More than400 protesting sanitation workers detained in Chennai
The workers protested on Kamarajar Salai and near the Secretariat, demanding that the Corporation withdraw the move to outsource conservancy operations at two zones in the city
Rathore questions Mandi Congress rally organisers for forgetting Virbhadra Singh
White Knight Corps GOC reviews security scenario
Jammu, Dec 12: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General P K Mishra, on Friday visited the forward areas in Rajouri district to review the prevailing security environment and assess the operational preparedness of the troops, officials said. During his visit, Lt Gen Mishra encouraged all ranks to uphold the highest [] The post White Knight Corps GOC reviews security scenario appeared first on Northlines .
'Main Bihar se hoon': Sooryavanshi hits back at UAE sledging
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed an incredible 171 off 95 balls, including fourteen sixes, setting a new U-19 world record in India's 433/6 against UAE. The 14-year-old's dominant innings, marked by a witty exchange with the wicketkeeper, propelled India to a commanding position. His performance also secured a tournament record for most sixes in a single U-19 Asia Cup innings.
MP government moves to sack IAS officer over forged documents, controversial remarks
BHOPAL: Already in the eye of a storm following his controversial public statements about Brahmin girls and the judiciary, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santosh Verma now faces possible dismissal from the IAS cadre. In a late Thursday night development, the state government said the general administration department (GAD) has decided to move a proposal to the central government for Vermas dismissal from the IAS cadre. It has been found that his promotion from the State Administrative Service (SAS) to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre was obtained through forged and fabricated orders. Criminal cases are pending against him in various courts. Therefore, a proposal for his dismissal from the IAS cadre is being sent to the central government, the state government said in an official statement. The departmental inquiry against Verma for obtaining a character certificate based on forged and fabricated documents is in its final stages. The reply submitted by Santosh Verma to the show-cause notice in the present case is not satisfactory. He is continuously issuing undignified statements. Therefore, it has been decided to issue a charge sheet against him, the statement added. The state government has decided to remove Verma from the post of Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, and attach him to the GAD pool without any department or work. Importantly, Verma is also the president of the Madhya Pradesh Scheduled Castes and ST Officers and Employees Association, also known as AJJAKS. The late-night statement came just three days before the Brahmin caste outfit, Brahmin Samaj United Front, was slated to stage a massive protest with a gherao of the Chief Minister's residence on December 14, pressing for action against Verma for his recent controversial comments about Brahmin girls. Back on November 23, while addressing the provincial convention of AJJAKS in Bhopal as the associations state president, Verma had made the objectionable remarks about Brahmin girls. Verma had reportedly said: Reservation should be given to only one person in a family until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or allows my son to have a relationship with her. Massive protests have since been held across the state by upper caste outfits. Upper-caste politicians from both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress also recently met Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, demanding stern action against Verma. Even before the controversy over his remarks about Brahmin girls could subside, another viral video showed him accusing the High Court of blocking Scheduled Tribe candidates from becoming civil judges. He alleged that the judicial recruitment process was deliberately designed to exclude SC and ST candidates. Reacting to the controversy around his statements, Verma has claimed that the issue is being manufactured to target him due to leadership-related internal disputes within AJJAKS.
Quote of the day by Denzel Washington: 'I don't look back. Man gives an award, God gives a reward'
Denzel Washington, recognized as the greatest actor of the 21st century, has built a distinguished career through persistence and discipline. From early television roles to Oscar-winning performances in Glory and Training Day, his journey showcases remarkable range and commanding presence. Washington remains grounded by his faith and commitment to community, continuing to inspire with his enduring stardom.
U19 Asia Cup: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 171 Sets Up Indias Huge Win Over UAE
U19 Asia Cup: Vaibhav Sooryavanshis blistering 171 off 95 balls powered India U19 to a commanding 234run victory over UAE U19 in their Asia Cup opener at the ICC Academy on Friday. Apart from Suryavanshis spectacular knock, Aaron George (69) and Vihaan Malhotra (69) contributed with crucial half-centuries. Vedant Trivedi (38), Abhigyan Kundu (32) and Kanishk Chouhan (28) provided the finishing touches to India U19 posting a massive 433/6, the highest score in tournaments history. Its also Indias highest total in U19 ODIs and the thirdhighest ever score in mens U19 oneday cricket. Suryavanshi's knock was laced with nine fours and 14 sixes coming at a strike rate of 180. He brought up his half-century in 30 balls, before getting his century in just 56 deliveries and reaching his 150 in 84 balls. His 14 sixes are the most by any batter in the tournaments history, going past Afghanistans Darwish Rasooli who struck 10 against UAE in 2017. In reply, UAE made 199/7 in 50 overs, with Uddish Suris unbeaten 78 and Prithvi Madhus fifty being the lone resistance acts for the hosts. India U19 will next face Pakistan U19 in their group stage clash on Sunday. Meanwhile, Pakistan U19 launched their campaign with a crushing 297run win over Malaysia at The Sevens Stadium. Centuries from Ahmed Hussain and debutant Sameer Minhas powered the side to 345/3 before the bowlers bundled Malaysia out for just 48 in 19.4 overs. Minhas was the star of the show with an unbeaten 177 off 148 balls, striking 11 fours and eight sixes to claim the Player of the Match honour. He shared a mammoth 293run stand with Hussain, who made 132 off 114 deliveries, and ensured Pakistans dominance from the outset. Malaysia never recovered from early blows in the chase, as Ali Raza struck with the new ball to finish with 3-11, while Mohammad Sayyam also took three wickets and Daniyal Ali Khan and Niqab Shafiq chipped in to complete a resounding win for Pakistan U19. Minhas was the star of the show with an unbeaten 177 off 148 balls, striking 11 fours and eight sixes to claim the Player of the Match honour. He shared a mammoth 293run stand with Hussain, who made 132 off 114 deliveries, and ensured Pakistans dominance from the outset. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pakistan 345/3 in 50 overs (Sameer Minhas 177 not out, Ahmed Hussain 132; Nagineswaran Sathnakumaran 2-91) beat Malaysia 48 all out in 19.4 overs (Deaaz Patro 9; Ali Raza 3-11, Mohammad Sayyam 3-27) by 297 runs Article Source: IANS
Indian Navy's first indigenous diving support craft set to be commissioned on December 16
The ship will be formally inducted into service in presence of Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. The event will mark the addition of a key operational asset to the Navy's inventory, enhancing its diving and underwater support capability, according to the maritime force.
SMAT: Haryana Defeats Rajasthan, Kushagra Helps Jharkhand Chase Down 236 Against Punjab
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super: Haryana opened their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League campaign with a commanding sevenwicket win over Rajasthan, while Kumar Kushagra slammed an unbeaten 86 to help Jharkhand chase down a massive 236 against a formidable Punjab. At the MCA Stadium, fast bowlers Anshul Kamboj and Ishant Bhardwaj set the tone by sharing four wickets between themselves to restrict Rajasthan to 132/8. In reply, captain Ankit Kumars fluent 41ball 60 sealed the chase with 22 balls to spare. After electing to field first, Haryana made immediate inroads as Rajasthan lost four wickets inside the PowerPlay. Kunal Singh Rathore fell cheaply, while Deepak Hooda was run out without scoring in bizarre fashion. Shubham Garhwals 33 and Mahipal Lomrors unbeaten 37 offered resistance, while Rahul Chahar chipped in with 20 runs down the order. But the innings never recovered from the early collapse. Kamboj and Bhardwaj finished with identical figures of 2-24. Chasing 133, Haryanas top order ensured there were no early setbacks. Ankit forged stands of 37, 52 and 40 with Aarsh Ranga, Yashvardhan Dalal and Himanshu Rana to keep the scoreboard moving. His knock, laced with eight fours and a six, was his third fifty of the tournament as Haryana cruised home in a modest chase. Meanwhile, at the DY Patil Academy in Ambi, Jharkhand scripted history by overhauling Punjabs 235/6 and set a new record for the highestever chase in the history of the competition. Kushagras unbeaten 86 came off 42 balls, as Jharkhand romped home with six wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. Punjabs innings was built around a blistering knock from wicketkeeperbatter Salil Arora, who smashed 125 off just 45 deliveries, including reaching his hundred in 39 balls. After his fireworks, Jharkhands response was equally emphatic. Skipper Ishan Kishan struck 47 off 23 balls to set the tone for the successful chase, before Kushagra stitched crucial partnerships with him, Anukul Roy and Pankaj Kumar to secure Jharkhands eighth consecutive win in the tournament. Punjabs innings was built around a blistering knock from wicketkeeperbatter Salil Arora, who smashed 125 off just 45 deliveries, including reaching his hundred in 39 balls. After his fireworks, Jharkhands response was equally emphatic. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab 235/6 in 20 overs (Salil Arora 125 not out, Naman Dhir 27; Sushant Mishra 2-47, Bal Krishna 2-66) lost to Jharkhand 237/4 in 18.1 overs (Kumar Kushagra 86, Ishan Kishan 47; Ramandeep Singh 1-37, Sanvir Singh 1-40) by six wickets Article Source: IANS
Indian Navy to commission its first indigenous diving support craft on Dec 16
The commissioning will take place under the Southern Naval Command in the presence of Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, an official statement said
Anurag Thakur files written complaint against TMC MP for smoking e-cigarette in Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Friday lodged a written complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, demanding action against a TMC lawmaker for allegedly smoking an e-cigarette inside the House. Thakur had on Thursday raised the issue in Lok Sabha without naming the TMC MP. In his complaint, the Hamirpur MP said, A Member of Parliament belonging to the All India Trinamool Congress was seen openly using an electronic cigarette while seated in the House during the sittings. The act was clearly visible to several members present in the House, he added. Thakur said the open use of a banned substance and a prohibited device inside the 'sanctum sanctorum' of Indian democracy, the Lok Sabha chamber, constitutes not only a blatant violation of parliamentary decorum and discipline but also a cognisable offence under the laws enacted by the House. Such conduct lowers the dignity of the House, sets an extremely poor precedent, and sends a dangerous message to the youth of the country at a time when the government and Parliament have taken a firm stand against all forms of tobacco and nicotine products, he said. Therefore, earnestly request you to take immediate cognisance of this serious breach of rules and law; direct an inquiry into the incident through the appropriate committee or mechanism of the House, the BJP MP said in his letter to the Speaker. He also urged Birla to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the member concerned as per the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. Ensure that exemplary action is taken and is placed on record so that the sanctity and dignity of the House is upheld, the former Union minister requested the Speaker. Birla had said in Lok Sabha on Thursday that if a written complaint is lodged on the matter, he will take action. E-cigarettes were banned in the country a few years ago.
Gaza deaths: Microsoft faces legal action for aiding Israel
aeA group of global legal and human rights organisations have written to tech giant Microsoft for its alleged complicity in aiding the mass killings of civilians in Gaza by Israel. The coalition have sent a notice to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, president Brad Smith and chief responsible AI officer Natasha Crampton demanding that the company 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 .
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan revealed at the Red Sea International Film Festival that he hasn't gone out for a casual dinner in 25-26 years due to his demanding professional routine. Despite the sacrifices, he expressed no regrets, finding fulfillment in the love and respect from his fans. Read on to know more about his lifestyle.
Australia Depth Shows Up England's Ashes 'Failures'
A well-drilled Australia are on the cusp of retaining the Ashes after just six days of cricket -- not bad for a team lambasted by England great Stuart Broad before the series began as its weakest since 2010. The hosts take a 2-0 lead into the third Test at Adelaide on December 17 needing only a draw to keep the famous urn and pile more humiliation on Ben Stokes's tourists. Australia have put themselves on the brink despite missing injured pace spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, with the performances of stand-ins Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett a reflection of their depth. The great and the healthiest thing for Australian cricket right now is that they've got almost a second XI or an Australia 'A' side that could come in and play some outstanding cricket too, said former Australia Test quick Brett Lee. The guys who have had their opportunity, the Doggetts and the Nesers, have stood up. They've taken their opportunity and taken it with both hands, which is brilliant. The strength of the country's talent pool was driven home by Australia 'A' crushing England's second-tier side by an innings and 127 runs at Allan Border Field while Stokes's men were being thrashed down the road in the second Test at the Gabba. Young prospects Fergus O'Neill, Cooper Connolly and Campbell Kellaway stood out, while discarded Test batsman Nathan McSweeney fired a double-century reminder to selectors. It is a far cry from the pre-Ashes war-of-words where England were hyped as having their best chance in a generation to win a series in Australia, with seamer Broad's comments coming back to haunt him. It's probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won and it's the best English team since 2010, said Broad, who retired in 2023 and is now working as a pundit. It's actually not an opinion, it's fact. At the time, he pointed to questions over the make-up of Australia's batting line-up and a perceived lack of bowling depth. Both have been blown out of the water. - On the go - Australia went into the first Test in Perth dogged by uncertainty, with the uncapped Jake Weatherald as Usman Khawaja's sixth opening partner since David Warner retired nearly two years ago. In a quirk of fate, Khawaja was unable to bat in the first innings because of back spasms with Marnus Labuschagne replacing him. But it was when he pulled out again in the second innings and Travis Head stepped up that the tide turned on England with his stunning 69-ball match-winning century. Ever since Travis Head stuck his hand up to open when Khawaja got hurt in Perth, Australia have looked like a different team, said Australian legend Glenn McGrath. Labuschagne said Head and Weatherald's confidence trickled down to the lower order in Brisbane, where himself, Steve Smith and Alex Carey all blasted quick-fire half centuries. It leaves selectors with a dilemma for the third Test: recall now-fit 85-Test veteran Khawaja or persist with Weatherald and Head, whose home ground is Adelaide. Smith, who stood in for Cummins as skipper in the first two Tests, attributed Australia's success so far to being able to adapt in real time. We play 'live'. We adapt on the go, instead of getting back in the sheds and going, 'We should have done this', he said. Sometimes it's just playing the long game. I think we've just adapted so well the last couple of years, and played in real time, I suppose. For former Australia captain Greg Chappell, Australia's success has been as much about England's failures. While their aggressive Bazball approach might be suited to flat English pitches and small grounds, it has been brutally exposed by the bigger boundaries and demanding conditions in Australia. The failure that has ensued across the first two Tests is a whole-of-system one, a catastrophic breakdown of both the game plan and its execution, he wrote in a column. While the players have been the immediate culprits, the off-field leaders - (coach) Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes - are equally responsible for not recognising the different challenges presented by Test cricket in Australia. Also Read: Live Cricket Score
Disney went after Google, demanding the tech company stop exploiting its copyrighted characters to train its AI systems
Sabarimala temple sees slight dip in pilgrim rush; footfall crosses 20 lakh
PATHANAMTHITTA: After the heavy footfall witnessed on Monday and Tuesday, Sabarimala recorded a marginal decline in the devotee turnout on Wednesday, with 74,928 pilgrims offering darshan at the hill shrine. Thursday also saw a moderate flow of devotees. With this, the total number of pilgrims who have visited the hill shrine during the Mandalam season has crossed 20 lakh. A large share of the pilgrims arrived over the past two days was from other states, and nearly 30,000 devotees had completed darshan by 7am on Thursday alone. Meanwhile, virtual queue bookings for Mandala pooja on December 26 and 27 opened on Thursday. Devotees can reserve slots through the official website, sabarimalaonline.org. A maximum of 30,000 pilgrims will be allowed through the virtual queue on December 26, while 35,000 slots have been allotted for December 27. In addition, 5,000 spot-booking tokens will be issued on each day. With the pilgrimage season progressing, temple authorities say the integrated service system ensures that devotees receive water and light refreshments promptly throughout their journey, even during peak rush hours. Ensuring uninterrupted access to drinking water and light refreshments, the chukkuvellam (dry ginger water) and biscuit distribution network has emerged as an essential support system for pilgrims this season. The 24x7 service extends across the Neelimala-Urakkuzhi stretch, with 20 chukkuvellam counters and 27 kiosks functioning continuously. The dry ginger water and biscuits are distributed at key points, including Sabaripeedham, Marakkoottam, Saramkuthi, the walkway and Pandithavalam. Bench on Sabarimala route vandalised Pathanamthitta: Miscreants vandalised a concrete bench installed for the convenience of Sabarimala devotees and local residents on Wednesday night near Mandiram in Ranni on the Pandalam-Sabarimala Thiruvabharanam route. The Thiruvabharanam Path Protection Committee strongly condemned the incident, terming it a deliberate attempt to sabotage public amenities. Committee general secretary Prasad Kuzhikkala warned that the committee would launch protests if strict action is not taken against the vandals
ADO gets 5-yr jail term for demanding bribe from farmers
Kashmir's apple farmers face a grave health crisis as studies reveal a strong link between pesticide exposure and malignant brain tumors. Decades of unchecked spraying, often exceeding recommended limits, have led to alarming incidences of cancer in fruit-growing districts. Lawmakers are now demanding urgent action to protect these vital workers.
OpenAI releases GPT-5.2 to take on Google and Anthropic
OpenAI's code red response to Google's Gemini 3 Pro has arrived . On the same day the company announced a Sora licensing pact with Disney , it took the wraps off GPT-5.2 .OpenAI is touting the new model as its best yet for real-world, professional use. Its better at creating spreadsheets, building presentations, writing code, perceiving images, understanding long contexts, using tools, and handling complex, multi-step projects, said OpenAI. In a series of 10 benchmarks highlighted by OpenAI, GPT-5.2 Thinking, the most advanced version of the model, outperformed its GPT-5.1 counterpart, sometimes by a significant margin. For example, in AIME 2025, a test that involves 30 challenging mathematics problems, the model earned a perfect 100 percent score, beating out GPT-5.1s already state-of-the-art score of 94 perfect. It also achieved that feat without turning to tools like web search. Meanwhile, in ARC-AGI-1, a benchmark that tests an AI systems ability to reason abstractly like a human being would, the new system beat GPT-5.1s score by more than 10 percentage points. OpenAI says GPT-5.2 Thinking is better at answering questions factually, with the company finding it produces errors 30 percent less frequently. For professionals, this means fewer mistakes when using the model for research, writing, analysis, and decision support making the model more dependable for everyday knowledge work, the company said. The new model should be better in conversation too. Of the version of the system most users are likely to encounter, OpenAI says GPT5.2 Instant is a fast, capable workhorse for everyday work and learning, with clear improvements in info-seeking questions, how-tos and walk-throughs, technical writing, and translation, building on the warmer conversational tone introduced in GPT5.1 Instant. While it's probably overstating things to suggest this is a make or break release for OpenAI, it is fair to say the company does have a lot riding on GPT 5.2. Its big release of 2025, GPT-5 , didn't meet expectations. Users complained of a system that generated surprisingly dumb answers and had a boring personality. The disappointment with GPT-5 was such that people began demanding OpenAI bring back GPT-4o. Then came Gemini 3 Pro which jumped to the top of LMArena, a website where humans rate outputs from AI systems to vote on the best one. Following Google's announcement, Sam Altman reportedly called for a code red effort to improve ChatGPT. Before today, the company's previous model, GPT-5.1, was ranked sixth on LMArena, with systems from Anthropic and Elon Musk's xAI occupying the spots between OpenAI between Google. For a company that recently signed more than $1.4 trillion worth of infrastructure deals in a bid to outscale the competition, that was not a good position for OpenAI to be in. In his memo to staff, Altman said GPT-5.2 would be the equal of Gemini 3 Pro. With the new system rolling out now, we'll see whether that's true, and what it might mean for the company if it can't at least match Google's best. OpenAI is offering three different versions of GPT-5.2: Instant, Thinking and Pro. All three models will be first available to users on the companys paid plans. Notably, the company plans to keep GPT-5.1 around, at least for a little while. Paid users can continue to use the older model for the next three months by selecting it from the legacy models section. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-releases-gpt-52-to-take-on-google-and-anthropic-185029007.html?src=rss
Disney Invests $1B in OpenAI in Deal to Bring Characters Like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI Video Tool
At the same time, Disney went after Google, demanding the tech company stop exploiting its copyrighted characters to train its AI systems
South Africa dominated India in a T20 International, with Quinton de Kock's explosive 90 off 46 balls leading the charge. Despite De Kock's bizarre run-out, late hitting from Donavan Ferreira and David Miller propelled South Africa to a commanding 213/4. India struggled to chase the total, with their bowlers conceding heavily.
Disney has accused Google of copyright infringement on a 'massive scale'
Disney has accused Google of copyright infringement on a massive scale, alleging that the tech giant is training its AI tools on protected materials as well as allowing those tools to generate infringing images and videos. Variety reports that Disney attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google on Wednesday. Google is infringing Disneys copyrights on a massive scale, by copying a large corpus of Disneys copyrighted works without authorization to train and develop generative artificial intelligence (AI) models and services, and by using AI models and services to commercially exploit and distribute copies of its protected works to consumers in violation of Disneys copyrights, reads the letter, which Variety reviewed. The letter includes examples of images from several Disney properties including Deadpool, Moana, Star Wars and others, reproduced by Google's AI tools. Disney is demanding that Google implement guardrails within all its AI products to prevent further infringement. The media giant sent a similar letter to Character.AI in September, and is currently suing Hailuo and Midjourney over alleged copyright infringement. Copyright enforcement has become more challenging in the face of AI-created imagery, and companies are increasingly taking an if you can't beat them, join them approach. Today Disney announced a deal with OpenAI to license its characters for use in Sora, OpenAI's video generator. The deal will see Disney invest $1 billion in OpenAI (a paltry sum by some standards ), with the option to purchase additional equity at a later date. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/disney-has-accused-google-of-copyright-infringement-on-a-massive-scale-163737642.html?src=rss
India vs South Africa 2nd T20I Playing 11 Prediction: India carries strong momentum into the second T20I against South Africa in New Chandigarh. Following a commanding 101-run victory in the first match, India's team appears settled and confident. South Africa faces challenges and needs to recover form. The selection of the playing XI will be interesting to watch.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea filed by former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt seeking seeking suspension of the 20-year jail sentence imposed on him in a 1996 drug seizure case. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said it was not inclined to entertain the matter. The top court was hearing an appeal filed by Bhatt seeking suspension of sentence in the case. A sessions court in Palanpur town of Gujarat's Banaskantha district had sentenced Bhatt to 20 years in the case dating back to 1996. Bhatt was found guilty of falsely implicating a Rajasthan-based lawyer by claiming that in 1996, police had seized drugs from a hotel room in Palanpur where the lawyer was staying. Bhatt, who was sacked from service in 2015, was a superintendent of police in Banaskantha district in 1996. The district police under him had arrested Sumersingh Rajpurohit, a Rajasthan-based lawyer, in 1996 claiming they had seized drugs from a hotel room in Palanpur town where he was staying. However, the Rajasthan police later said Rajpurohit was falsely implicated by the Banaskantha police to compel him to transfer a disputed property located at Pali in Rajasthan. Former police inspector I B Vyas had moved the Gujarat High Court in 1999 demanding a thorough inquiry into the case. Bhatt was arrested by the state CID in September 2018 in the drug case under the NDPS Act and is in Palanpur sub-jail since then. Last year, the former IPS officer had approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the trial in the 28-year-old drug case to another sessions court alleging bias. He had also sought directions for recording of the trial court proceedings. However, the Supreme Court had dismissed Bhatt's plea and imposed a cost of Rs 3 lakh on him for alleging bias against a lower court judge conducting his trial in the drug planting case.
Bengaluru cybercrime gang dupes American and UK victims through fake Microsoft support scam
Bengaluru police busted a transnational cybercrime syndicate, arresting 21 suspects who impersonated Microsoft support to defraud American and UK citizens. The fraudsters targeted at least 150 victims, extorting an average of $10,000 each by citing fake FTC violations and demanding payment in Bitcoin. Three kingpins remain at large.
US threatens new International Criminal Court sanctions unless court pledges not to prosecute Trump
The Trump administration is demanding the International Criminal Court change its founding document. This move aims to prevent future investigations into President Trump and his top officials. The US is threatening further sanctions on the court if these demands are not met. This action escalates a long-standing US campaign against the ICC, which is seen as infringing on national sovereignty.
Sanitary workers union submits plea to MAWS secy
CHENNAI: After months of protests by sanitary workers from Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zones, against the privatisation of solid waste management operations and demanding reinstatement of their jobs, representatives of the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), which is spearheading the agitation, met municipal administration and water supply secretary D Karthikeyan on Wednesday and submitted a petition in support of their demands. The officials have purportedly assured them that the issue will be looked into and taken up further. Earlier in the day, around 350 sanitary workers, along with representatives from 16 labour unions staged a protest near the Chennai collectorate against the alleged illegal termination of sanitary workers in the two zones since August 1, despite their 15-20 years of service. The unions reiterated their demand that the workers be reinstated directly under the Greater Chennai Corporation instead of being employed through Chennai Enviro Solutions Private Limited (Ramky Group).
Bhopal Diary | Sandalwood tree cut on assembly premises
An attempt by some people to cut and steal sandalwood trees from the Vidhan Sabha premises has exposed the state of security at the assembly complex. Notably, it happened while the winter session was underway. While one tree was felled, two others bore deep saw marks. Just two weeks earlier, thieves had cut down a sandalwood tree outside the DFO office in the VVIP 74 Bungalow area of Bhopal. In November last week, six sandalwood trees were felled and three of them stolen from the Gufa Mandir premises. Felling of sandalwood trees has happened a few days after the MP HC directed that no tree shall be cut, pruned or transplanted in Bhopal. White horse rent for wedding reaches Rs 11L Demand for white horses in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in states commercial capital Indore, is on the rise as the marriage season peaks. Most horse owners are getting demand for white horses from families preparing for weddings. The bookings for white horses range from Rs 51,000 to Rs 11 lakh. Decorating the same horses in the best manner is additionally costing Rs 2.5 lakh. Some horse owners have recently brought white horses from Pushkar to meet the surge in demand in the ongoing wedding season. The priciest white horse in Indore is 5-ft-tall Padmavati whose rent has reportedly reached Rs 11 lakh. Woman mountaineer to get Vikram Award Ace woman mountaineer Bhawna Dehariya will be awarded the states highest sporting honour Vikram Award. The decks were cleared for the mountaineer to get the award after the MP High Court junked a petition challenging her selection for the honour by the state government. The petition was filed by another Everest climber Madhusudan Patidar who had scaled the highest peak in 2017, while Dehariya achieved the same feat in 2019. Dismissing Patidars petition, the HC stated that his Everest feat was outside the five-year eligibility period specified in the states 2021 award rules. The state had chosen Dehariya for the highest award under the Adventure Sports category in 2023. Anuraag Singh Our correspondent in Madhya Pradesh singhanuraag.jaurno@gmail.com
Hooda, Tanvi, Mannepalli, Kiran through to pre-quarters
ODISHA MASTERS CUTTACK, Dec 10: Top seeds Unnati Hooda and Tharun Mannepalli as well as other leading Indian shuttlers progressed comfortably to the pre-quarterfinals across singles categories of the Odisha Masters Super 100, here on Wednesday. In womens singles, Unnati began her campaign in commanding fashion, defeating UAEs P. Bharath 21-12, 21-18. Sixth seed Anmol []
Caught in the cyber cobweb: How TN women are fighting the deepfake battle
August 21, 2025, started like any other day for Rajathi Kamalakannan until a familiar face popped up on her phone while scrolling. An AI-generated morphed picture of hers with her contact details was circulated on Facebook. I was shocked, says Rajathi, who operates a food business, Rajis Kitchen in Dindigul, and runs a popular YouTube channel, RK Family Vlogs. When she checked this profile, it had 16K followers. Photos of several other women were misused similarly, says the 35-year-old. What followed was a nightmare that consumed three months of Rajathis life. I received more than a hundred calls from old friends, distant relatives, all enquiring about it. Many blamed me for having an indecent photo on Facebook. Having to respond to each one of them was really painful, she says. Rajathi was determined to fight the case. She filed a complaint against Facebook, seeking the removal of the AI-generated image. In an email, Facebook refused to take action. The response read, Well remove photos and videos reported through this channel if it infringes or violates your privacy. Unfortunately, based on the information you provided, we were unable to determine how the reported content infringes or violates your privacy. We recommend reaching out to the owner of this content to resolve this issue (sic). The email infuriated Rajathi. Along with her husband, she went to the Dindigul cybercrime office and filed a complaint on August 25. She recounts at least 10 visits to the police station, even on her husbands birthday, giving statements and signing documents. The accused was eventually arrested on November 14, but Rajathi is yet to get full closure. I couldnt work for a week due to the fear of being shamed, she says. But the larger question that she pondered was why was she targeted. On the other hand, her business continued, and the popularity of the YouTube channel rose. Her online presence remained essential to her livelihood, even as it made her prone to abuse. Such people get involved in crime since they think no one will complain, she says, asserting, You [perpetrator] hid your face while doing this. I will not hide mine while seeking justice. There is growing awareness around such crimes against women across Tamil Nadu, who realise that their faces from cooking videos, travel photos, business profiles, and even passport-size images are being weaponised by strangers. While some of them find the courage to speak out, many remain silent due to a wide range of social factors. Systemic issue Tamil Nadu recorded 1.75 lakh reported cybercrimes last year alone, with financial scams exceeding `1,600 crore, according to retired director general of police (DGP) C Sylendra Babu. The sheer scale of the loss reveals how the tentacles of crime have found new ways to evade police action despite the presence of cybercrime police stations in each of the 38 districts. If you put together crimes like chain snatching, motorcycle theft, robbery, murder for gain, these cannot cross `100 crore. But in cybercrime, money is lost just like that. A small percentage of these are women paying money due to harassment. With an overwhelming number of complaints, we cant cope, he states. He also observes that a vast majority of women never come forward. They change their number or block the caller, but the damage is already done. They live in perpetual fear of who will receive the photo or video next? The methods have evolved beyond photo-morphing. The retired DGP describes a new pattern where criminals target women with fake romantic or professional contacts, then use AI to create explicit content when the women refuse to engage. They access the victims contact lists and send sample images to relatives, demanding anywhere from `10 lakh-`20 lakh from women earning `30,000-`40,000 monthly. Women silently pay, but how long can they keep paying? he asks. Such crimes have links across the world, and it makes the job difficult for the police. Gangs operating from Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand lure women through apps disguised as dating platforms. Indian scam hubs operate from Jamtara in Jharkhand, Mathura in UP, and Neem at the Rajasthan-UP-MP border, Sylendra Babu notes. Its a new generation of organised crime with no borders. Easy access Priyanshu Raikar, a security researcher who has been tracking AI-generated abuse, believes that the tools for carrying out such crimes have become more accessible. Some widely available open-source image models that come with safeguards can be easily bypassed, he says. Girithar Ram Ravindran, a cybersecurity specialist, seconds the opinion. Most of these suspects do not have a strong technical background. If access becomes difficult, they will give up, he says. Comparing the models available, Priyanshu is shocked by the manner in which Chinese models manipulate images. The shadows, skin texture, background details, everything is convincing. The people in the images dont even exist in real life, he states. While the technology is getting better, the infrastructure for abuse online is already laid out. You have click farms, fake followers and bots run from China. With one click, they can send you 1,000 likes; with one phone, they can manage 10,000 profiles. Now imagine this infrastructure combined with powerful AI models, he explains. On Reddit, Priyanshu even found numerous forums dedicated to AI-generated explicit content, including deepfakes of celebrities being sold commercially. Some people in India are already producing non-consensual content and selling it, he says. The crisis has gone to an extent where high-profile celebrities like actor Rashmika Mandanna and dancer Anita Ratnam had to move court to protect their digital identity. Battles beyond deepfakes AI-generated images represent only one facet of a broader crisis of image-based abuse. Swetha Shankar, executive director of programmes at the International Foundation for Crime Prevention & Victim Care (PCVC), works with survivors of various forms of digital violence and sees patterns that extend far beyond deepfakes. A lot of abuse happens when intimate pictures shared during a relationship are used against the person after a breakup, Swetha says. PCVC works with the cyber cell and uses a resource called Stop NCII (Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image sharing), a website that partners with large platforms like Meta and even Pornhub. When someone uploads an image there, the site creates a digital ID for it. If anyone tries to upload the same image anywhere else, it automatically gets flagged. We help survivors create this digital ID so they can track and prevent their images from being re-uploaded. The fear extends beyond the immediate violation. A lot of survivors are terrified that their parents or husbands will come to know. For married women whose ex-boyfriends are threatening them, there is fear that their marriages will end. Younger women who have moved away for work, are petrified that the police will involve their parents. They worry that if families find out, their mobility and freedom will be cut off, they may be taken back home, forced to marry, and even have their phones taken away, she says, adding They constantly check messages because theyre scared something might be leaked. It affects them very deeply. Police responses can compound the problem. Even when a woman is above 18, the police say things like, Call your parents, Are you married? This makes women even more worried that approaching the police will lead to further control, she adds. For minors, the situation is even more complex. Its hard for them to say theyre in an abusive relationship when being in a relationship itself is a taboo, Swetha says. The pattern of abuse is also consistent. In many of the cases we work with, intimate images are used to blackmail individuals. There is a lot of assault, and the person feels helpless because they are scared the images will be leaked. It gets held over them repeatedly, Swetha adds. Never-ending trauma Priyanshu shares the story of a minor girl whose Instagram account was hijacked by a gang. They demanded `50,000, and when she couldnt pay, the man forced her to send a nude video. Once she sent it, he leaked it anyway, then asked for more money, he says, adding that the case exposes the relationship between financial blackmail and sexual exploitation. For content creators and entrepreneurs, the threat creates a chilling effect. Many are afraid to maintain the online presence their livelihoods require. Once the content spreads, tracking it becomes nearly impossible. Girithar describes how metadata, the digital fingerprints attached to photos, gets erased when images are shared. When sent through WhatsApp or shared multiple times, metadata gets stripped away. Once it spreads through thousands of groups, connecting the dots becomes very hard, he says. Priyanshu adds that investigators rely on open-source intelligence tools to track where the content first appeared, but many platforms lack robust traceability. People download leaked or generated videos from one platform, then re-upload them across many others. For each view and engagement, they get paid. Thats their business model. For women like Rajathi, the intensity of the crisis has a huge impact. Girithar warns, Keep accounts private unless necessary. But even from a private account, photos give enough data for criminals to create fake images or videos. Priyanshu is more practical about the reality: Once you post anything online, you lose control over it. Its your image, but if someone downloads and shares it, you cant really do much. The courage to fight The Facebook profile that violated Rajathi's privacy remains active, with its last post dated November, and is still accessible despite her repeated complaints and the accused's arrest. Meta's own Oversight Board has noted that the platform often fails to remove AI-generated explicit images unless cases receive significant media attention, leaving ordinary victims to hunt down and report every instance themselves. Having gone through the ordeal, Rajathi says women should not suffer in silence, and points out how screenshots, URLs, and other evidence of such abuse could help their case. She also sought faster police action. Response time shouldnt be too late. Women need supportive and swift systems so that they dont lose courage halfway, she says. Priyanshu suggests large-scale awareness campaigns. Every household seems to have at least one creator or influencer now. We need the media, lawmakers and police to join together for nationwide education, in schools, colleges, and communities. While Sylendra Babu believes social media poses a threat to privacy, and that laws alone cannot help prevent these crimes, Swetha notes that gender-based violence has always adapted to whatever tools are available. Long before AI, controlling devices was already a part of domestic violence, monitoring phones, knowing passwords, controlling mobility, and isolating women. Technology is just another tool. The deeper issue is how we view women and how we normalise abuse. We often elevate the idea of family over the safety and well-being of women. The legal labyrinth Current laws provide some recourse but lack teeth, specifically for AI-generated abuse. Sylendra Babu suggested that a separate clause for AI-enabled offences can be added to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita due to the gaps in the existing laws. Priyanshu demands that authorities constitute a specific, standalone offence. From here, it will only get worse if we dont, he says. The IT Act 2000 contains relevant sections, particularly Section 67 with subsections for sexually explicit content and child protection, with potential punishments of 5-7 years. But Girithar notes these provisions were written before AI: These open-source models must have stricter guardrails or should be banned. Updated IT rules from 2021-22 require large platforms to appoint officers responsible for handling takedown requests under the Indian law. Priyanshu says success stories remain exceptions, as most survivors have a difficult and uncertain path to justice. If you or someone you know is affected by deepfake abuse, file a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930. Tamil Nadu has cybercrime police stations in all 38 districts. (The author is a Laadli Media Fellow. The opinions and views expressed are those of the author. Laadli and UNFPA do not necessarily endorse the views.)
Ashes: 'Weve been here before' - Cautious Carey flags 2023 lesson for Australia
Alex Carey acknowledged England's mid-series break in Noosa could be beneficial but cautioned Australia against complacency, citing their inability to win the 2023 Ashes after a 2-0 lead. He emphasized the need for continued strong performance, drawing on past experiences to keep the team alert. Carey also noted the importance of players refreshing themselves during the demanding Ashes series.
OpenAI's house of cards seems primed to collapse
OpenAI is in a far less commanding position than it was following the public release of ChatGPT a few short years ago. Back in 2022, the sudden popularity of ChatGPT sent Google into a panic . The company was so worried about the possibility of the upstart chatbot disrupting its Search business, executives sounded a code red alert inside of the company and called Sergey Brin and Larry Page out of retirement to help it formulate a response to OpenAI. It then rushed out Bard, announcing its first commercial chatbot on February 6, 2023 . Google's stock tanked days later when the AI incorrectly answered a question about NASA's James Webb Space Telescope during a public demo. But it wasn't just Google that wanted a piece of OpenAI, while the search giant sought to compete with it, others including Microsoft and Apple made deals with the company to bring its technology to their products and services, all the promise that AI would eventually revolutionize every facet of the economy. Since then, OpenAI has seen its lead against Google and much of the AI industry evaporate, culminating in a series of successive blows throughout 2025. On January 20, the same day Altman was busy rubbing shoulders with other tech oligarchs at Donald Trumps inauguration, Chinas DeepSeek quietly released its R1 chain-of-thought model. A week later, the startup's chatbot surpassed ChatGPT as the most-download free app on the US App Store . The overnight success of DeepSeek eliminated $1 trillion worth of stock market value, and almost certainly left OpenAI blindsided. In response, the company showed a newfound urgency. In one week, for instance, OpenAI released both o3-mini and Deep Research . It even went so far as to announce the latter on a Sunday evening. But for all its new urgency, OpenAI's biggest, most important release of the year was a miss. It's safe to say GPT-5 hasn't lived up to anyone's expectations, including OpenAI's own. The company touted the system as smarter, faster and better than all of its previous models, but after users got their hands on it, they complained of a chatbot that made surprisingly dumb mistakes and didn't have much of a personality. For many, GPT-5 felt like a downgrade compared to the older, simpler GPT-4o. That's a position no AI company wants to be in, let alone one that has taken on as much investment as OpenAI. Anthropic was quick to take advantage of the weakness, signing a deal with Microsoft to bring its Claude models to Copilot 365 . Previously, Microsoft depended exclusively on OpenAI for partner models in Copilot. Before the company announced the integration, reporting from The Information said Microsoft made the decision based on the strength of Anthropic's Sonnet 4.0 model , judging it perform[ed] better in subtle but important ways relative to OpenAI's offerings. However, what will likely go down as the defining moment occurred a few short weeks after OpenAI announced the conclusion of its restructuring. On November 18, Google released Gemini 3 Pro , and immediately the new model leap-frogged the competition, including GPT-5. As of the writing of this article, Google's new model is at the top of LMArena , the site where humans compare outputs from different AI systems and vote on the best one. GPT-5, by contrast, is currently ranked sixth overall, behind models from Anthropic and Elon Musk's xAI. According to a December 2 report from The Wall Street Journal , Sam Altman sent a companywide memo following the release of Gemini 3 Pro. Echoing the words Google used to describe the situation it found itself against OpenAI in 2023, he called for a code red effort to improve ChatGPT. Altman reportedly told employees there would be temporary reassignments and that the company would delay some products, all in an effort to catch up to Google and Anthropic. The few numbers these companies are willing to share don't paint a promising picture for OpenAI. Each month, about 800 million people use ChatGPT. On paper, that's impressive, but Google is catching up there too. In October, the company said the Gemini app had 650 million users, up from 450 million just a few months earlier in July, thanks to the popularity of its Nano Banana Pro image generator . More importantly, OpenAI has an inherent disadvantage against Google. For the search giant, AI may touch everything the company does now, but Gemini is just one product in an extensive portfolio that includes many other popular services. Google can fund its AI advancements with money it makes elsewhere. OpenAI cannot say the same. The company is constantly raising money to stay afloat, and according to a financial roadmap obtained by The Journal , it will need its revenue to grow to about $200 billion annually to become profitable by 2030. In November, Altman said on X the company was on track to hit above $20 billion in annualized revenue this year. In an effort to grow revenue, Altman and company have adopted an incredibly risky strategy. In recent months, OpenAI has signed more than $1.4 trillion worth of infrastructure deals in a bid to outscale the competition that is already beating it. Many of those agreements can only be described as circular , and I think the fears about a financial bubble are real. In the first half of 2025, investment in data centers accounted for nearly all of US GDP growth . Even if there's not a repeat of the 2008 housing market crisis or the dot-com crash, the AI boom is at the very least poised to make everyday electronics ( and utilities ) more expensive for regular people in the short term. Since late October, demand for server-grade computer components, including memory and storage, has sent the price of consumer PC parts skyrocketing as manufacturers devote more of their production capacity and wafers to high-margin customers like OpenAI and Google. Since late October, the cost of most RAM kits has doubled and tripled . In November, the price of some SSDs went up by as much as 60 percent . Next year, the cost of LPDDR5X memory, which is used in both smartphones and NVIDIA servers, is expected to climb as well. Be it carmakers, smartphones or consumer electronics, everyone that uses memory is facing pressure from price hikes and supply constraints in the coming year, Zhao Haijun, the co-CEO of memory manufacturer SMIC told analysts, per Bloomberg . Gita Gopinath, former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund, recently estimated that if the AI bubble were to burst, it would wipe out $20 trillion in wealth held by American households. The Great Recession, considered the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression, reduced US household net worth by $11.5 trillion, and it took years before for American families to rebuild their wealth to pre-recession levels. The modern AI bubble may have been started by ChatGPT, but given the crowded field of chatbots and LLMs, it won't necessarily pop should OpenAI go bust. With novelty and technical prowess no longer on its side though, it's now on Altman to prove in short order why his company still deserves such unprecedented levels of investment. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-house-of-cards-seems-primed-to-collapse-170000900.html?src=rss
You'd Be Foolish To Treat ILT20 As A Warm-up For T20 World Cup, Says DC All-rounder Neesham
T20 World Cup: James Neesham, the New Zealand seam-bowling all-rounder currently turning out for Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 *(ILT20), said the ongoing tournament cant be viewed as a warm-up for next years T20 World Cup, stressing that the mega event in India and Sri Lanka will pose challenges entirely different from the UAE conditions. In 93 T20Is for New Zealand, Neesham has amassed 1010 runs and grabbed 56 wickets. Look, I think everyone nowadays is playing cricket around the world pretty much year-round. So, you don't put too much emphasis on one tournament over another. I think India and Sri Lanka will be very different conditions from what they are over here. So we'll have to prepare for that tournament as best we can when that moment comes. But I think you'd be foolish to treat the ILT20 as, I suppose, a warm-up series for the World Cup because they're obviously two very unique prospects, Neesham told IANS in an exclusive conversation from Dubai. Neesham, a long-time globetrotter in T20 leagues, said his first stint in the ILT20 so far has been a unique one. It's obviously a unique tournament with the number of overseas players that are playing in each team. It's a high-quality product. I have come from Nepal, where there are only three or four overseas players in the team and six or seven locals. Then you come here, and there are only two locals and nine overseas. So, it's a different makeup. It brings high-quality cricket to the table. I think we're going to continue to see some very high-quality players over the next month or so, he said. Seeing Dubai Capitals, the defending champions, get their first win of the ongoing competition has been immensely helpful. Obviously, it's good to get our first win of the season. Rovman (Powell) and Coxsey (Jordan Cox) obviously batted incredibly well to get a good total, and the guys all bowled well as well. So, the mood in the camp is good. We've got a couple of good training days ahead of us before our next game is on Saturday. In the last few years, power-hitting has become a defining skill in modern T20 cricket batting, and Neesham stated that the scope of an anchor batter is now wiped out. Obviously, the game has become more aggressive, I think, over the last few years. I think the role of an anchor batter sort of batting through in an innings is almost extinct now. Most teams have set themselves up to be aggressive from the top, bat deep, and try to finish games off. So, it's an important part of the game to be able to clear the rope, and hopefully we can continue to do that over this series and bat other teams out of the game. Modern-day cricket has become significantly more demanding for fast bowlers, with workload and injury risks rising due to the overlap of international cricket and franchise leagues. Neesham opined that fast bowlers will soon be forced to choose between playing formats and urged the ICC to find a balance between scheduling international games and franchise leagues. I think fast bowlers basically just can't play all three formats. I don't think that can happen. So, guys are going to have to choose earlier than they would in the future. I think one day cricket is obviously the format that is going to fall by the wayside, I guess, with Test cricket being the most valuable format of the game and T20 being the biggest earner, he added. Modern-day cricket has become significantly more demanding for fast bowlers, with workload and injury risks rising due to the overlap of international cricket and franchise leagues. Neesham opined that fast bowlers will soon be forced to choose between playing formats and urged the ICC to find a balance between scheduling international games and franchise leagues. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Neesham signed off by hoping he can manage his playing schedule fairly well. Obviously, that'll be different for different individuals. So, for me, I'm 35 years old now, and I've been around the block a fair bit. So I'm pretty resilient when it comes to the physical demands of the game. So, hopefully that can continue for the next few years. Article Source: IANS
The BJP and Shiv Sena have decided to bury their differences and contest the polls to Asia's largest civic body -- the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) -- together as part of the Mahayuti. They also agreed to set up a coordination committee to resolve any differences. In a meeting, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, state BJP president Ravindra Chavan and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule decided to forget the bitterness that arose during the recent local body elections and contest the upcoming district panchayat and municipal corporation polls, including the BMC elections, together rather than separately. Bawankule, a senior BJP leader, said instructions will be given to local leaders to sit together and start discussions on seat sharing. We are confident that 90 per cent of the issues will be resolved at the local level, while any remaining issues will be resolved at state level. We decided that there will be four representatives from each party who are empowered to discuss the issues, he said. The Shiv Sena is demanding 80 to 90 seats in the BMC. However, the final decision will be taken later. There are no disputes and differences in the Mahayuti. We had only differences of opinion. We decided to bury the differences and start planning for the upcoming elections, he added. Bawankule further said that the Mahayuti is targeting more than 51 per cent votes in the upcoming elections. The situation is very positive for the Mahayuti. We have undertaken a lot of development work along with several welfare schemes. Therefore we are confident that the people of Maharashtra will cast their votes in favour of the Mahayuti in the upcoming elections as well, he said. Political observers said the Mahayuti leaders realised that if they continue to fight among themselves, it will be tough for them to win the BMC elections for which Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have decided to join hands. The consolidation of voters will be a major plus point for the Thackerays therefore the Shinde-led Shiv Sena's role is important to break this matrix. The BJP knew that on its own it will be tough to win the BMC so they announced that the next mayor of Mumbai will be decided by the trio of Fadnavis, Shinde and Ajit Pawar, said an analyst.
Indian basmati exporters reject US charge of 'dumping', demand strong response from Centre
CHANDIGARH: In response to US President Donald Trump describing Indian rice shipments as 'dumping' and suggesting that new tariffs could be considered, basmati exporters said a false narrative is being spread and demanded a strong response from the Union government. They noted that the Union government does not give even a single rupee of subsidy for growing, buying, milling or exporting basmati rice or even premium non-basmati rice like Sona Masuri. The issue came up two days ago in a meeting that US farmer groups had with President Donald Trump. Some of the groups alleged that Indian rice is 'cheap' because the Indian government subsidises it. They also said India is breaking WTO rules. Trump questioned why India is allowed to send large volumes of rice to the US without facing additional duties. Talking to The New Indian Express , Satish Goel, President of the Basmati Rice Millers and Exporters Association, said Indian basmati is a premium rice and is sold in the US at between $2,200 to 2,500 per tonne, while the rice grown locally by farmers there is sold for just $1,100 per tonne. There is no subsidy at any stage for basmati rice not for farming, not for purchase, not for milling, and not for export. Also, the small interest benefit that exporters used to get earlier was removed on January 1, this year. Today, there is no government financial support for basmati farmers, millers or exporters, he added. Ranjit Singh Jossan, governing member of the association, explained that MSP (Minimum Support Price) applies only to non-basmati paddy, which India does not export to the US. Rice bought under MSP is used in Indias welfare schemes and is often sold at a higher rate in world markets than rice from Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam or Myanmar. India mainly exports basmati to the US. It is a high-quality, premium product grown by private farmers and sold through open market competition. Even Sona Masuri, a premium non-basmati rice exported in small quantity, does not get any subsidy, he said. Jossan said that calling Indian rice subsidized is not only wrong but also a planned move to influence US trade policy. Exporters fear more losses due to US tariffs. Since September 2025, the US has been charging 50 per cent tariff on Indian rice. Because of this, Indias exports to the US have dropped by almost half, he said. Jossan warned that if the remaining 2.53 lakh tones of basmati export is also stopped due to new rules or higher tariffs, it will hit the Indian market badly. Prices inside India may fall, and exporters may suffer huge losses on shipments already on the way. Though the US takes only a small share of Indias total basmati exports, it is a premium and important market. We fear that if this false claim spreads, other countries may also believe it. If we do not stop this lie now, it may reach Europe and other major markets, Jossan said. The wrong message must be stopped immediately. A top US delegation is visiting India to discuss tariffs, including the one on rice. Before this meeting, AIREA is working with the commerce ministry to firmly explain that MSP applies only to rice that is not exported to the US. This is the right time to act. If the false story about subsidised Indian rice continues, it can harm Indias long-term trade. As India prepares for important talks with the US, we hope the Union government will give a strong and clear reply to protect Indias basmati industry from wrong allegations and heavy tariff pressure, he added. Exporters are also demanding the removal of the unfair 50 per cent tariff on basmati, which they said hurts both Indian exporters and American buyers.
How teams prepare for IPL auctions? Team mentor reveals
Dinesh Karthik shared insights into the demanding IPL mini-auction build-up. He described the extensive planning and discussions involved. Karthik found the process challenging yet highly enjoyable. He highlighted the strategic depth and competitive nature of auction decisions. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor emphasized the intricate work behind team selection.
The best mesh Wi-Fi systems of 2025
Spotty Wi-Fi can make even simple tasks feel harder than they should. If youve ever had a video call freeze in one room or watched a stream buffer in another, a mesh Wi-Fi system can fix those frustrations. Instead of relying on a single router tucked in a corner, a mesh setup uses multiple units that work together to spread a strong, consistent signal throughout your home. Modern mesh systems are built for busy households. They keep dozens of devices connected at once, manage traffic intelligently and often include helpful app features that make troubleshooting or adjusting settings much easier. Many support the latest Wi-Fi standards and faster internet plans too, so you can upgrade your network without replacing everything else. Weve tested a range of mesh Wi-Fi systems to find the ones that deliver the best mix of speed, coverage and reliability. Whether you live in a small apartment or a multi-floor home, these picks can help you stay connected wherever you are. Table of contents Best mesh Wi-Fi systems for 2025 What to look for in a mesh Wi-Fi system Other mesh Wi-Fi router systems we tested How we test Wi-Fi routers Mesh Wi-Fi system FAQs Best mesh Wi-Fi systems for 2025 What to look for in a mesh Wi-Fi system Linksys CEO Jonathan Bettino told Engadget why mesh systems are an advancement in Wi-Fi technology over buying a single point router. With one transmitter, the signal can degrade the further away from the router you go, or the local environment isnt ideal. You can have a small [home], but theres thick walls [...] or things in the way that just interfere with your wireless signal, he said. Historically, the solution to a homes Wi-Fi dead zone was to buy a Wi-Fi extender but Bettino said the hardware has both a terrible user experience and one of the highest return rates of any consumer electronics product. Mesh Wi-Fi, by comparison, offers multiple nodes that can be placed anywhere in your home, says Bettino, resulting in ubiquitous Wi-Fi that feels as if you have a router in every room. Rather than having one main router in your home, having a router in every room is the biggest selling point for mesh Wi-Fi given how reliant we all are on the internet. Each node is in constant contact with each other, broadcasting a single, seamless network to all of your connected devices. Theres no separate network for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, just a single name that you connect to. Its a good time to buy a mesh Wi-Fi system since the latest standard, Wi-Fi 6E, represents a big leap in the technology. Matt MacPherson, Cisco's Chief Technology Officer for Wireless, said Wi-Fi 6E is a big inflection point, using much more of the wireless spectrum than its predecessors. If youre using that spectrum with a Wi-Fi 6 [device], he said, youre going to get significant gains [in speed.] MacPherson added Wi-Fi 6E will likely carry you for a long time thanks to the fact its top throughputs now typically exceed what people can actually connect their home to. In short, with a top theoretical per-stream speed of 1.2 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6E is fast enough to outrun all but the fastest internet service. What do all these Wi-Fi numbers and letters mean? Im sorry folks, we need to get boringly technical for one paragraph, but I promise you its worth it. Wi-Fi is governed by International Standard IEEE 802.11, and every few years a letter gets added onto that name when the technology evolves and improves. Until 2019, routers were sold under their IEEE name, leaving users to pick through the word soup of a product labeled 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac and so on. Mercifully, wiser heads opted to rebrand the letters as numbers, so rather than 802.11 b/g/a/n/ac, we have Wi-Fi 1, 2, 3 4 and 5. Right now, were in the middle of one of those Wi-Fi generations, with most of the gear on sale right now supporting either Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E. Whats the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E? Wi-Fi uses chunks of the radio frequency spectrum, with Wi-Fi 6 using the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to pump data around. In fact, back in the old days, it was likely your home router would offer you the choice of the 2.4GHz or the 5GHz network, as separate bands to access. These days, all of the spectrums are tied together as one thing, and Wi-Fi 6E has the added ability to use the 6GHz band as well. Thats a big chunk of extra wireless real estate that isnt as cluttered up as the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. Youre going to talk about wireless frequencies now, arent you. Each Wi-Fi band had tradeoffs, because the slower radio frequencies have greater range but less speed. 2.4GHz signals will travel a long way in your home but arent quick, while 6GHz is blisteringly fast but can be defeated by a sturdy brick wall. A lot of Wi-Fi-enabled gear you own, like smart home products, only use the 2.4GHz band because the range is better and its a lot cheaper. But it means that the band is also overcrowded and slow, making it great for your doorbell and robovac, but lackluster for Twitch streaming. So, what am I looking for? Right now, the market is full of mature Wi-Fi 6 and 6E devices, and most new systems available to buy are capable of taking advantage of the faster speeds they offer. This guide focuses on Wi-Fi 6E gear since its what we think its more than enough to satisfy almost everyones at-home Wi-Fi needs. What about Wi-Fi 7? Were now seeing the first generation of Wi-Fi 7 devices available to buy, but we dont recommend you do so immediately. The Wi-Fi 7 standard is still so new that theres little to no reason for you to rush out and buy one for your home. The hardware is tremendously expensive and while Wi-Fi 7 will, eventually, offer some great benefits over 6E, its not as transformative an upgrade as 6E. Not to mention, Wi-Fi 7 is so new that almost none of your homes devices will be able to take advantage of its big-ticket features. Id estimate you wont need to worry about upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 for at least five years, if not longer. Range and speed All Wi-Fi routers boast a theoretical broadcast range and a theoretical top speed, and in some cases external antennas to boost signal directionality but these figures dont mean much. After all, manufacturers cant control your ISPs real speed, the materials and layout of your home or where you put your Wi-Fi gear. Raw speed isnt everything, either, and you likely need a lot less than the internet speeds your provider is advertising. What matters more is how consistent your connection is between rooms and across devices.. After all, Netflix needs just 15 Mbps to push a single 4K video stream to your home. As cool as it is to say youve got all these hundreds of Mbps, factors like latency and reliability are far more crucial to a happy internet life. And unless you have Gigabit internet that can reach speeds of up to 1 Gbps, you wont need a mesh router that offers that spec. Backhaul Mesh Wi-Fi systems work by connecting every hardware node to a single wireless network, letting them all communicate with each other. Imagine four people in a busy, noisy restaurant all trying to order their dinner from a weary staff member, all at once. Now imagine, while this is going on, that four more people at that same table are also trying to tell a funny anecdote. Its no surprise that it might take a long time for the right information to reach its intended destination. To combat this, higher-end mesh routers offer dedicated wireless backhaul; a slice of the spectrum for node-to-node communication. So rather than everyone talking at once in the same space, the conversations are essentially separated, reducing the invisible clutter in the air. Because theres less confusing cross-chatter, everything moves faster, offering a significant performance boost to those systems. Connectivity These days, even your washing machine can have a wireless connection, but that doesnt mean you should ignore the joys of wired internet. No matter how fast Wi-Fi is, a hard line will always be faster, and some gear, like Philips Hue bridge, still needs an ethernet connection. Plenty of routers can also use these hard connections as backhaul, eliminating further wireless clutter. Its convenient for spread-out systems and power users, but it will mean running more wires through your home. The most common standard is Cat 5e, or gigabit ethernet which, unsurprisingly, has a top speed of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps). Since Ethernet cables are backward compatible, you should be able to easily find one that works with your system. However, to get the most out of your mesh routers, its worth investing in an Ethernet cable that meets the standard your router uses if its Cat 5e, use a Cat 5e cable. You can check your routers specs via the manufacturers website to be sure. Flexibility and scalability Mesh routers enable you to add (or subtract) modules from your home network to suit your needs. D-Links Alan Jones said users should check how scalable the prospective product is before you buy. This sense of scale doesnt just apply to the number of nodes on the network, but how many simultaneous connections it can handle. Its also worth looking at ASUS AiMesh products, which can combine mesh Wi-Fi gear and its standard spider Wi-Fi routers. If youve got a tricky part of your home, you can bolt on an ultra-power standalone Wi-Fi router to a compatible mesh. Placement Mesh networks replace one big piece of hardware with a series of identical nodes that you scatter around your home. You connect one to your modem (usually over ethernet), and then scatter the rest around the place for the best coverage. A good rule of thumb is to place each node no more than two rooms away from the last one, rather than sticking them at the far ends of your home. Bear in mind, every physical obstacle between a Wi-Fi node, its siblings and your devices will hurt your overall performance. You should aim to place them, at the very least, at waist height on furniture in open air, without too many obstructions. The reason many mesh Wi-Fi products are designed to look like an inoffensive white doodad is so you dont feel compelled to hide them behind your TV. Other mesh Wi-Fi router systems we tested Amazon Eero Pro 7 Eero built its reputation on easy to use yet powerful mesh systems that offer a lot of good in a relatively small and affordable package. Setup is effortless, the app running things is clean and simple, and you get the added benefit of backwards compatibility with older hardware. Sadly, the issue with every Eero system is that so many basic management features, like parental controls, are paywalled behind the companys Eero Plus subscription for $100 a year. Amazon Eero 6E Eero Pro 6E is an easy device, the sort a total novice can set up on their own and thrive with for years on end. Theres little brainwork required to get things set up, and the app has a clean UI with plenty of hand-holding. But, as with the Eero Pro 7, the fact that so many basic management tools are paywalled irks me, especially since you can get plenty of them for free with Googles rival offering. Netgear Orbi 960 The Orbi 96T0 (RBKE963) is Netgears flagship mesh Wi-Fi product, which the company calls the worlds most powerful Wi-Fi 6E system. Its also one of the most expensive consumer-level kits on the market, setting you back $1,499.99 for a three pack. It's a fantastic piece of gear, but it's worth saying that the subset of people who could, would or should buy it remains far smaller than you might expect. Ultimately, I feel that if youre paying luxury prices, you should expect a luxury product. There were plenty of times during testing that I went looking for a feature that was either only available via the web client, or behind a paywall. While, yes, much of your cash is going to the superlative hardware, but for this sort of money, the fact you have to pay extra for some table-stakes features is insulting. If youre looking for a new Wi-Fi system and arent prepared to spend almost $1,500, its worth considering our other top picks for the best Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems. How we test Wi-Fi routers My home covers around 2,200 square feet across three stories with the office on the third floor. Its relatively long and thin, with the living room at the front of the house, the kitchen at the back and the three bedrooms on the first floor. Its age means there are a lot of solid brick walls, old-school lathe and plaster as well as aluminum foil-backed insulation boards to help with energy efficiency. There are two major Wi-Fi dead zones in the house: The bathroom and the third bedroom behind it, since theres lots of old and new pipework in the walls and floors. For mesh routers with two nodes, I place the first in my living room, connected via ethernet to my cable modem with the second on the first floor landing in the (ostensible) center of the house. For three-node sets, the third goes in my kitchen, which Ive found is the optimal layout to get the bulk of my house covered in Wi-Fi. Fundamentally, my home poses enough challenges that if it succeeds here, it stands a very good chance of succeeding in your place. Each mesh is judged on ease of setup, Wi-Fi coverage, reliability, speed and any additional features that it advertises. I look at how user-friendly each companion app is from the perspective of a novice rather than an expert given you shouldnt need to be a network engineer to do this sort of thing. Tests I do include checking for dead zones, moving from room to room to measure consistency of connectivity and streaming multiple videos at once to replicate common usage patterns. Mesh Wi-Fi system FAQs This is the section of our mesh Wi-Fi buyers guide where we talk about the stuff that most people just glide past. If youre not familiar with technology, it can be intimidating if people talk about these things as if youre expected to already know. So heres a very simple, very basic rundown of some of the stuff you might have missed in very basic terms. Whats the difference between a Wi-Fi router and a mesh router? A Wi-Fi router is a box that usually sits close to wherever the internet comes into your home and pumps out information over radio waves. A mesh router, meanwhile, is a set of smaller devices, one of which sits next to your internet connection while the rest are scattered around your home. A single Wi-Fi router is great if your home is small, your needs arent too demanding, or if your home doesnt have many radio-blocking obstructions that mean those signals cant reach every corner of your home. But, much like standing next to a radio transmitter and then walking away from it in a straight line, after a while, the signal will degrade. Thats the problem a mesh system is designed to solve, since it will take the signal from your modem and pump to the other mesh devices, known as nodes, in your home. That way, instead of having one big router in one part of your home, you have several small ones that ensure you have good Wi-Fi connectivity all over. It also helps ensure that theres no risk of dropping your connection as you move around a mesh router system makes it easy to, for instance, walk from room to room watching Netflix and know you wont miss a single frame. What's the difference between a Wi-Fi extender and a mesh system? Oh boy. Wi-Fi extenders, or repeaters, are small devices designed to push Wi-Fi a little further than your Wi-Fi router can stretch. Theyre cheap, compact and often come in the form of little boxes that sit on your plug sockets with the hope of pushing Wi-Fi to a signal-sparse corner of your home. They are, and I cant put this delicately enough, often a big pile of rubbish and are often not worth your time . Especially since the price of mesh routers has fallen to within most peoples budgets. What is a wireless backhaul? As we explained above, mesh Wi-Fi systems work by connecting every hardware node to a single wireless network, letting them all communicate with each other. Imagine four people in a busy, noisy restaurant all trying to order their dinner from a weary staff member, all at once. Now imagine, while this is going on, that four more people at that same table are also trying to tell a funny anecdote. Its no surprise that it might take a long time for the right information to reach its intended destination. To combat this, higher-end mesh routers offer dedicated wireless backhaul; a slice of the spectrum for node-to-node communication. So rather than everyone talking at once in the same space, the conversations are essentially separated, reducing the invisible clutter in the air. Because theres less confusing cross-chatter, everything moves faster, offering a significant performance boost to those systems. Is it better to hard wire instead of using a mesh Wi-Fi system? This is a great question that doesnt have a simple answer. It is (almost) always preferable to connect devices with a wire, in this case Ethernet, than to use Wi-Fi. The speeds are faster, its more reliable and your data is less vulnerable to the slings and arrows of the laws of physics. Hell, I spent about a year trying to work out how to build an iPhone to Ethernet connector back in the bad old days of Wi-Fi. But your ability to do so depends on your level of DIY skills and / or how much money you want to spend on contractors. Wiring your home for Ethernet if you dont have the infrastructure already can be a costly and time-consuming process. Particularly if you dont want ugly wires running along your baseboards and under your carpets or across your hardwood floors. If youre building your own home or can do some serious DIY, then hard wiring is a fantastic thing to have. It goes wonderfully hand-in-glove with mesh networks too, since youll be able to hook up your nodes to the network for even better speeds. But if Im honest, advances in Wi-Fi technology mean Id only go for hard wiring if I really believed I needed the sort of speed it offers. Unless youre a Twitch streamer running your own 24/7 content studio, its probably overkill. When we started renovating our 140-year-old home, I had Ethernet installed in the living room, the master and second bedroom and in my office, all at the front of the house. I cant use it for my mesh since Id need to put the wiring through the middle of the house. If I ever had the wiring done again, I would do so as I know Ill instantly see a meaningful improvement in both my connection speed and reliability. But I wouldnt spend several thousand pounds to have it done just for the sake of it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-mesh-wifi-system-130028701.html?src=rss
Hyderabad NGO under ED scanner for RTE fund diversion
New Delhi: A Hyderabad-based education outfit has allegedly been found to be misappropriating RTE funds, getting foreign donations by misrepresenting ordinary students as joginis and diverting funds for extravagant foreign travels, the ED said on Tuesday. The Enforcement Directorate, in a statement, said after some searches, it attached a dozen immovable assets, commanding a market 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 .
The Delhi high court questioned the Centre's failure to prevent IndiGo's flight cancellations and soaring airfares, demanding to know immediate measures taken for stranded passengers. The court also sought explanations on arrangements made to manage travellers and prevent harassment, as hundreds of flights were scrapped, leaving lakhs stranded nationwide.
Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, lived a life of purpose, famously stating he wouldn't waste his finite heartbeats. His journey from a childhood fascination with flight to commanding the Apollo 11 mission exemplifies this philosophy. After his historic lunar walk, Armstrong dedicated himself to teaching and remained involved in aeronautics.
If World Gets To See What We Discuss, They Can Do 10-part TV Series: Karthik On IPL Auction Prep
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former India wicketkeeper-batter and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor Dinesh Karthik opened up about the intense, high-stakes build-up to the IPL mini-auction, describing the experience as one of the most demanding yet enjoyable phases of his cricketing journey. Speaking about the extensive behind-the-scenes planning, Karthik reiterated how the preparation alone could form a gripping series. In a video shared by RCB on X, he said, If the world gets to see the whole footage of what all we speak and what all we discuss, they can do a mega serial, I feel. They can do a 10-part TV series on it. He detailed the exhaustive preparation that defined the days leading up to the auction, adding, It was the most exhilarating 10 days prior to the auction, the way we prepped. I don't think I've gone through an experience like that. I've played a lot of cricket, but to be in the boardroom discussing what it takes to make a team was the most challenging, most fun, engaging week, 10 days I've had because there was so much prep that went into it. Mo and Andy have a very detailed process that they go through. Karthik emphasised how deeply he enjoyed being part of the strategic core group, despite the long hours. And I thoroughly enjoyed every second of being in that room. At times, it was tiring because we had 12-hour, 14-hour days. I really enjoyed every second. I would do anything to have the same kind of experience in the lead-up to an auction. Comparing the current mini-auction to the mega auction, he admitted the latter offered unmatched excitement. This is a mini auction, very different. I must admit that the week in the lead-up to the mega auction was exciting. Discussing the complexity of player evaluation, he said, So many names, so many skill sets, how are you going to line up the team, giving your inputs, seeing what matters. So many things come into play and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Breaking down the decision-making layers, he added, But it's very interesting, intriguing and mentally challenging because you're assessing various things. A- the skill set. B- what does it take to be part of a team? But most importantly, the auction order. Where does the player come from? Will we bid for him? If we bid, how far we go? What we need to do? So it is a very intricate process, very challenging process and that's the thrill in an auction. Discussing the complexity of player evaluation, he said, So many names, so many skill sets, how are you going to line up the team, giving your inputs, seeing what matters. So many things come into play and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also Read: Live Cricket Score At the same time, enjoying this whole process because I was looking forward to coming back. Just seeing everybody back together in the ground was such a nice feeling. Last night, to be fair, I didn't sleep much. I was very excited to see Andy, Malo, Mo, all of them together, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Parliament gears up for fresh debates on electoral reforms and Vande Mataram Both Houses of Parliament are set to witness fresh debates on Wednesday, with the Lok Sabha beginning discussions on electoral reforms and the Rajya Sabha taking up deliberations on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. During Tuesdays proceedings, leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju took the floor, sparking intense exchanges. In the Lok Sabha, the NDA and the INDIA bloc engaged in heated debate over electoral reforms and the special intensive revision, with the government accusing Congress of hiding its poll failures and the opposition reiterating allegations of vote theft. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha debated the national song Vande Mataram, a day after Amit Shah delivered a fiery speech attacking the opposition for linking the discussion with upcoming state assembly polls in West Bengal. The storm in Parliament is expected to continue on Wednesday, with the Lok Sabha carrying forward the discussion on electoral reforms and the Rajya Sabha deliberating on Vande Mataram, keeping both Houses in a charged and contentious mood. Haryana MLAs visiting House Haryana MLAs, along with Haryana Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, arrive at Parliament to see the proceedings of the House, ANI reported. TMC leaders protest in Parliament over withheld MGNREGA funds TMC leaders, including Sagarika Ghosh and Dola Sen, staged a protest inside Parliament premises on Wednesday, demanding the Centre release West Bengals pending MGNREGA dues. The leaders accused the government of withholding funds unfairly and called for the immediate clearance of all outstanding payments. #WATCH | Delhi | Trinamool Congress MPs protest over Central funds due to West Bengal pic.twitter.com/f01zSHpV6Q ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2025 Opposition MPs protest in Parliament demanding Navi Mumbai Airport be named after DB Patil Opposition MPs from Maharashtra, including NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, protest in Parliament, demanding to rename the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after Peasants and Workers Party leader DB Patil #WATCH | Delhi: Opposition MPs from Maharashtra, including NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, protest in Parliament, demanding to rename the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after Peasants and Workers Party leader DB Patil pic.twitter.com/QB1eepu0br ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2025 Lok Sabha commences Lok Sabha proceedings for the day commence with Question Hour. Rahul Gandhi to fly to Germany mid Winter Session; BJP criticises visit Congress leader Rahul Gandhis upcoming trip to Berlin has sparked a fresh political flare-up, with the BJP attacking him for leaving the country even as the crucial winter session of Parliament is under way. Calling him Videsh Nayak, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla mocked Gandhi for choosing an overseas tour from December 1520, while the Lok Sabha is scheduled to sit till December 19. The Indian Overseas Congress has defended the visit as a major outreach initiative. Gandhi will address the Indian diaspora in Berlin on December 17, where IOC presidents from across Europe will meet to discuss NRI issues, organisational strengthening and expanding the Congress ideological footprint. Senior leaders including Sam Pitroda and Dr Arathi Krishna are expected to attend. IOC representatives in Austria and the UK said the visit will also open space for discussions with German lawmakers and the Indian community abroad.
India Showed Proteas Exactly How To Play On Sporting Wicket: Dale Steyn
Former South Africa: Former South Africa bowler Dale Steyn broke down Indias clinical outing against the Proteas and analysed the two sides performances in depth, stating that the hosts showed the visitors how to play on a sporting wicket. The Men in Blue signalled serious intent ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup with a commanding performance in the opening T20I of the five-match series against the Proteas. South Africa, playing in conditions that typically favour their strengths, faltered early with the bat, something Steyn found both surprising and disappointing. The Proteas, chasing a target of 176, crumbled for just 74, their lowest-ever total in the format, and lost the game by a massive 101-run margin. Its a tough one. Not tough to decipher how they batted, but certainly a tough pill to swallow because these are conditions youd expect South Africa to be familiar with. At home, theres always a bit of nip and seam, and we actually saw that when they bowled. So youd think the message to the batters would've been: get through the first nine or ten overs, assess, and then go deep, similar to how Hardik played. But it looked like there was a bit of franticness without any real aggression, Steyn said on JioStar. He added that Indias new-ball brilliance set the tone, If India wanted to win, they had to make the new ball talk, and they did. Yes, there were one or two unlucky dismissals, inside edges carrying to the keeper, but that still comes from good bowling in the right areas, trying to drive on the up. Drawing parallels with Englands recent struggles in Australia, Steyn highlighted the dangers of misplaced ultra-aggression, pointing to South Africas inexperience in key situations. And then you see little signs of inexperience, like Brevis taking on Bumrah at the back end. The game was gone, but you still have to pick your battles. Hes the best white-ball bowler in the world. If de Villiers and others couldnt consistently pull that off, youre not going to do it, young man. Wait for your moment, he said. Steyn also weighed in on Suryakumar Yadavs leadership, praising the captains composure and clarity. When you have the backing of your team and feel comfortable in your environment, you can have open conversations with your players. Youre not threatened by your spot or by the captaincy. You put the team first and say, Whats best for the individual? Whats best for the team? Thats the kind of captain everyone wants, someone whos secure, welcoming, and willing to adjust for the greater good, he said of the Indian skipper. Steyn also weighed in on Suryakumar Yadavs leadership, praising the captains composure and clarity. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The former pacer concluded with firm praise for India, stating, Theres a lot to unpack from this game, but credit to India, they played a perfect match. Hardik Pandya batted beautifully, and then they bowled superbly. They showed South Africa exactly how to play on a sporting wicket. Article Source: IANS
Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar wrote to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, demanding an investigation under the direct supervision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu to track down the end beneficiaries in the drug money trail
Drift with 'Cloud Dancer': Pantone's Colour of the Year
Pantones Colour of the Year is usually a global signal, a preview of what shades people may gravitate toward. But 2026s pick, a billowy, balanced white called Cloud Dancer, feels unusually intimate. It arrives at a moment suspended between overstimulation and exhaustion, a shade that feels like a welcoming, clean canvas amid complex times marked by grim, jarring notes. Yet, choosing white has triggered one of the most polarised reactions Pantone has seen in years. Recent selections carried mood and emotion: Mocha Mousse (2025) offered elegance, Peach Fuzz (2024) centred tenderness and connection, and Viva Magenta (2023) pulsed with rebellious joy. This years choice belongs to a different lineage one probably shaped by burnout, minimalism and the craving for sensory relief. Pantone calls it a conscious statement of simplification, a lofty white neutral whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world. The cacophony that surrounds us has become overwhelming, making it harder to hear the voices of our inner selves, reads Pantones introductory note. A conscious statement of simplification, Cloud Dancer enhances our focus, providing release from the distraction of external influences. After years of shades that asked us to feel something, this one simply asks us to pause and breathe. The reveal, however, split the internet instantly. Reactions swung from this is just laundry white to allegations of white supremacy. This backlash simply mirrors a world more prepared for intensity than for quiet. From an un-coloured perspective, however, it seems the Cloud Dancer offers stillness and stillness isnt always exciting at first glance. Actor and designer Poornima Indrajith was, in her own words, surprised when she first saw the announcement. Coming off a year that tilted toward maximalism, she feels the shift will test the industry. Its going to be hard on designers, she says. The sudden shift might be challenging. The colour has raised too many eyebrows. For her, the challenge lies in its quietness. The colour screams minimalism, she says. This means designers will have to work harder to make it compelling through texturing, layering and subtle drama that adds depth without disturbing its restraint. Yet, she believes Kerala may be more receptive than most. In our state, Poornima adds, shades of white have always been our traditional colour, and hence we are less resistant, I feel. However, thoughtful construction will be needed. It surely needs extensive homework on surface and texture details, especially for people who prefer maximalism, Poornima notes. Even so, she sees an advantage: Indian wardrobes, unlike Western ones, rarely confine themselves to a single trendy colour. We Indians are quite conditioned to colours. Our wardrobe is blessed with not having to stick to any particular shade even if thats the colour trend and thats a saving grace for designers, she smiles. Stylist and creator Veena Surendran reads the Pantone pick as a reset point the colour you reach for when the mind craves clarity in stillness. To her, Cloud Dancer isnt a flat white but a diffused softness that behaves almost like a filter on the skin, emotionally minimal rather than clinical. Its versatility lies in how it brightens soft warm complexions, balances muted undertones and even suits high-contrast features. That adaptability makes it not loud innovation, but quiet evolution. It also leans naturally gender-neutral, opening space for structured co-ords for men, fluid drapes for women, and minimalist unisex silhouettes where form and texture do the talking. In India, Veena believes, the shade is far more intuitive than its online reputation suggests. Our climate has always favoured breathable whites, she notes. And this softer tone lifts the complexion rather than washing it out, especially against warm-neutral undertones common across the country. To keep it compelling, Veena says she would opt for texture over contrast recommending combinations like linen with raw silk, matte cotton with organza, tone-on-tone embroidery. In Kerala, it feels both familiar and updated: traditional handlooms and kasavu already live in this palette, but this softer white sheds the heavier yellow undertone, bringing a contemporary, editorial clarity, says Veena. Going beyond fashion Artist Shalini Menon sees the Cloud Dancer as a blank canvas that invites exploration. The shade, she says, opens up a lot of opportunities and possibilities because it complements rather than competes with other colours. In a world crowded with stimuli, she values how the shade offers balance: There is a bombardment of colours this neutral shade does not influence you, but you can influence it. Shalini, too, finds it culturally familiar visible in Keralas saris, mundu and pottery and emotionally uplifting, a tone that takes away from the darkness and brings calm, much like the highlights an artist uses to create relief in a painting. Poet and academic Syam Sudhakar approaches it philosophically. The name sounds soothing and peaceful. I believe the hue was always here among us, long before Pantone declared it, he says. Syam reflects on how meaning shifts for colour. Red may symbolise danger to some, whereas a red rose symbolises love. I would stress this shade carries no racial reading. White is not a white mans colour. In his view, its role is simple and almost meditative: a presence that can restore peace, even if briefly. Nithya Mariam John, a poet and assistant professor of English, has a different take. The very concept of assigning one particular colour to express a fresh start may also be homogenising, she says. Can one shade be considered an umbrella colour that paints millions of feelings about serenity, clarity, mindfulness and close reflection, all across the globe? White or not VIBGYOR, let us start afresh. Thats the bottomline. Inside homes, colour certainly takes on yet another function. Designer Midhun Babu finds serenity in the cosiness the Cloud Dancer offers. It has a soft, airy warmth that diffuses light gently, he says, noting that unlike harsher whites, it stays stable in Indian lighting. Interior designer Ebin Francis calls it a timeless colour that goes with most of the other elements, especially in Kerala homes where it pairs seamlessly with both traditional and contemporary palettes. It never overpowers a room. Textures and layering can elevate it easily ultimately delivering what they see as a feeling of calm and comfort, he says. What ties these perspectives together is the shades ability to step back rather than stand out. Instead of demanding attention, it creates room for interpretation, for texture, for quiet. And across fashion, art, design and culture, most voices converge on one idea: its power lies in what it allows rather than what it imposes. Maybe thats the quiet shift the world needs at this point. Why soft white feels calming? Soft whites reduce visual noise, helping the brain process environments with less effort. Environmental psychology links low-saturation neutrals to lower sensory load and a steadier emotional state. Even light reflection in warm whites supports cognitive ease and reduces eye strain. Neutrals function as emotionally non-directive shades, letting surrounding colours and textures set the mood. In fashion and interiors, muted whites act as balance tones, anchoring palettes without drawing attention. Whats the controversy? The Cloud Dancer has stirred up the internet for the wrong reasons. Some believe the choice is politically loaded, given global conversations around far-right white nationalism.A viral comment slammed it, calling the choice painfully tone-deaf during a time when white supremacy is resurfacing loudly in national leadership and policy. Some accused Pantone of whitewashing global colour culture by choosing a neutral white.Pantone has issued a clarification, stressing that Cloud Dancer is all about relaxation, reflection, and creativity. It explains that the colour was chosen for its emotional and creative resonance, while emphasising that the institute does not assign political narratives to colour.
Why Hardik Pandya didn't bowl in the Powerplay: Suryakumar Yadav explains
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav praised his team's fearless batting after a commanding 101-run win over South Africa in the first T20I. Despite a shaky start, India posted 175, thanks to Hardik Pandya's explosive 59. Suryakumar highlighted the batting depth, emphasizing the importance of every player enjoying their game and playing with confidence.
Ashes: Pat Cummins returns as Australia announce squad for third Test
Pat Cummins is set to return to Australia's squad for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, holding a commanding 2-0 series lead. The captain's comeback after a back injury is highly anticipated, with coach Andrew McDonald expressing confidence in his readiness.
Vote theft anti-national act, says Rahul
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack against the ruling party accusing it of committing the biggest anti-national act by orchestrating vote theft in collusion with the Election Commission and undermining the idea of India. Participating in a discussion on election reforms, Gandhi also outlined a slew of electoral reforms to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. Making suggestions, he called for providing machine-readable voter lists to all parties one month before elections, taking back the law that allows destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days, giving access to EVMs, and changing the law that allows the election commissioners to get away with whatever they want to do. In his 30-minute speech, he posed three questions which he claimed show the BJP is directing and using EC to damage Indias democracy. The biggest anti-national act you can do is vote chori (theft). Because when you destroy the vote, you destroy the fabric of this country, you destroy modern India, you destroy the idea of India. Those across the aisle are doing an anti-national act, Gandhi said, gesturing towards the treasury benches. He cautioned the election commissioners that law can be changed retroactively to hold them accountable. Let me remind them: dont worry, we are going to change the law, and that too retroactively. And we are going to come and find you, he said. Demanding an answer from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Congress leader asked why the Chief Justice of India was removed from the selection panel for appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. Why are the prime minister and home minister so keen on choosing who the election commissioner is going to be, he asked. Lashing out at the government for altering the law with regard to CCTV footage to enable vote theft, the former Congress chief said, Why was a law put in place that allows the EC to destroy CCTV footage 45 days after the election? It is not a question of data. It is a question of stealing the election.
Chopde CCC humble Kanchole CC by 99 runs
Shapora : Chopde CCC registered a commanding 99-run victory over Kanchole in a C Division North Zone clash at the ODM, Shapora Panchayat ground on Tuesday. Batting first, Chopde posted 305/10 in 37.3 overs, with Sumit Mishra and Babal Dhuri leading the charge with 59 each, while Govardhan Dhamaji added 42. Kaushal Gawde starred with [] The post Chopde CCC humble Kanchole CC by 99 runs appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Leaked audio sparks rigging row in Punjab; HC orders probe
A leaked audio clip has ignited a political firestorm in Punjab. Opposition parties allege the ruling AAP is rigging upcoming local body elections. The Punjab and Haryana High Court is now involved, demanding an investigation into the claims. The court has asked the State Election Commission to submit an affidavit.
Bihar Gramin Bank now serves 3.5 crore customers
With the recent merger of Uttar and Dakshin Bihar Gramin Banks, Bihar Gramin Bank has emerged as the state's leading bank, boasting the most extensive branch network and proudly catering to over 35 million customers. Commanding a robust 27% market share, this powerhouse is also championing financial literacy across Bihar, leveraging outreach programs in collaboration with Nabard to empower communities.
After viral clip of athlete loading gun, HOA body calls for strict actions
The Haryana Olympic Association has issued a strict advisory to all affiliated units, demanding zero-tolerance and disciplinary action against coaches and players involved in illegal activities or violations of the sports code. This response follows a viral video of an athlete handling a firearm, prompting concerns about the image and dignity of sports.
India secured a commanding 101-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I, taking a 1-0 series lead. Hardik Pandya's explosive unbeaten 59 powered India to 175/6, a total their bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, defended brilliantly to bowl out the Proteas for a mere 74.
1st T20I: All-round Pandya, Bowlers Hand India Thumping 101-run Win Over SA
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Hardik Pandyas all-round performance and cumulative efforts by the bowlers handed India a 101-run victory in the first T20I against South Africa here at the Barabati Stadium. With that, the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the five-game series to start their T20 World Cup 2-26 preparations in style. Defending 176 runs, the Men in Blue got off to a dream start as Arshdeep Singh sent Quinton de Kock packing for a duck off just the second delivery of the innings. Tristan Stubbs looked to get going as soon as he walked into the field, but his stay was cut short by the Indian pacer, who added a second wicket to his kitty in the third over. Markram and Dewald Brevis picked up the momentum quickly without letting the two early wickets affect the game, but a change in bowling, which saw Axar Patel come into the attack inside the powerplay, led to the Protea skipper falling for a run-a-ball 14. Returning to bowl for India after a long gap, Hardik Pandya struck on the very first ball that he delivered and dismissed the dangerous David Miller to get his side another key breakthrough. South Africas batting unit crumbled like a cookie as the Indian bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals. Though Marco Jansen provided a ray of hope in the middle by smoking a couple of sixes, Varun Chakaravarthy trapped him and bowled the all-rounder out as the visitors got into further trouble. Bumrah was just one scalp shy of completing 100 T20I wickets and he achieved the feat by dismissing Dewald Brevis in the 11th over and doubled the celebrations by picking Keshav Maharajs wicket in the same over. The Proteas lost their ninth wicket soon, in the 12th over, when Anrich Nortje found his way back to the pavilion, courtesy of Axar. Shivam Dube hit the final nail in the coffin as a fine catch by Abhishek Sharma led to Lutho Sipamlas dismissal. As a result, South Africa were bowled out for their lowest ever score in a T20I, closing their innings with just 74 runs. Speaking of the first innings, Shubman Gills much-awaited return was short-lived as Lungi Ngidi removed him in the opening over, and the pacer struck again to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav, leaving India unsettled early. Captain Suryakumar briefly counterattacked with a six and a four, including his signature supla stroke, before falling to a mistimed shot. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma steadied the innings to take India to 40/2 at the end of the powerplay, but the openers dismissal to Lutho Sipamla halted the momentum. The middle overs dragged as Varma and Axar Patel struggled for fluency before the former perished scoring 26 off 32. Axar offered support, but the innings truly hinged on Pandyas commanding knock. The all-rounder struck six boundaries and four sixes, lifting Indias total with an assertive finish. Cameos from Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma added vital late runs in the closing stages. On a pitch that turned even routine strokes into laboured efforts, Pandya produced an innings of uncommon quality. With the surface gripping and the ball refusing to come on, Indias top order found fluency hard to locate; both Tilak Varma and Axar Patel promised more than they ultimately delivered. South Africa tightened the screws through Lungi Ngidis triple strike and Marco Jansens miserly overs, picking off batters just as partnerships seemed to settle. Amid that struggle, Pandya appeared almost untouched by the conditions. He shifted gears with clarity and confidence, seizing the initiative and swinging the contest back into balance. His knock has kept India firmly in the hunt despite everything the pitch and the South African bowlers threw at them. On a pitch that turned even routine strokes into laboured efforts, Pandya produced an innings of uncommon quality. With the surface gripping and the ball refusing to come on, Indias top order found fluency hard to locate; both Tilak Varma and Axar Patel promised more than they ultimately delivered. South Africa tightened the screws through Lungi Ngidis triple strike and Marco Jansens miserly overs, picking off batters just as partnerships seemed to settle. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 175/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26; Lungi Ngidi 3-31, Lutho Sipamla 2-38) beat South Africa (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14; Axar Patel 2-7, Arshdeep Singh 2-14) by 101 runs. Article Source: IANS
Three hotel staff die of suspected food poisoning in MP's Khajuraho; several critical
BHOPAL: At least three lower-rung staff/workers of a prominent three-star hotel-cum-tourist resort in Madhya Pradeshs world-famous tourist city, Khajuraho, have died due to suspected food poisoning, while at least three to four are stated to be in critical condition at a government hospital in Gwalior. The tragic incident happened after the lower-rung employees had a delayed lunch at around 5 pm in their portion at the Gautam Hotel and Resort on Monday. The condition of 11 of the staff members deteriorated a short while later and they started vomiting, after which they were rushed to the Chhatarpur district hospital in the late evening. Potato and cauliflower curry is suspected to have caused the health emergency. With their condition continuing to worsen, the doctors at the Chhatarpur District Hospital referred them to adjoining Gwalior for life-saving treatment. Three of the critical workers identified as Pragilal Kushwah (54), Ramswaroop Kushwah (47) and woman staffer Girija Rajak (35) died during the course of treatment at the Jai Arogya Hospital (JAH) in Gwalior, official sources in MPs Chhatarpur district said. Out of the 11 workers who took ill, nine were referred to Gwalior. While three died during the course of treatment at the JAH Hospital, six others have been admitted at two other government hospitals in Gwalior. Three to four of the remaining staffers, who are admitted at two hospitals in Gwalior, are stated critical. Three workers died due to suspected food poisoning. Immediate funeral assistance of Rs 5,000 each has been approved for the three deceased. Also, financial assistance of Rs 20,000 each has been released for the three bereaved families. Further, action is being taken to provide assistance of Rs 4 lakh each under the Sambal Scheme. Primary probe revealed that the workers of the hotel-cum-resort had lunch out of the food prepared by them only. Food poisoning is suspected in food which was prepared and consumed by them and not the food prepared at the hotel-cum-resort for the guests, which included officials of the state government, Chhatarpur district collector Parth Jaiswal told TNIE . The concerned portion where the food was cooked and consumed by the workers has been sealed and the samples of the food leftover sent for testing. The report will be with us in a day, based on which further action will be taken, he added. Food samples have also been taken for testing from other hotels and resorts, which are reporting major tourists/visitor occupancy presently, Chhatarpur district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr RP Gupta said. Angered over the incident, the family members of the deceased workers and other ailing workers blocked the Khajuraho-Bamitha Road, demanding Rs 1 crore compensation for each bereaved family from the government. The tragic incident happened on a day when the states CM Dr Mohan Yadav was in the tourist hotspot Khajuraho with his entire council of ministers, for a special cabinet meeting and other related events. Most of the hotels and resorts in Khajuraho housed state government ministers and officials for two long days.
Advocates stage demonstration demanding suspension of e-filing system
McGrath feels England stand on the cusp of 'embarrassing' situation
Australian legend Glenn McGrath has warned England that a third Test loss in Adelaide would be embarrassing, as Australia holds a commanding 2-0 Ashes lead. McGrath criticized England's rigid approach, suggesting a lack of accountability, and believes the team finally understands the gravity of their situation after a Brisbane drubbing. Australia's dominance has been stark.
Judoka Ritik Sharmas KIUG Triumph Fuels His 2026 CWG Dream
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indoor Hall: Since relocating to the SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bhopal six years ago, Ritik Sharmas career has experienced a rapid ascent. The young Punjab-born judoka once again highlighted his progress with a commanding performance at the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) Rajasthan 2025. Competing in his fourth KIUG at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Indoor Hall in Udaipur, Ritik, representing Lovely Professional University (LPU), secured his third gold medal, adding to his existing bronze. What made the victory more meaningful was the way he bounced back from a recent setback. Flying straight to Udaipur after a first-round exit at the Asian Open Championships in Hong Kong, Ritik wasted no time dwelling on the disappointment. Instead, he channelled the lessons from his overseas trip into a composed, confident performance, overcoming familiar rival Yash Ghangas in the mens +100kg final. The rivalry between Ritik and Yash dates back to their teenage years. The two first competed in the final of the 2020 Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati, and even now, as products of the same NCOE, their matchups remain intensely competitive. There are a handful of judokas in our category, so we have known each other for years now. I beat him for the first time in the Guwahati KIYG, and Im glad that I could get the better of him in KIUG 2025 too, said Ritik, emphasising the need for more international exposure trips. Despite being out in the first round, I have come back with a lot of learnings and positives from Hong Kong. What also matters is the mental aspect of the sport, as such exposure trips help you in understanding how the world and Olympic champions approach the game, their techniques, and sparring with some of the best in the world, he added. Ritiks journey started far from Indias main sporting centres, in Gurdaspur, a remote border district in Punjab bordering Pakistan. Growing up, opportunities were scarce, with few organised sports programmes or training centres available. Yet in 2015, at the age of 14, Ritik found his passion for judo and dedicated himself to the sport with steadfast focus. Born to an ASI in the Punjab Police and the youngest of three siblings, Ritik began his initial training at the renowned Shaheed Bhagat Singh JFI coaching centre, which has produced over 50 international and 100 national-level judokas. The foundation he built there kept him steady even as he faced challenges on the global stage. Ritiks journey started far from Indias main sporting centres, in Gurdaspur, a remote border district in Punjab bordering Pakistan. Growing up, opportunities were scarce, with few organised sports programmes or training centres available. Yet in 2015, at the age of 14, Ritik found his passion for judo and dedicated himself to the sport with steadfast focus. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For Ritik, the lack of quality sparring partners in his weight class remains a major obstacle. However, he continues to push his boundaries and is now aiming for the next significant goal of breaking into the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad. Article Source: IANS
Proteas Women's Players Make Big Gains In T20I Rankings After Win Vs Ireland
ICC T20I: The race at the top of the ICC Womens T20I rankings has grown even more competitive, with several South African players climbing the charts on the back of a commanding start to their home series against Ireland. Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. Her tidy spells in the opening two matches, yielding three wickets at just over 11 runs apiece, have propelled her four spots up to sixth place among T20I bowlers. The 25-year-old now sits on 705 rating points, edging closer to Australias Annabel Sutherland, who continues to hold the No.1 position with 736 rating points. Mlabas rise is part of a broader upward shift for the hosts after securing a 20 lead in the three-match contest. Nadine de Klerk has climbed to 45th among bowlers following her four-wicket haul across the two games, while Chloe Tryon has vaulted 12 places to 49th. Tryon also advanced in the all-rounders table, moving up seven spots to sit just outside the top 10. Fellow all-rounder Sune Luus made similar progress, jumping nine places to 23rd after a standout run with both bat and ball. Luus has struck 118 runs in two outings, highlighted by an 81, and taken four wickets, lifting her to 41st in the batting rankings as well. There was positive movement for some returning and emerging names, too. Former South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk has re-entered the T20I batting list at 82nd after her comeback to international cricket, while Irelands Leah Paul has pushed up nine places to 67th thanks to a couple of confident innings. Tryon also advanced in the all-rounders table, moving up seven spots to sit just outside the top 10. Fellow all-rounder Sune Luus made similar progress, jumping nine places to 23rd after a standout run with both bat and ball. Luus has struck 118 runs in two outings, highlighted by an 81, and taken four wickets, lifting her to 41st in the batting rankings as well. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As the series heads into its final match, the rankings picture remains fluid, and the momentum is firmly with the Proteas. Article Source: IANS
IndiGo crisis mirrors long-standing issues of loco pilots in Railways
For decades, railway crew members have been demanding a scientifically designed working atmosphere
BJP legislators protested in Belagavi, demanding the Karnataka government address farmers' grievances, including issues with sugarcane and maize pricing and delayed flood damage compensation. Party leaders accused the state government of mismanaging funds and spreading misinformation about central aid, vowing further action if issues aren't resolved promptly.
Anarchy Can't Be Allowed': Supreme Court Seeks Centre's Reply On Bengal SIR Security
Anarchy cannot be allowed, Supreme Court warned on Tuesday as it sought responses from the Centre and the Election Commission of India on a petition demanding the deployment of Central forces to protect electoral officers engaged in SIR in Bengal
Supreme Court issues notice on demand for CAPF deployment in West Bengal
The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India to file its response to a petition demanding that Central Armed Police Forces be deployed in West Bengal during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The matter was taken up by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, which noted that if [] The post Supreme Court issues notice on demand for CAPF deployment in West Bengal appeared first on India Legal .
The FBI has issued a warning about a surge in virtual kidnapping scams, where criminals use altered proof-of-life media to extort victims. Scammers falsely claim to have kidnapped a loved one, demanding immediate ransom reinforced by threats. Travelers are advised to establish a code word and contact loved ones directly before paying.
Recruitment Scam Row Hits Karnataka Legislative Council; Congress MLC Alleges Favouritism
Congress MLC Nagaraj Yadav accused the Council Chairman of nepotism in hiring eight, demanding transparency and warning of a formal complaint.
Parliament is set to debate election reforms including the Special Intensive Revision exercise. Opposition parties are demanding a discussion, alleging discrepancies in voter lists. Rahul Gandhi criticizes the SIR drive, calling it a conspiracy. The government is preparing its response. The Winter Session of Parliament began on December 1 and will conclude on December 19.
Tezpur University cancels end-semester exams amid student protests, mental stress concerns
Tezpur University has postponed end-semester exams amid ongoing student protests demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh. Scheduled to start December 3 and later rescheduled, exams on December 89 were canceled due to mental stress and anxiety among students. Sit-in protests continue, with administrative buildings locked. The Ministry of Education assured a time-bound inquiry against Singh, who has been absent since September amid allegations of financial and academic irregularities, but students remain dissatisfied.
LS to Debate Election Reforms Amid Opposition Criticism of SIR
The opposition has been demanding a debate on SIR for months, with Congress alleging discrepancies in the voter list
The larger-than-life arc of actor Dileep
KOCHI: The fate of actor Dileep acquitted in the actor assault case after an exhausting over five-year trial has turned out to be nothing short of an anti-climax, especially for someone once accused of conspiring in the brutal assault of a fellow actor. From a scrawny mimicry artist to an actor, and eventually a producer, distributor, and theatre owner, Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan alias Dileeps ascent to stardom and his later slide into notoriety, before being cleared of all charges extends far beyond the contours of a film script. Until the assault case erupted, Dileep was among the most influential power centres in the Malayalam film industry, commanding clout that extended across production floors, distribution networks, and exhibition circuits. Dileep entered cinema through the back door of Kochis mimicry troupes in the early 1990s. A friend who knew Dileep since his college days recalled, He was very ambitious from the very beginning and had an insatiable hunger for stardom. He started as an assistant director before he took to acting as a career. He had the gift of the gab, which made him desirable in social circles... He climbed his way up through a network of fellow comic artists and friends. Dileep came from an impoverished family and money was always a major factor. His marriage to actor Manju Warrier in 1998 was a surprise to many, he added. By the early 2000s, that charm had crystallised into a distinct on-screen persona. Films like Punjabi House, C.I.D Moosa, Meesha Madhavan and Kalyanaraman turned him into a bankable star. But Dileeps ascent was not limited to acting alone. As his stardom grew, he ventured into production, and into distribution, controlling significant circuits in central Kerala. His investments in theatre chains further cemented his presence. Liberty Basheer, a theatre owner and producer, said Dileep had decisive influence in AMMA and FEFKA, the trade bodies of actors and technicians. He was not satisfied with it and split the theatre owners union just before the actor assault incident. Basheer told TNIE that legally, all the unions/associations are bound to take him back if he applies formally but the actor might not be as powerful as he was as the ecosystem has evolved. This consolidation of power earned him both admiration and unease. The turning point arrived in 2017 with the actor abduction and assault case. The star who once drew lakhs to theatres found himself boycotted and fighting a prolonged legal battle. Today, Dileeps trajectory stands as one of Malayalam cinemas most dramatic arcs: A meteoric rise, decades of dominance, and an equally steep fall from grace. His acquittal from the case has sparked curiosity about his future, with the industry and society eagerly awaiting to see if hell reclaim his top position.
Landowners urge HUDCO to withhold funding for BBC project
BENGALURU: Farmers and site owners affected by the Bengaluru Business Corridor (BBC) project have urged Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) to withhold funding to the project, warning the project faces major legal, financial, and operational risks. In a letter dated December 8, the PRR Raitha Haagu Niveshanadharara Sangha (PRR farmer and site owners association) said the land acquisition scheme has lapsed, compensation is based on suppressed values, and excess land is being acquired without purpose, risking the project becoming a Non- performing Asset (NPA). The letter also notes that the Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka High Court to hear all PRR-related petitions as per law and on merits, exposing the project to full judicial scrutiny and increasing the risk of an adverse verdict. They also warned HUDCO of a major financial shock due to what they describe as suppressed land valuation. They allege that the guideline value for PRR lands was artificially lowered by over 60% in 2016, and that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is now offering compensation based on this reduced value. Landowners, meanwhile, are demanding compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Act, 2013, which would peg compensation at market rates. Any such ruling, they argue, would push land costs that are already estimated at over Rs 27,000 crore are far beyond viability for a Public-private partnership (PPP) model. Operational risks were also highlighted, including BDAs plan to acquire more than 426 acres of what the group calls unnecessary land, such as outdated toll-plaza areas and land for BMTC and truck terminals for which other land banks already exist. The group said BDA has not submitted an updated Detailed Project Report (DPR) or an accurate list of land realignments to the High Court, raising concerns over transparency and feasibility. Urging HUDCO to exercise utmost caution, the signatories said any funding decision should be suspended until the High Court delivers a clear ruling on the validity of land acquisition, compensation under the LARR Act, and the question of excess land.
VMC launches VINIT 2025, offers cash incentives & scholarships for students
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 8: Vidyamandir Classes (VMC), Indias most trusted institute for JEE, NEET, Boards and Olympiad preparation today announced the launch of Vidyamandir Intellect National Incentive Test (VINIT), its flagship Admission-cum-Scholarship-cum-Incentive test for students of Classes 5 to 12. This year, VINIT returns with bigger cash rewards, enhanced scholarships and expanded academic benefits, making it VMCs most lucrative incentive initiative to date. The test will be conducted nationwide on December 14, 21 and 25, giving students four opportunities [] The post VMC launches VINIT 2025, offers cash incentives & scholarships for students appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Sangharsh Samiti protests outside Shrine Board office for rollback of admissions
Excelsior Correspondent KATRA, Dec 8: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti today staged a strong protest outside the office of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in Katra demanding rollback of admissions in SMVD Institute of Medical Excellence. A large number of members and representatives of various social organisations joined the protest, led by the convener of the Samiti, Colonel (Retd) Sukhvir Singh Mankotia. During the protest, brief scuffles took place between Policemen and the demonstrators when the [] The post Sangharsh Samiti protests outside Shrine Board office for rollback of admissions appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Sanils 9-wkt haul powers J&K to victory
Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 8: Jammu and Kashmir recorded a commanding 134-run victory over Arunachal Pradesh in the U-16 Mens Vijay Merchant Trophy at Surat, powered by an all-round masterclass from Sanil Singh and Karman Singh. Batting first, J&K posted 344 runs, with Karman Singh scoring a brilliant 129 not out, supported by Aksh Sharma and Haadi Amin. In response, Arunachal Pradesh were bundled out for 111 runs, with Saksh top-scoring with 57. Sanil Singh was the star with [] The post Sanils 9-wkt haul powers J&K to victory appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Police attaches property of man who crosses over to Pak
Excelsior Correspondent POONCH, Dec 8: The police has attached the property of a villager who illegally crossed over to Pakistan from Poonch district. Official sources said that District Police Poonch has declared that the land measuring 6 Kanal 3 Marlas, falling under Khasra No. 817/823/825/808/1941/842 and located at village Saloonian, Tehsil Mandi, in District Poonch, stands attached as per law. The said property belongs to Nazir Hussain, son of Faqeer Mohd, resident of Saloonian, Tehsil Mandi. In accordance with due [] The post Police attaches property of man who crosses over to Pak appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
After pet Pitbull mauled minor boy; father moves HC demanding compensation from govt., dog owner
After IndiGo crisis, railways loco pilots seek work-hour cap
Indian Railways loco pilots are demanding duty hour limits to combat fatigue and prevent accidents. They point to the recent crisis at IndiGo concerning pilot rest hours. The loco pilots' association criticizes the government's approach, contrasting it with how private corporations are treated.
Army stresses consistent approach in anti-terror ops
Jammu Tawi, Dec 8 : General Officer Commanding of Armys White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra passed the directions during his visit to Gandoh in the hilly district to assess the ground situation and review operational readiness and security dynamics, the Army said. The corps commander was accompanied by General Officer Commanding of [] The post Army stresses consistent approach in anti-terror ops appeared first on Northlines .
Tiwa students blocked National Highway-27 demanding proper implementation of the Tiwa Autonomous Council and land rights, leading to clashes with police. This protest is part of ongoing demonstrations across Assam against the proposed inclusion of six communities in the Scheduled Tribe list, which protestors fear will dilute existing rights.
Dhanbad families refuse relocation; demand technical solution as toxic gas leak persists
RANCHI: The families affected by the toxic gas leak in Dhanbads Kenduadih have directly rejected the proposal to relocate to a safer place. They made it clear on Monday that they would not abandon their ancestral land and relocate to the proposed sites at Belgadia or Karmatand. According to the affected families, the land is the heritage of their generations, and there is no question of leaving it. We would rather die, but not leave our land, they said unanimously. They believe that instead of displacing them, BCCL management should focus on extracting the gas and finding a technical solution to the problem. Relocating would provide neither employment nor essential amenities, further worsening their lives, they said. Notably, even after more than six days of the gas leak incident, no concrete measures have been taken to deal with the situation. The affected families alleged that they have long been demanding that BCCL start the underground mine's fan and extract gas through drilling, but the management is not taking their demands seriously and is only insisting on displacement. Raising slogans against BCCL management, they warned that they will intensify their protest if a permanent technical solution to the gas leak is not found soon. They also made it clear that they would not leave Kenduadih till their death. Social activist and local resident Awadhesh Paswan also asserted that no one is going anywhere. He alleged that the administration and BCCL management are trying to evict poor families under the guise of safety so that the mafia may be given free rein to extract coal. Dhanbad administration struggles to relocate 10,000 residents after toxic gas leak in Kenduadih Meanwhile, they have given BCCL management an ultimatum of two days; if no concrete solution is found, activities of all outsourcing companies in the vicinity will be halted. In between, a special team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reached from Ranchi on Sunday and assessed the affected area. The 32-member team also measured the intensity of the gas leak. NDRF officials said that the situation is very dangerous and frightening. According to them, normally, if the amount of carbon monoxide gas in the air exceeds 50 ppm, the situation is considered dangerous. However, in Rajput Basti, it was found to be up to 1680 ppm. On Saturday night, seventy people went to the relief camp set up by BCCL and an outsourcing company for 500 affected people and had their food, but no one stayed there. Notably, the gas leak was first reported on Wednesday in Rajput Basti, where two women died and more than two dozen residents, mostly women and children, were admitted to BCCLs Kustore Regional Hospital and Central Hospital, Dhanbad. The impact of the gas is being felt in the Rajput Basti, Masjid Mohalla, and Officers Colony areas of Kenduadih, home to a population of approximately 10,000. The persistent stench and gas leakage have made life extremely difficult for the residents. Dhanbad DC orders detailed enquiry into toxic gas leak incident that killed two
PMKs invitation to DMK allies for protest demanding caste survey causes unease
Demanding a caste census/survey when the Centre had already announced the schedule for a caste census in 2027 is a farce, says VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar; Congress yet to decide
KPRS to stage protest outside Gescom demanding uninterrupted power supply to pump sets
The Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha will stage a protest in front of Gescom office in Kalaburagi city on Tuesday (December 9), demanding reliable daytime three-phase power for agricultural pump sets and immediate replacement of burnt transformers and snapped wires across the district
Army Officer Asks Troops To Maintain Consistent Approach In Counter-Terror Operations In J&Ks Doda
Jammu, Dec 8: A senior Army officer on Monday asked the troops to stay alert and maintain a firm and consistent approach in counter-terrorist operations in militancy-infested Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. General Officer Commanding of Armys White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra passed the directions during his visit to Gandoh in the hilly district to assess the ground situation and review operational readiness and security dynamics, the Army said. The corps commander was accompanied by General [] The post Army Officer Asks Troops To Maintain Consistent Approach In Counter-Terror Operations In J&Ks Doda appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Kurnool CBI Court Sentences SCR Accounts Assistant to 2 Years RI in Bribe Case
The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.15,000 from the complainant. After investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet against the accused on March 29, 2018
Woman Sentenced To 4 Years In Prison For Blackmailing Football Star Son Heung-min
The woman, identified only as Yang, was charged with extorting 300 million won ($204,000) from Son in 2024 after sending him an ultrasound photo of a baby that she claimed was his and demanding money to stay silent
Rekha rules Jeddah in her trademark saree and sindoor look
Making a rare public appearance for the restored 4K screening of her iconic Umrao Jaan (1981), she created quite a flutter with her presenceeffortlessly commanding attention the moment she stepped into the hall.
Jharkhand government tables Rs 7,721.25 crore supplementary budget in Assembly
RANCHI: The Jharkhand government on Monday presented a supplementary budget of Rs 7,721.25 crore for the 202526 financial year in the state assembly. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore placed the second supplementary budget of the fiscal year before the House. The first supplementary allocation, amounting to Rs 4,296.62 crore, had been approved during the monsoon session on August 25. Earlier, in March, Kishore had introduced the states annual budget of Rs 1.45 lakh crore for 202526. Shortly after the supplementary budget was tabled, Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto adjourned the days proceedings till 11 am on Tuesday. The session had been marred by disruptions. As the House assembled for the second day of the winter session, BJP MLAs rushed to the Well of the House demanding action over alleged irregularities in student scholarship schemes. Members of the ruling coalition also moved to the Well, resulting in heated exchanges and loud sloganeering from both sides. The uproar forced the suspension of Question Hour. Expressing displeasure, Speaker Mahto said that such disruptions defeat the purpose of all-party meetings and undermine the functioning of the Business Advisory Committee. He also warned that the House cannot operate meaningfully if important public issues are not allowed to be addressed. Despite multiple appeals for order, the protests continued, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House first until noon and later for the remaining day. The winter session, which began on Friday, spans five working days and is scheduled to conclude on December 11.
Goa nightclub employee detained by state police in Delhi
NEW DELHI : An employee of a Goa nightclub where a fire claimed 25 lives has been detained by the state police in Delhi, official sources said on Monday. The employee has been identified as Bharat Kohli, a resident of the Sabzi Mandi area here. He was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the nightclub and his name surfaced during the questioning of a club manager, the police sources said. Kohli will be taken to Goa for questioning, they said. The fire broke out at Birch by Romeo Lane at Arpora in North Goa on Saturday night. Most of the 25 people killed in the incident were nightclub staffers. So far, Goa Police has arrested the club's chief general manager, Rajiv Modak, general manager Vivek Singh, bar manager Rajiv Singhania, and gate manager Riyanshu Thakur in the case. Goa government cracks down on 'Romeo Lane' chain after deadly club fire; two properties sealed
Haryana doctors strike: Whats triggering the two-day shutdown in government hospitals?
Haryana doctors are striking for two days on December 8-9, demanding a revised career progression scheme and opposing direct recruitment of Specialist Medical Officers. This action will significantly disrupt healthcare services, with emergency care expected to continue but routine services facing major interruptions, impacting thousands of patients.
Panakkad family members remark on womens mosque entry sparks debate in Kerala
MALAPPURAM: A single remark from a young member of the influential Panakkad family has spiralled into a wave of cyber attacks, turning what began as a theological comment into a digital assault on a 16-year-old and her family. For days, social media platforms have been ablaze with targeted posts aimed at Fathima Nargis, daughter of Kerala Muslim Youth League president Sayyid Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal and the Panakkad family itself. What was a very brave statement from a young mind has now exploded into one of the most hostile online and ideological flare-ups Keralas Muslim community has witnessed in recent times. The controversy began last week when Fathima responded to a question about restrictions on womens entry into Sunni mosques. Islam didnt say that women cannot enter masjids. It is some individuals, as part of certain culture, who made this rule. That should be changed. This will be part of a female revolution and I believe this change will come soon, she said. Once the Youth League shared her video and Munavvar Ali posted a newspaper clipping of the event, the reaction on social media turned fierce, with hundreds of accounts -- many anonymous -- piling on the teenager and the Panakkad family for her liberal upbringing. While both the EK and AP factions of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama criticised the remark, the AP groups responses became the primary fuel for cyber attackers. Hardline leaders and Sunni groups repeatedly shared posts portraying the Panakkad family as abandoning religious values, triggering coordinated hate towards the teen and her family. Among the most widely circulated attacks was a post by Vahab Saquafi Mambad of the AP wing: Now, beevis (women of Panakkad family) from the highest families are coming out demanding womens right to enter politics and compete! And now, they demand entry into Sunni mosques. Soon, they may even demand to become qazi of thousands of mosques. This post, amplified by dozens of accounts, became a rallying point for hostile comments. Munavvar Ali Thangal then issued a detailed clarification, emphasising his daughter was a minor who had been confronted with a complex questionunexpectedly. My daughter is 16. Her reply is not in line with the mainstream belief systems of Kerala or the rulings of the scholarly community. I request that this be seen as a hasty opinion by a child who has not attained the necessary religious study. As a father, I am correcting her statement with full responsibility, he wrote. His intervention did little to deter the cyber attacks, but it marked the first attempt to shift the focus back to the fact that a minor was at the receiving end of a massive online storm. After initial silence, the Samastha EK group backed Thangals clarification. EK leader Nazar Faizi Koodathai wrote, Islam has not said women are forbidden from entering mosques. But they are prohibited from attending Jumuah congregations with men. Women may pray at home, but can enter mosques under certain conditions. Many womens colleges have separate prayer spaces. He also reminded the community that ideological maturity should not be expected from a 16-year-old, calling the fathers correction commendable. But the AP faction escalated their criticism further. Rahmathulla Saqafi Elamaram said, If families allow their children to roam in liberal environments without sufficient religious learning, this is what happens. Parents must be careful especially those who are role models for the community, he said. Salafi organisations, meanwhile, openly supported Fathimas remark. Wisdom Islamic Organisation general secretary T K Ashraf said her statement was the correct Islamic position that deserves wide discussion. In Islamic matters, none of us have the right to turn truth into falsehood under pressure. Personal positions or relationships do not matter before principles, Ashraf said. Youth League national secretary Najma Thabsheera told TNIE , I have been seeing Fathima excel in public speaking from a very young age. She, with great knowledge, is clear in her vision. These scholars should understand one thing: if they have any hate towards the Panakkad family, it should not be taken out against a 16-year-old girl.
Ambattur workers stir: GCC deploys staff from other zones to fill gap
CHENNAI: With the sanitary workers of Ambattur zone continuing their protest for the second day on Sunday after the city corporation mandated the workers to wear uniform during duty hours, the civic body has deployed hundreds of workers from the nearby zones to ensure waste collection remains unaffected. Speaking to TNIE, H R Koushik, regional deputy commissioner (central), said, The uniform is part of mandated safety measures. The reflective straps improve visibility while the workers are on roads, which can help prevent accidents. It is, however, unclear why the workers are resisting uniforms. Another corporation official said, around 56 NULM workers who were originally hired as sanitary workers had taken on an informal supervisory role exempting themselves from working on the ground to clear waste. The GCC commissioner reportedly instructed these supervisors to engage in sanitation jobs. A circular was also reportedly issued last week reiterating that workers are to wear uniforms. However, the protest began as the NULM supervisors refused to engage in sanitary work while other protesting workers said that the uniform was uncomfortable. They alleged that GCC was also attempting to outsource solid waste management in the Ambattur zone. Meanwhile, E Saraswathi, a sanitary worker, who had been engaged in an indefinite hunger strike for the past six days demanding reinstatement of their jobs directly under GCC in Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zones, fell sick and was taken to hospital. Three others are continuing the hunger strike, with one already on IV drip.
