjoy things like racing games where a bit of extra analog sensitivity can go a long way, but still want the freedom to have a shorter pull when playing stuff like fighting games, where longer triggers hurt more than they help. And while the touchpad on the Legion Go S is much smaller than the one on the original, Im really glad Lenovo didnt axe it altogether as it makes navigating through settings and menus in Windows so much easier than relying strictly on the joysticks or touch support. Sam Rutherford for Engadget The one feature I wish Lenovo had included is an onboard fingerprint sensor. Without it, you need to use a PIN or password to get into Windows 11. On a system without a keyboard, that means every time you pick up the system, you have to shift your hands away from the joysticks and tap the middle of the touchscreen, because the tiny touchpad doesnt even work for this. Frankly, its just kind of awkward and could have been avoided entirely if Lenovo had opted for a power button with a built-in finger scanner like many of the Legion Gos rivals including the ROG Ally X and the MSI Claw 8 AI+. Finally, while the Go S does have a built-in rumble motor, the vibrations it puts out are hilariously one-note, especially when its set to buzz anytime you use the touchpad. So I ended up turning it off entirely. Performance: Not as fast as you might expect The Legion Go S will eventually support a handful of processors and configurations, but right now it comes with an AMD Ryzen Z2 Go chip along with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. And if youre comparing it to its predecessor, you might think this thing would offer better performance. After all, the original Legion Go has less RAM and an older Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU , and two is higher than one, right? Well not so fast, because the Z1 Extreme features a base clock of 3.3GHz with eight cores and 16 threads compared to the Z2 Gos base clock of 3GHz with just four cores and eight threads. Furthermore, the older Z1 Extreme also has a GPU based on AMDs newer RDNA 3 architecture compared to RDNA 2 for the Z2 Go. So in actuality, the Legion Go S with this chip is about 10 to 15 percent less powerful than the model that came before it. Sam Rutherford for Engadget This becomes a lot more obvious when looking at benchmarks where the Legion Go S delivered 45 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p and medium settings with FSR upscaling set to performance, while the original Legion Go hit 51 fps with both systems set to the same 15-watt performance mode. Meanwhile in Returnal , we saw a similar pattern with the Go S reaching 23 fps on medium graphics at 800p compared to 34 fps for the older Legion Go, once again with both devices set to 15 watts. Seeing poorer performance on the new model might set off alarms for some people, but before anyone panics, consider this: The Legion Go S is supposed to be a more streamlined and affordable take on the original, so in some respects not being able to achieve the same or higher framerates is to be expected. To me, the real issue is that 32GB of RAM is sort of overkill for this chip, which means youre paying more for memory that cant be fully utilized. And remember, while the Go S launch config comes with a Z2 Go, there are other versions that are expected to get a Z1 Extreme and possibly a vanilla Z2 at some point in the future. Of course, if you want higher framerates, you can always adjust how much power youre sending to its processor. Lenovos default balanced setting uses 15 watts, while performance mode pumps things up to 30. But if you want more precise control, the custom mode can go from as little as 5 watts all the way up to 40, though youll want or need to be plugged into the wall to utilize its full TDP (thermal design power). Battery life: Good enough Naturally, whatever performance mode you choose will ultimately impact your battery life. I found that when playing Metal Slug Tactics using the 15-watt balanced setting, the Legion Go S lasted for around two and a half hours, which is pretty solid. When playing more demanding titles, longevity wasnt quite as good, with runtimes closer to an hour and a half. Though, with the Go S featuring a 55.5WHr battery compared to something like the 80WHr pack in the ROG Ally X, that kind of discrepancy isnt entirely unexpected. Software: Better, but still clunky Sam Rutherford for Engadget Lenovo has done a lot to improve the Legion Space app since it came out a couple years ago. Not only is it much better as a general place to launch games from, its a lot easier to adjust settings or download new drivers or software updates. Even the UI is more spacious and intuitive. However, at the end of the day, the handoff between Legion Space and the rest of Windows 11 still feels awkward. Depending on what youre trying to tweak, you have to jump between menus from Lenovo and Microsoft while switching between joystick and touchpad to navigate. I also noticed some bugs like when trying to install Steam from the Legion Space app. It failed every time, which meant I had to download the app directly from Valve and do things manually. In a lot of respects, this is where Windows-based handhelds lag behind the most, so its a shame itll be another few months before the SteamOS model goes on sale sometime in May. Wrap-up The Legion Go S has all the makings of a solid portable gaming PC. Its got a straightforward design with good ergonomics, Hall effect joysticks and a sensible button layout. Lenovo also includes some nice perks like dual USB-C ports, a decent-sized battery and a handy little touchpad for navigating Windows. I just wish there was a built-in fingerprint scanner too. And while its 8-inch OLED display is a touch smaller than the one on its predecessor, theres not much to dislike about it. You even get more storage (1TB) than a base Legion Go (512GB). Sam Rutherford for Engadget The hard thing to come to terms with is that right now a Legion Go S costs $730 for worse performance, no detachable controllers and the lack of bonuses like an included carrying case or vertical mouse functionality like on the original Legion Go, which can be had for $30 less ($700). Normally, that would be a death sentence for a new system because that value proposition simply doesnt make sense. But in this case, the issue is that Lenovo hasnt fully rolled out all of its variations. I still think 32GB of RAM on this device is excessive; not even the ROG Ally X has that much. But more importantly, the Legion Go S other configs arent available yet. So even if you arent holding out for the SteamOS variant, youd be silly not to wait for less expensive versions to come out with starting prices closer to $600 (or even $500 for the one with Valves platform), which will instantly make this handheld a lot more attractive. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/lenovo-legion-go-s-review-windows-version-not-so-fast-140002828.html?src=rss

Ranji Trophy: Yash Rathods Masterclass Puts Vidarbha On Brink Of Final

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane: Yash Rathods sensational 151, his fifth century of the season, propelled Vidarbha into a commanding position, setting Mumbai a record-breaking target of 406 for a place in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final. As the match heads into its final day in Nagpur, Mumbais hopes of scripting history took a hit, with the 41-time champions stumbling to 83 for 3 at stumps. Skipper Ajinkya Rahanes late dismissal further dented their chances, leaving them with a mammoth task to pull off the highest-ever successful chase in Ranji Trophy history. Mumbais chase got off to a shaky start as their top order struggled against Vidarbhas left-arm spinners. Harsh Dubey, the tournaments leading wicket-taker, struck early to remove Ayush Mhatre and Siddhesh Lad while Parth Rekhade once again proved to be Rahanes nemesis, dismissing him with a delivery that stayed low. The visitors were also left with a question mark over Suryakumar Yadavs availability, as he did not take the field throughout Vidarbhas second innings. Instead, Shivam Dube walked in at No. 5 to join first innings centurion Akash Anand, with the duo left to shoulder Mumbais hopes of an improbable turnaround. Earlier in the day, Rathod showcased remarkable resilience and temperament to wear down Mumbais bowling attack. His 158-run stand with Akshay Wadkar rescued Vidarbha from a precarious 56 for 4, as they fought their way towards a total that put Mumbai under immense scoreboard pressure. Wadkars defiant 52 off 202 balls was cut short just before lunch when he was bowled by Shams Mulani, who finished with impressive figures of 6 for 85 from 44 overs. As the pitch began to deteriorate, Mumbais spinners found success, with Harsh Dubey and Darshan Nalkande falling in quick succession. However, Rathod remained unshaken, carefully constructing his innings until he finally shifted gears towards the end. Supported by Rekhade, who batted at No. 9 despite playing as a top-order batter in the first innings, Rathod crossed the 150-mark before becoming the last man out, ensuring Vidarbhas lead soared past 400. With cracks opening up on the surface and spin playing a major role, Mumbai now face a monumental challenge. Vidarbhas bowlers, led by Dubey and Rekhade, exploited the rough with immediate success, setting the stage for a gripping final day. Akash Anand, batting on 27, and Shivam Dube, on 12, will need to produce something extraordinary if Mumbai are to chase down 406 - a feat never achieved before in Ranji Trophy history. As Mumbai look to etch their names in the record books, Vidarbha stand just seven wickets away from reaching their third Ranji Trophy final. With cracks opening up on the surface and spin playing a major role, Mumbai now face a monumental challenge. Vidarbhas bowlers, led by Dubey and Rekhade, exploited the rough with immediate success, setting the stage for a gripping final day. Akash Anand, batting on 27, and Shivam Dube, on 12, will need to produce something extraordinary if Mumbai are to chase down 406 - a feat never achieved before in Ranji Trophy history. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Pregnant Womans Death Sparks Protest In J&Ks Rajouri; Probe Ordered

Rajouri/Jammu, Feb 20: A 28-year-old woman died of pregnancy complications during treatment at a hospital in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district early Thursday, sparking protest by her agitated relatives against alleged medical negligence, officials said. The protesters, however, dispersed after Rajouri Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Raj Kumar Thapa visited the scene and assured a time-bound magisterial probe to ascertain the cause of her death. Karin Devi, the wife of Yash Pal of Mandir Gala village of Rajouri, was admitted [] The post Pregnant Womans Death Sparks Protest In J&Ks Rajouri; Probe Ordered appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

'This is unacceptable': SBI Credit Card executives 'Shrm nahi hai' message angers customers

A man was shocked by a rude message from an SBI Credit Card executive about his pending payment. He posted it on social media, demanding an apology. SBI Card apologized and promised to reach out. The incident sparked discussions on customer service standards, with many users sharing similar experiences and criticizing the bank's professionalism.

Cockroach found floating in mutton soup at restaurant in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A social media post by an RTI activist claimed that a cockroach was found floating in the mutton soup at a restaurant in Hyderabad. According to the post, a Neredmet resident found a hygiene issue at The Arabian Mandi, a restaurant in Sainikpuri near Secunderabad, when he was served mutton soup ahead of the 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 .

Akhilesh Yadav calls UP budget 'second last' of Yogi govt, says no link with BJP manifesto

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday dismissed the Uttar Pradesh budget presented by the Yogi Adityanath-led government, calling it the second last budget of the BJP in the state. Criticising the government's approach, Yadav claimed that none of its budgets, including the latest one, had a clear vision or direction for Uttar Pradesh. This is the ninth budget of this government, and it is their second last, the SP chief said. After this, the final budget will be presented, and then the people will get a chance to choose a new government, he said, adding that the budget has no connection with the promises made in the BJP's manifesto. The government has presented budgets without any roadmap on how to take the state forward. There is no clarity on how the needs of the common people will be addressed, he stated. He also took a dig at the BJP's repeated claims of presenting the iggest budget, saying that every new budget is naturally larger than the previous one. Every time they present a budget, they say it's the biggest one. This statement can be made by any government because every budget is bound to be bigger than the last, he remarked. Yadav described the budget as hollow, claiming it was all noise with nothing substantial inside. This is not a budget, it's an empty drum that makes a lot of noise but has nothing inside. The people feel like no real budget has been presented, just sermons, while they keep wondering when the actual budget will come, he said. UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna tables Rs 8.09 lakh crore Budget The former UP chief minister further alleged that the budget has left different sections of society disappointed. Farmers' hopes have dried up, women are even more worried about managing household expenses, the unemployed see nothing but darkness ahead, and traders are feeling the deepening impact of economic slowdown. Even BJP ministers and MLAs who were thumping desks in the Assembly are now anxious because they will have to face the anger of people in their constituencies over inflation and unemployment, he said. Taking a swipe at the government's treatment of artisans, the Lok Sabha MP from Kannauj said, The weavers' looms have fallen silent. The people are now asking how much budget has been allocated for the 'Jumla Ministry'. He also took potshots at Adityanath's speech in the Assembly, noting that while the BJP opposed Urdu, the CM himself used several Urdu words in his address. Some people even oppose Urdu in Urdu itself, he quipped. Listing several words used by the CM, including 'badnaam,' 'bakhsha,' 'gunehgar,' 'haseen,' and 'duniya,' he asked whether these were not Urdu words and extended his argument by questioning the Hindi equivalents of words like 'rail,' 'engine,' 'steering,' 'clutch,' and 'platform.' Referring to a book on the Kumbh Mela study by Harvard University, Yadav said he had previously sent an English version of the book to Adityanath for decoration purposes and was now sending a Hindi version so that he could actually read it. On the BJP's election promises, the SP chief alleged that the government had failed to deliver on its commitments. The BJP manifesto promised free electricity for farmers' irrigation needs over the next five years. Nine budgets have passed, but has this promise been fulfilled? They also pledged to set up a Rs 25,000 crore agro-infrastructure mission in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, but what happened to that? Yadav asked. They announced a Rs 1,000 crore Bhama Shah Price Stabilization Fund for crops like potatoes, tomatoes, and onions, yet nothing has materialised, he said. Yadav accused the BJP of failing to support farmers despite promising Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantees. They promised to provide MSP to farmers, but where is it? We had built mandis to ensure fair prices for farmers, and this government has destroyed them. Not a single new mandi has been built under the BJP rule, he claimed. He further pointed out that the BJP had assured sugarcane farmers that their dues would be paid within 14 days, failing which they would receive interest. The government only talks about the amount it has paid so far, but never discloses the outstanding dues. It also never tells farmers how much the price of sugarcane has increased, he said. Yadav said that the BJP's budget had left people disillusioned. After nine budgets, the government still has no answers for the unemployed, struggling farmers, or common citizens. The countdown for a new government has begun, he said.

Pak Army stands by Hindus: Karachi Hanuman temple priest

The chief priest of the biggest Hanuman temple in Pakistan, Sant Ram Nath Mishra, has said that the Pakistani Army has always supported Hindus in their struggle against extremist groups in the country. Mishra, who is currently on a visit to Hindu religious sites across India, recounted the struggle of the Panch Mukhi Hanuman Mandir in Karachi, which was encroached upon over the decades but was restored following a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2018. He said that the Pakistani Army and government swiftly implemented the Supreme Court's decision to return the temple land, despite opposition from hardline groups. Mishra also highlighted the need for easing visa restrictions between India and Pakistan, allowing Hindus on both sides to visit religious sites in each other's countries.

Samsung sit-in strike moves to production area, asks contract staff to leave

CHENNAI: The hundreds of Samsung workers who were on a sit-in strike in a designated area within Samsung India's manufacturing plant in Sriperumbudur, moved their protest to the shop floor, where the production takes place, on Thursday morning. Following the move, the state labour department has advanced the next round of reconciliatory talks, initially scheduled on February 24, to Thursday at noon. The talks held on Wednesday did not end in a resolution. Workers that TNIE spoke to said that the contract workers who were allegedly unlawfully being engaged in production were asked to leave by the protesting workers, disrupting production in the area. However, Samsung sources told TNIE that production in the plant has not taken a hit. The workers had been carrying out a sit-in strike in the designated area of the company's premises since February 5, demanding the suspension of three Samsung workers, part of the Samsung India Workers Union, to be withdrawn. The workers are protesting in the production area now because the management has refused to hold talks with us, said a worker. In response, Samsung has sought the intervention of the state government to maintain ease of doing business in the state. At Samsung, our priority is to maintain a safe and stable workplace for all workers. A certain section of workers once again illegally tried to disrupt operations and industrial peace today. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any illegal activities by workers that disrupt industrial stability and peace at the workplace. It is important for all employees to adhere to company policies, and those who violate these policies will be subject to disciplinary action after due process, said a Samsung India spokesperson. While our production remains uninterrupted, we urge the state authorities to secure the safety of our workers, maintain discipline and provide ease of doing business, the spokesperson added.

Adityanaths Remarks on Urdu Reflect His Deep-Seated Islamophobia: Aga Ruhullah

SRINAGAR: National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday criticised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his recent remarks on the Urdu language, terming them examples of the latters deep-seated Islamophobia. Adityanath on Tuesday slammed the Samajwadi Party for demanding translation of Assembly proceedings in Urdu, saying, They send their children to English [] The post Adityanaths Remarks on Urdu Reflect His Deep-Seated Islamophobia: Aga Ruhullah appeared first on Kashmir Life .

Hassled by delays at railway line, villagers demand bridge in TN

VELLORE: Around 300 residents from five villages -- Latheri, Annankudi, Thirumani, Vayathur, and Solanur -- staged a protest near Latheri level crossing on Wednesday, demanding the state and union governments to construct a structure to cross the railway gate. The protesters claimed no action has been taken on their repeated demands -- pending for nearly 20 years -- for a road overbridge or an underpass. For around 8,000 families in the five villages, they said, getting across the level crossing is essential to access several facilities, including schools, hospitals and commercial establishments. The villagers said the road traffic is halted for approximately 30 minutes most of the time the boom barrier is lowered, severely delaying commuters and students. T Harish Kumar, a resident, said the rise in the number of trains operated through the line has exacerbated the situation. He said, The gate is lowered often. There is no proper alternative route; only two-wheelers can use the one available, that too without pillion riders. If we get across through the level crossing, it will take only two minutes, whereas the alternative route is a four-to-five kilometre detour. Due to this, he said, school students often attempt to get across when the barrier is lowered, including several instances of them, along with their bicycles, crossing the barriers by moving under stationary freight trains. There have been instances where trains started moving while kids were under them, and bystanders had to rush to save them, he said. The resident alleged that ambulance services, due to the level crossing, often do not visit their area, at times even asking the residents to get across somehow as they wait on the other side of the crossing. Once, he said, an ambulance transporting a senior citizen was stuck for around half an hour at the crossing, during which the elderly man passed away.

Pondy power workers seek filling up of staff vacancies

PUDUCHERRY: Engineers and labourers of the Puducherry Power Station, under the banner of the Puducherry Electrical Engineers and Workers Welfare Association, staged a hunger strike on Wednesday, demanding urgent resolution of long-standing issues. Workers from Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam gathered at the Electricity Department Head Office to protest against the alleged inaction of the power department administration. According to the Joint Action Committee, the government and the power sector authorities are pushing for privatisation while failing to address staff shortage. Their key demands include immediate recruitment to fill vacancies through promotions and direct appointments, regularisation of temporary staff, salary revisions, and updated appointment guidelines. A thousand vacant posts have increased the burden on existing employees, and the rising number of e-subscribers and substations have worsened the situation. Many workers have remained in the same position for over 15 years without promotion, a spokesperson said.

Ekm RTO, two agents arrested for accepting bribe from bus operator

KOCHI: In a big catch, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has arrested Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer (RTO) and two agents for demanding and accepting bribe from a private bus operator. The arrested persons are Ernakulam RTO T M Jerson, and agents Saji and Ramapadiyar. The complainant in the case is the manager of a private passenger bus firm owned by his friend. The permit of their bus plying between Chellanam and Fort Kochi had expired recently. Following this, the complainant filed an application for extending the permit at the RTO office. He had also requested to transfer the route permit to another bus operated by the same firm. Following the request, the permit was extended provisionally till February 6. However, after the due date, the permit was not permanently extended despite several requests. Last month, Ramapadiyar, an agent who is a close associate of Jerson, approached the complainant promising to extend the permit if `25,000 is paid as bribe. The complainant was asked to pay Rs 5,000 as initial instalment and a liquor bottle to another agent named Saji. However, the complainant approached VACB and informed about the bribe demand made by RTO. The Vigilance laid a trap and arrested Saji and Ramapadiyar while accepting bribe in front of RTO office. The duo confessed that they took money as directed by Jerson. Soon, Jerson was taken into custody and shifted to VACB office in Kathrikadavu. The subsequent raid at Jersons residence led to the seizure of Rs 60,000 in cash and over 50 bottles of expensive liquor. Jerson was under our radar for past several months. It was found that he had purchased land in various parts of the state. Apart from this, he has made several other investments. The wealth amassed by the MVD officer will be assessed. We are also looking into involvement of other MVD officers, VACB SP S Sasidharan said. The arrested persons will be produced before the Vigilance Court on Thursday. Later, the investigation team will seek the custody of the arrested persons for a detailed interrogation. In the last four months alone, nine government officers in the district were arrested by VACB while accepting bribe.

Snowfall makes Nathu La pass, New Baba Mandir out of bounds for tourists

GANGTOK, Feb 19: Heavy snowfall in the high altitude of Sikkim blocked a key road that takes tourists to popular destinations Nathu La pass which lies on the China border, and New Baba Mandir, the memorial of a soldier, an official said on Wednesday. The snowfall began late Tuesday night and intensified in the morning []

PMK to stage protest today demanding caste census in State

Champions Trophy: Latham, Young shine as New Zealand crush Pakistan by 60 runs

Karachi: New Zealand opened their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a commanding 60-run victory over defending champions Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium, exposing familiar frailties in Pakistans batting lineup. The result not only extended New Zealands dominance over Pakistan in the tournament, with a 4-0 head-to-head record but also left the hosts facing []

NFL 2025 salary cap predictions: How much will teams spend this off-season?

After the thrilling conclusion of Super Bowl LIX, where the Eagles stunned the Chiefs with a commanding 40-22 victory, NFL fans are now turning their attention to the league's salary cap for the 2025 off-season. No official announcement has been made yet regarding the NFL's 2025 salary cap. Last year, the figure was revealed on February 23, 2024.

Champions Trophy: Latham, Young Star As NZ Thrash Pakistan By 60 Runs

ICC Champions Trophy: New Zealand opened their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a commanding 60-run victory over defending champions Pakistan at the National Bank Stadium, exposing familiar frailties in Pakistans batting lineup. The result not only extended New Zealands dominance over Pakistan in the tournament, with a 4-0 head-to-head record, but also left the hosts facing an uphill battle in a tough Group A, where only two teams will progress to the semi-finals. Despite losing the toss and being sent in to bat under conditions expected to favor the chasing side, New Zealand showed resilience and tactical acumen. Their top order, led by Will Young (107) and Tom Latham (118*), countered Pakistans early swing threat with measured stroke play. The duos authoritative centuries anchored New Zealands innings before Glenn Phillips added a late flourish with a blistering 39-ball 61. Their collective effort powered New Zealand to an imposing 320, a total that always seemed out of Pakistans reach given their inconsistent batting performances in recent weeks. Pakistans response was sluggish from the outset. With Fakhar Zaman unable to open due to an injury sustained while fielding, Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel had the responsibility to provide a steady start. However, Shakeel perished early, chasing a wide delivery from Will ORourke, while Mohammad Rizwan fell soon after, courtesy of a stunning one-handed catch by Phillips at backward point. Pakistan crawled to just 22/2 in 10 overs, marking their lowest powerplay score in ODIs since 2019. Fakhar Zaman, despite his injury, walked in at No. 4 but struggled to rotate strike against New Zealands disciplined spinners. Michael Bracewell and Phillips dried up the scoring options, with Fakhar eventually falling for a labored 24 off 41 balls. Salman Agha briefly raised Pakistans hopes with an enterprising 42 off 28 balls, taking the attack to Phillips, but his dismissal in the 30th over left Pakistan staring at a steep climb. New Zealands bowling strategy was a masterclass in defensive containment and wicket-taking pressure. After Matt Henry and ORourke had choked Pakistans top order, Santner and Bracewell took over, extracting sharp turn on a slowing Karachi surface. With over 100 dot balls in the first 25 overs, Pakistans innings lacked momentum. The turning point came when Santner dismissed Babar Azam for 60 off 90 balls, a painstaking effort that never truly threatened New Zealands hold on the game. Santner continued to weave his magic, dismissing Haseebullah Tahir and then trapping Babar into mis-hitting a sweep shot, reducing Pakistan to 153/6 by the 34th over. With the required run rate soaring past 12, Pakistans defeat was all but sealed. Despite the mounting pressure, Khushdil Shah launched a spirited counterattack, smashing 69 off 49 balls. His aggressive stroke play, particularly on the leg side, momentarily kept Pakistans faint hopes alive. However, New Zealands bowlers stuck to their plan, taking pace off the ball and keeping it wide, forcing Khushdil into a mis-hit in the 44th over. His dismissal ended Pakistans last real hope, and while the lower order managed a few late boundaries, it only served to reduce the margin of defeat rather than alter the outcome. Pakistans inability to rotate strike and their cautious approach in the first half of the innings proved costly. Their decision to take the chase deep backfired as they found themselves well behind the required rate with limited firepower left in the latter overs. The 104 dot balls in the first 25 overs reflected their struggle to break free from New Zealands well-executed plans. On the other hand, New Zealands disciplined bowling, intelligent use of spin, and sharp fielding were hallmarks of their comprehensive victory. Their ability to adjust to the conditions and execute their strategies flawlessly underlined their growing title credentials. This defeat leaves Pakistan in a precarious position ahead of their high-stakes encounter against arch-rivals India. The defending champions will need to address their batting concerns quickly, particularly their lack of intent and inability to build momentum early in the innings. With Bangladesh also in their group, the road to the semi-finals has become significantly tougher, and any further slip-ups could prove costly. New Zealand, meanwhile, will look to build on this emphatic start as they face Bangladesh next on February 24 in Rawalpindi. A win there would put them in pole position for a semi-final berth, further underlining their status as serious contenders for the title. This defeat leaves Pakistan in a precarious position ahead of their high-stakes encounter against arch-rivals India. The defending champions will need to address their batting concerns quickly, particularly their lack of intent and inability to build momentum early in the innings. With Bangladesh also in their group, the road to the semi-finals has become significantly tougher, and any further slip-ups could prove costly. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS

Few hundred Indians who took 'dunky route' to US stuck in Mexico, deported Indians recount ordeal

CHANDIGARH: Many Indians who took the 'dunky route' to US are currently stuck in Mexico. They were scared of crossing into the US for fear of being deported back to India. A few hundred are as of now staying in Mexico as they cannot come back nor cross into the US. The agents are demanding that they pay more if they want to go back or arrange their transportation back home themselves. Also they are perplexed as to what to do next and have adopted a wait and watch policy, said an official. So far three US military planes have deported 332 illegal immigrants to India. The first plane landed at Amritsar on February 5 with 104 Indians. The second plant transported 116 and the third plane landed with 112 Indians. Those who took the 'dunky route' had gone either via United Kingdom (UK), Spain, Italy, Columbia, Dubai, Suriname, Thailand, Egypt and Guatemala from where they proceeded to Mexico. Sources said that the 165 illegal immigrants from Punjab who retuned back in three batches boarded from Delhi and went to Dubai and from there they proceeded to Mexico via several countries. An officer on condition of anonymity said, The illegal immigrants left legally from India to first port of entry any country in Europe or the UK or the Middle East. If they went via UK or Europe then they were most likely flown to Mexico directly after a few days' stay. If they went via Dubai, they would have to go via several countries. Till date fifteen cases have been registered and two more travel agents were arrested. The latest FIRs were registered in the Tarn Taran, SAS Nagar, Moga, and Sangrur districts, on February 17 and 18. The accused agents, operating through unauthorized networks, have been found charging hefty amounts from victims by promising safe and legal immigration routes, but instead have been exposing them to inhumane conditions, detention, and eventual deportation. For instance, a case registered at Patti police station in Taran Taran district relates to an agent who charged Rs 44 lakh from the victim under the pretext of legal immigration to the USA. But he routed the victim through Nicaragua and Mexico. In a case registered at Majri Police station in SAS Nagar, the travel agent charged Rs 45 lakh and sent the victim via Colombia and Mexico. The victim was reportedly detained, tortured, and threatened before crossing into the USA. In a case registered at Khanauri Police station in Sangrur, two agents Angrej Singh and Jagjit Singh from Haryana duped a victim to the tune of Rs 50 lakh by promising a Canada visa but instead sent him through Egypt, Dubai, Spain, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Both of them have been arrested.

Few hundred Indians who took 'dunky route' to US stuck in Mexico: Authorities

CHANDIGARH: Many Indians who took the 'dunky route' to US are currently stuck in Mexico. They were scared of crossing into the US for the fear of being deported back to India. A few hundred are as of now staying in Mexico as they cannot come back nor cross into the US. The agents are demanding that they pay more if they want to go back or arrange their transportation back home themselves. Also they are perplexed as to what to do next and have adopted a wait and watch policy, said an official. So far three US military planes have deported 332 illegal immigrants to India. The first plane landed at Amritsar on February 5 with 104 Indians. The second plant transported 116 and the third plane landed with 112 Indians. Those who took the 'dunky route' had gone either via United Kingdom (UK), Spain, Italy, Columbia, Dubai, Suriname, Thailand, Egypt and Guatemala from where they proceeded to Mexico. Sources said that the 165 illegal immigrants from Punjab who retuned back in three batches boarded from Delhi and went to Dubai and from there they proceeded to Mexico via several countries. An officer on condition of anonymity said, he illegal immigrants left legally from India to first port of entry any country in Europe or UK or Middle East. If they went via UK or Europe then they were most likely flown to Mexico directly after a few days' stay. If they went via Dubai, they would have to go via several countries. Till date fifteen cases have been registered and two more travel agents were arrested. The latest FIRs were registered in the Tarn Taran, SAS Nagar, Moga, and Sangrur districts, on February 17 and 18. The accused agents, operating through unauthorized networks, have been found charging hefty amounts from victims by promising safe and legal immigration routes, but instead have been exposing them to inhumane conditions, detention, and eventual deportation. For instance, a case registered at Patti police station in Taran Taran district relates to an agent who charged Rs 44 lakh from the victim under the pretext of legal immigration to the USA. But he routed the victim through Nicaragua and Mexico. In a case registered at Majri Police station in SAS Nagar, the travel agent charged Rs 45 lakh and sent the victim via Colombia and Mexico. The victim was reportedly detained, tortured, and threatened before crossing into the USA. In a case registered at Khanauri Police station in Sangrur, two agents Angrej Singh and Jagjit Singh from Haryana duped a victim to the tune of Rs 50 lakh by promising a Canada visa but instead sent him through Egypt, Dubai, Spain, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Both of them have been arrested.

Wikipedia told to delete 'objectionable' info on Sambhaji

The Maharashtra Cyber division has issued a notice to the Wikimedia Foundation, the organization behind Wikipedia, demanding the removal of objectionable content related to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj from the online encyclopedia. The notice, issued under the Information Technology Act, claims the content is inaccurate and lacks proper references, potentially inciting communal hatred. The move follows recent claims by various organizations about the existence of defamatory information regarding Sambhaji Maharaj on Wikipedia, particularly in the wake of the Hindi film Chhava, based on his life. The Maharashtra Cyber has directed the Wikimedia Foundation to remove the content promptly and prevent its re-uploading.

NVIDIA GeForce 5070 Ti review: A 'sensible' 4K powerhouse for $749

It's honestly difficult to remember the simpler days of video card shopping, before crypto fanatics, supply chain issues and pandemic demand pushed GPUs far beyond rising manufacturer prices. Ideally, I'd like to tell you that NVIDIA's $549 RTX 5070 and $749 RTX 5070 Ti are more reasonable alternatives to the $2,000 RTX 5090 and $1,000 5080. But card makers and retailers have already pushed RTX 5070 prices far beyond those MSRPs. Our review unit, the ASUS 5070 Ti Prime, is currently selling for $900 at Best Buy and $750 at Newegg (we'll see how long that lasts). And of course, it's out of stock at both stores. While I can't guarantee the actual cost for any RTX 5070 Ti card, I can say this: they'll definitely be solid 4K performers for far less than the RTX 5080 and 5090. But if you're not desperate for an upgrade, it's worth waiting a few months for inventory and prices to stabilize. Hardware Based on its specs and (hopeful) pricing, the RTX 5070 Ti currently offers the best balance between performance and value in NVIDIA's lineup. It features 8,960 CUDA cores and 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM, well below the 5080's 10,752 CUDA cores, but at least those cards have the same amount of memory. The cheaper 5070 comes with just 12GB of VRAM, which could be a problem when gaming in 4K. Our ASUS 5070 Ti card is fairly nondescript, with three fans, a plastic frame and a standard heatsink design. You can choose between performance and quiet BIOS modes, which only changes how aggressive the fans are. Its 2.5-slot design makes it tiny enough for small form-factor cases, though I noticed it was actually slightly larger than the RTX 5090 Founders card. RTX 5090 RTX 5080 RTX 5070 Ti RTX 5070 RTX 4090 Architecture Blackwell Blackwell Blackwell Blackwell Lovelace CUDA cores 21,760 10,752 8,960 6,144 16,384 AI TOPS 3,352 1,801 1,406 988 1,321 Tensor cores 5th Gen 5th Gen 5th Gen 5th Gen 4th Gen RT cores 4th Gen 4th Gen 4th Gen 4th Gen 3rd Gen VRAM 32 GB GDDR7 16 GB GDDR7 16 GB GDDR7 12 GB GDDR7 24 GB GDDR6X Memory bandwidth 1,792 GB/sec 960 GB/sec 896 GB/sec 672 GB/sec 1,008 GB/sec TGP 575W 360W 300W 250W 450W The 5070 Ti could also easily fit into more gaming rigs without requiring a power supply upgrade. It has a peak power draw of 300 watts, compared to the 5080's 360W and the 5090's whopping 575W. That means the 5070 Ti should be able to run comfortably with an 850W PSU, without needing to make the leap to a massive 1,000W unit. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget What really makes this GPU special, though, is that it fully supports multi-frame generation in DLSS 4, NVIDIA's AI upscaling technology. That allows the GPU to generate up to 3 frames with AI for every frame rendered in real-time. It also lets NVIDIA claim that the 5070 can match the speeds of the $1,599 RTX 4090. While you could argue those frames are just fake to make benchmarks look better, my time with the RTX 5070 Ti and 5090 has shown that they do lead to a smoother gameplay experience. On top of multi-frame generation, other DLSS 4 features are also trickling down to earlier NVIDIA cards. As I noted in my 5090 review, RTX 40 cards will be more efficient with their single-frame generation, while RTX 30 and 20 cards will also see an upgrade from AI transformer models used for ray reconstruction (leading to more stable ray tracing), Super Resolution (higher quality textures) and Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing (DLAA). Devindra Hardawar for Engadget In use: A capable 4K gaming GPU First things first: The RTX 5070 Ti is only slightly faster than the 4070 and 4070 Ti in most benchmarks. The new card is 17 percent ahead of the 4070 Ti in the 3DMark Timespy Extreme test, and 21 percent faster than the 4070 Ti Super in Speedway bench. The difference is even smaller in raw computing and rendering tasks: The 5070 Ti scored a mere 8 percent more than the 4070 Ti in the Geekbench 6 GPU benchmark. None 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme Geekbench 6 GPU Cyberpunk (4K RT Overdrive DLSS) Blender NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti 12,675 238,417 153fps (4X frame gen) 7,365 NVIDIA RTX 5090 19,525 358,253 246fps (4X frame gen) 14,903 NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super 11,366 220,722 75fps (1x frame gen) 7,342 NVIDIA RTX 4070 8,610 N/A 45fps (1x frame gen) 6,020 But, of course, actual gaming performance matters more than benchmarks. And if you're playing something with support for DLSS 4, you'll certainly notice some improvements. Dragon Age: The Veilguard held a steady 200fps in 4K with 4X multi-frame generation, ray tracing and graphics settings maxed out, On the 4070 Ti, I typically saw between 90fps and 100fps with those same graphics settings and DLSS 3.5's single frame generation. Now, I can't actually say the game looked twice as smooth on my Alienware 32-inch QD-OLED monitor, but it definitely looked silky over the hours I've tested. There weren't any weird upscaling artifacts, those frames felt real . It's also worth noting the RTX 5090 clocked 240fps in Dragon Age with the same graphics settings. Perhaps my CPU held it back a bit (I'm running a Ryzen 9 7900X), but the 5070 Ti's performance was still remarkably close while being a much cheaper GPU. Cyberpunk 2077 also played like a dream in 4K in ray tracing overdrive mode with multi-frame gen, reaching 150fps on average. That's well below the 5090's stunning 250fps figure, but it's still impressive for a game that used to bring powerful rigs to their knees. Cyberpunk also hit 230fps in 1,440p with those same settings, which also upscales beautifully to 4K screens. For games without DLSS 4, like Halo Infinite , the 5070 Ti was still a solid performer, reaching an average of 140fps with maxed-out graphics and ray tracing. In comparison, the 5090 hit 180fps on average. Even if you're lucky enough to have a 240Hz 4K monitor, I'd bet even demanding gamers would be just fine with the 5070 Ti's speeds. But if you care more about framerates than resolution, it'll still have you covered. I saw 220fps in Halo Infinite in 1,440p, and 320fps in 1080p. The ASUS 5070 Ti typically idled between 30C and 35C, and it quickly reached up to 65C under load. Its fan array isn't as sophisticated as the 5090 Founder's card , but it still managed to cool down the card below 40C in around 15 seconds. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Should you buy the RTX 5070 Ti? Simply put, the RTX 5070 Ti handled just about everything I threw at it, and I didn't find myself missing the 5090 too much (aside from bragging rights). Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to test the RTX 5080, but given its high cost, it's still something I'd have trouble recommending to anyone. The real question for gamers right now is: Do you need the RTX 5070 Ti's 16GB of VRAM and higher CUDA count? If you're aiming to play in 4K most of the time, it'll be worth having more than just the 5070's 12GB of RAM. Games are becoming more complex every year, so it likely won't be long before you'll actually need 16GB of VRAM to play 4K games comfortably. But if you're living the 1,440p life, then 12GB will likely be enough for years to come. DLSS 4's multi-frame gen is the biggest draw for NVIDIA's 50-series cards, and it's mostly useful for 4K gaming. So if you're happy with your 40-series GPU and don't need to push a 4K 240Hz monitor to its limit, there's not much reason to upgrade. For 30- and 20-series owners though, your patience will be rewarded. As I mentioned before, it's still worth waiting a few months to see how prices settle. If you're lucky enough to score the RTX 5070 Ti for $750, go for it. But it's far less compelling at $900 or above. At that point, you're just way too close to the 5090's $1,000 MSRP. We're still waiting to see how AMD's upcoming RDNA 4 Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT GPUs will perform, but they're being positioned as direct competitors to the 5070 and 5070 Ti. AMD finally has DLSS-like AI-powered upscaling coming this year, so the difference between its cards and NVIDIA's may be slimmer than usual. But NVIDIA also has a dramatic head start, and it'll likely take a while for AMD's Fluid Motion Frames technology to catch up on multi-frame generation. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Wrap-up: A great 4K card... if you can get it close to $750 The RTX 5070 Ti won me over in ways I didn't expect. I knew it would be a tad faster than the 4070 Ti Super, but with the addition of multi-frame generation, it's also a far more capable 4K card. And it's definitely more future-proof than the 5070, since it has 16GB of VRAM like the 5090. While I think the $549 5070 remains the most intriguing entry of NVIDIA's new family, it's nice to see that there's something for sensible enthusiasts between that and the $1,000 5090. And yes, it's still strange to call a $750 video card sensible. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/nvidia-geforce-5070-ti-review-a-sensible-4k-powerhouse-for-749-140023082.html?src=rss

Telangana man booked for demanding sexual favours, threatening woman

Hyderabad: A case has been registered against a man for allegedly harassing, issuing death threats, and making obscene demands from 42-year-old women over a financial dispute regarding a school property in Keshampet mandal of Ranga Reddy district. The accused has been identified as Yennam Srikanth Reddy reportedly a Congress leader. According to the FIR accessed 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 .

Manipur: 31 students denied entry to HSLC exams in Imphal

Imphal: Irate students supported by their parents and guardians staged a protest demonstration demanding the authority concerned to allow them to appear in the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examinations 2025 in Imphal, Manipur. The exams began on Wednesday and will be continued till March 7. A total of 31 students of the P Namjolung [] The post Manipur: 31 students denied entry to HSLC exams in Imphal appeared first on NorthEast Now .

KIIT student suicide: Odisha CM Majhi meets Nepali officials, assures justice will be done

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday assured justice for the Nepali girl student of KIIT who allegedly died by suicide after being harassed by another student. The CM, who is in New Delhi, discussed the case with Nepali officials Sanjeeb Das Sharma and Navin Das Adhikari and said the state government is working to ensure that justice will be done. He also assured that peace and normalcy will be restored on the KIIT campus. He urged the Nepali students to return to the campus and resume their studies. Besides, foreign minister of Nepal Arzu Rana Deuba also spoke with minister of state for higher education Suryabanshi Suraj about the incident over the phone. The minister told mediapersons that he informed Deuba about the steps taken by the state government in this case so far. He said Deuba expressed his satisfaction over the steps taken by the state government. Five KIIT staff arrested amid diplomatic tensions over Nepali student's death The minister said that a high level meeting was also held with officials from the Nepal government who have reached here in connection with the case. Suraj said besides him, the meeting was attended by parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling and chief secretary Manoj Ahuja. Suraj said the state government has decided to set up a help desk to assist Nepali students who have returned to the KIIT campus or are going to return to the campus. The minister said the help desk is being set up to give confidence to the Nepali students. Steps are also being taken to ensure that there is a conducive atmosphere in the KIIT campus so that the students can concentrate on studies for their examination on February 28, he said, adding that the government has taken the matter very seriously. Meanwhile, the three-member official fact-finding committee headed by additional chief secretary has fixed the modalities for the investigation into the case. The minister said that the team members will also visit the KIIT campus in this connection. ABVP activists demonstrated at the PMG square here demanding justice for the deceased girl student. They also demanded an independent inquiry into the misbehaviour with students by the KIIT authorities.

Man Climbs Mobile Tower in Jammu Kashmir; Rescued After Six Hours

JAMMU: A 40-year-old man climbed a mobile tower and threatened to commit suicide in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said. He was rescued in a joint operation by police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), ending an over six-hour-long drama in Thanamandi town, some 25 km from Rajouri district headquarters, the officials [] The post Man Climbs Mobile Tower in Jammu Kashmir; Rescued After Six Hours appeared first on Kashmir Life .

Man Climbs Mobile Tower In J&Ks Rajouri; Rescued After Six Hours

Rajouri/Jammu, Feb 19: A 40-year-old man climbed a mobile tower and threatened to commit suicide in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district on Wednesday, officials said. He was rescued in a joint operation by police and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), ending an over six-hour-long drama in Thanamandi town, some 25 km from Rajouri district headquarters, the officials said. Javaid Kohli, who is running a shop in the town and is named in several cases related to his alleged criminal activities [] The post Man Climbs Mobile Tower In J&Ks Rajouri; Rescued After Six Hours appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Agartala school staff, including headmistress, served show-cause notice after inspection exposes negligence

In a recent surprise inspection in Agartala, at least 20 school teachers, including a headmistress and four teachers-in-charge, were issued show-cause notices for neglecting their duties. Teachers were found resting while students were left unsupervised during school hours. The notices were issued by the Director of Elementary Education, demanding explanations for their actions within three days.

'CM has nothing to do with language or progress': Akhilesh hits back at Adityanath over Urdu remark

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday hit back at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his Urdu language remark, noting the 'carelessness' of the CM towards the education and progress of the state. Yadav questioned the CM over the closure, stating that 11 lakh primary schools have been shut across India, most of them in UP. Speaking to ANI , Yadav said, It is very clear that the CM has nothing to do with language or progress. If you look at the record, 11 lakh primary schools have been shut. How many intermediate schools have been opened? Be it Polytechnic, ITI or Engineering - how much of it is being taken care of by the Government? How to improve the quality of education? Reports have come from time to time...The government should think that 11 lakh primary schools have been shut, most of them being in UP. SP leader Mata Prasad Pandey, who is the leader of the opposition, accused the UP CM of deliberately making this a Hindu-Muslim subject. ...Urdu is also a language. The matter raised in Vidhan Sabha was in another prospect, but he (Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath) talked about Urdu to carry forward his agenda of Hindu-Muslim. We were opposing the entry of the English language in Vidhan Sabha, but somehow the matter became about the Urdu language, he said. Yadav's remark came after CM Yogi Adityanath in the UP Legislative Assembly said that SP wants to promote Urdu to make the children 'maulvis.' In the Assembly, CM Yogi said, ...This is the problem with you people; you (Samajwadi Party) will oppose every good work which is in the interest of the state. This type of opposition should be condemned...These people will teach their children in English medium schools, but if the govt wants to give facilities to others' children, they will make them study Urdu. They want them to become Maulvis... SP was demanding to include the Urdu language among the languages of translation in the assembly. UP assembly proceedings are now equipped with the facility of a translator, as per a release. The proceedings are now available in Awadhi, Braj, Bhojpuri, Bundeli and English.

Assam Assembly adjourned thrice; ruling, opposition members create noisy scenes

GUWAHATI: Assam Assembly was adjourned thrice on Wednesday when both the ruling and opposition members demanded discussions on various issues by suspending other routine businesses of the day. The opposition brought four adjournment motions, while the treasury bench sought a discussion on a recent report on APSC cash-for-job scam. The adjournment motions were on coal mine tragedy of Umrangso by the Congress, coal and other syndicate by CPI (M), alleged torture of Indian citizens in a detention centre by AIUDF and the cash-for-job scam in Assam Public Service Commission by Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi. As soon as the Question Hour was over, both sides trooped into the well of the House and pressed for their demands. The ruling alliance led by BJP raised slogans and clapped inside the well while asking the Speaker to allow a discussion on the report of the one-man Justice (Retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma Commission on the APSC scam. Although the entire opposition was demanding that the Speaker accept their four notices, AIUDF displayed placards demanding justice for people allegedly tortured in the name of being foreigners and kept at a detention centre. Speaker Biswajit Daimary rejected all the five demands and said, You can raise the topics through other devices. Please go back and raise the issue from your seats. However, nobody accepted his request and continued sloganeering inside the well. The Speaker then adjourned the House for 10 minutes. When the House resumed, the chaos continued and the same situation prevailed. We have a discussion on the governor's speech. There is no scope for any other discussion today. It's Zero Hour now, so please allow the House to function, Daimary said. With nobody paying heed to his appeal, the Speaker adjourned the House for the second time for 10 minutes. As soon as the House assembled, the same noisy situation continued with both ruling and the opposition shouting from the well. The Speaker for the third time adjourned the House for 20 minutes. When the assembly resumed, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government is ready to discuss all the four issues. We have no problem in discussing the subjects. This budget session will continue for one month. So, I request the Speaker to give time on any day to discuss these issues, he added. Following this, both sides pacified and normal business started thereafter.

Rajasthan govt committed to make state USD 350 billion economy: Finance Minister Diya Kumari

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday presented the Budget for the financial year 2025-26 and announced that the government is committed to make the state a USD 350 billion economy. Kumari, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the state government has delivered 58 per cent of its promises made in the election manifesto and has fulfilled 73 per cent of the previous Budget announcements. She announced that as many as 2 lakh new houses will be provided with drinking water connections and on this initiative Rs 400 crore will be spent. She said that nine greenfield expressways will be constructed. Diya Kumari started her Budget speech by presenting the state's income expenditure estimates for the year 2025-26. Starting the Budget session, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani said the government will respond to issues raised by the Opposition after the Zero Hour on February 20. It is pertinent to note that the Opposition Congress is demanding the government's response to the allegations of phone tapping leveled by Cabinet Minister Kirodi Lal Meena. The Budget session of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly began on January 31, with the address of Governor Haribhau Bagde. Rajasthan Law minister uses cuss word when asked in Assembly about crop damage due to floods

Appoint Dalit MLA as leader of opposition in Delhi: Swati Maliwal to Kejriwal

New Delhi: Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Wednesday wrote a letter to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal, demanding that a Dalit MLA be made the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly. Maliwals request comes at a time when discussions are underway regarding the formation of the opposition leadership in Delhi 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 .

WPL: As The Tournament Progresses, MI's Batting Unit Will Fully Hit Its Stride, Opines Mithali

Praising Nat Sciver: Former India skipper Mithali Raj has praised Mumbai Indians' outstanding performance in the comfortable five-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League (WPL) match and said it was a comprehensive and commanding victory for inaugural season champions. A combined bowling effort helped Mumbai Indians finally get on the board with a convincing five-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in Vadodara on Tuesday. The trio of Hayley Matthews (3-16), Amelia Kerr (2-22), and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (2-26) ensured Mumbai only had to get 121 for victory. Mumbai's chase was led by Nat Sciver-Brunt, who followed up her game-changing PowerPlay spell with a half-century to cap off a special all-round effort that secured the win with 23 balls to spare. Mumbai Indians started strong by winning the toss and then maintained control by consistently taking crucial wickets against Gujarat Giants. They bowled in the right areas, picking up key dismissals, particularly of the overseas players, restricting Gujarat Giants to just 121 runs. The chase was executed efficiently, finishing in just over 16 overs. Overall, it was a comprehensive and commanding victory for Mumbai Indians, Mithali said on JioHotstar. MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to field. The decision quickly paid dividends as Sciver-Brunt triggered the PowerPlay collapse when she got the huge wicket of Beth Mooney. On the stroke of the powerplay, she got rid of the in-form Ashleigh Gardner for just 10 runs, to lend GG a mighty blow. Praising Nat Sciver-Brunts performance, Mithali said, Nat Sciver-Brunt is having a fantastic season, both with the ball and the bat. This was her second fifty of the season, and she played with great assurance, displaying her signature shots. The moment she walks in, you can tell she is in top form. With the ball, she made an impact early, sharing the new-ball responsibilities with Shabnim Ismail and delivering a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Beth Mooney. That was a significant moment in the match, as Mooney has been a consistent performer at the top for Gujarat Giants. Highlighting MI's collective team effort in their victory, Mithali added, While Hayley Matthews didnt have a big innings today, she did provide a solid start. Amelia Kerr also got off to a decent beginning. As the tournament progresses, by the third or fourth game, we can expect Mumbai Indians' batting unit to fully hit its stride. However, as a captain, it is reassuring to see your in-form batter consistently contributing runs, which bodes well for the team moving forward. Former West Indies cricketer Stacy-Ann King analysed Gujarat Giants' performance and said Ashleigh Gardner-led side needs to get a good start and a contribution from the middle order to put together a total they can defend. As we look back at tonight's match and the way they went about things, I thought they were just a bit too aggressive too early, especially after losing the openers. So, it's an opportunity now to have a look at where they went wrong, batting wise they need to look at those partnerships. They need to get a good start, the middle order needs to contribute, and I think that's the big thing for them. Former West Indies cricketer Stacy-Ann King analysed Gujarat Giants' performance and said Ashleigh Gardner-led side needs to get a good start and a contribution from the middle order to put together a total they can defend. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS