BGT 2024-25: IPL Auction No Distraction For Perth Test, Says Cummins
Lucknow Super Giants: Australia captain Pat Cummins is confident that the upcoming IPL mega auction, scheduled to overlap with the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, will not distract his team. The IPL auction is set for November 24 and 25 and shortly after day three and four ends on November 24 and 25, respectively, the action will shift to the two-day IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Yeah, I think he is there in the auction. I don't think so (it will be a distraction). Dan has flown over there, but he has been here for the whole prep. Done all the meetings, done all the chats, watching it. We came to know that anyway. So, for the players, I don't think so. Most of these guys have been there in the auctions before. They know they can't really do anything. You are a sitting duck and seeing whether you get selected or not. It doesn't... doesn't make a difference to how we go about the first two days. It is not a distraction as far as I can see it, Cummins told reporters. Cummins and Travis Head are the only Australian players in the current squad retained by their IPL franchises. Daniel Vettori, Australias assistant coach, will miss the Perth Test to be in Jeddah as Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach. Similar is the case with Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, who are confirmed to miss commentating on the Perth Test for broadcasters Channel Seven after day ones play to be in the auction as head coaches of Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, respectively. Dan has done all the meetings and preparations with us. Its all set, so no concerns there, Cummins added. The scheduling has drawn criticism, with former Australia captain Pontingsaying, A lot of players in both teams are part of the auction. It could have been scheduled during the nine-day gap between Tests, avoiding unnecessary pressure. Cummins, however, remains unfazed with scheduling. We are fully focused on the Perth Test. The auction timing means it wont interfere with the first two days of play. Were ready to give our best, he asserted. The scheduling has drawn criticism, with former Australia captain Pontingsaying, A lot of players in both teams are part of the auction. It could have been scheduled during the nine-day gap between Tests, avoiding unnecessary pressure. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
Thoda Gyan Apne Future Ke Liye Bacha Lo: Shami Rips Into Manjrekar Over IPL Auction Prediction
New Delhi: India pacer Mohammed Shami has slammed former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar for his remark over IPL auction, calling him a aba people could contact to know their future. In an Instagram story, Shami shared a screenshot of a post featuring Manjrekar's opinion on the pacer's auction price, suggesting that there could be a potential decrease in his bidding at the upcoming mega auction. Baba ki jay hoooooo. Thodsa gyan apne future k lie bhi bacha loo kaam aayega Sanjay G? Kisi ko future janna ho to sir se mile (All hail the saint. Save some knowledge for your future as well, it will come in handy. If anyone wants to know the future, they should meet sir),Shami wrote. Earlier while speaking to Star Sports, Manjarekar stated that Shami's injury history could result in a price drop for the pacer in the upcoming IPL auction. There will definitely be interest from teams, but given Shami's injury historyand this recent one took a significant amount of time to recovertheres always a concern about a potential breakdown during the season, Manjrekar had said on Star Sports. If a franchise invests heavily and then loses him mid-season, their options become limited. This concern might lead to a drop in his price tag, he added. Shami, who has been out of action the 2023 World Cup final, has fully recovered from the injury that ruled him out for more than a year, made his comeback to professional cricket in the Ranji Trophy, representing Bengal. The 34-year-old seamer, playing his first Ranji Trophy match since 2018, showed his class and experience, finishing as Bengals standout bowler with figures of 4-54 in 19 overs last week. Shami, who has been out of action the 2023 World Cup final, has fully recovered from the injury that ruled him out for more than a year, made his comeback to professional cricket in the Ranji Trophy, representing Bengal. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
Norman Reedus on bringing Walking Dead franchise to India: I think it would be awesome
New Delhi, Nov 20: Hollywood star Norman Reedus would love to bring his long-running TV franchise The Walking Dead to India as the actor says he is curious to see how different cultures would react to a zombie apocalypse. The Walking Dead franchise, based on Robert Kirkmans comic series, is set in a post-apocalyptic world []
Bypolls see negative voting trend over past five years
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Contrary to the general perception that bypolls tend to increase political vigour among both the cadre and the voters, political Kerala has of late been witnessing a reverse trend. Over the past five years, bypolls in the state have been seeing a dip in voter turnout. On a day the Palakkad assembly constituency went to the polling booth, the state witnessed a lukewarm response from voters in yet another by-election. A general reluctance on the part of voters coupled with a slew of other factors, including predictability and a lack of significance in the overall political scenario, have played a key role in keeping voters away from bypolls. A scan through the by-elections in the state since 2019 shows that most of them have had a substantial decrease in polling percentage. In 2019, the state saw bypolls in six assembly constituencies. While the death of sitting MLAs necessitated elections in Pala and Manjeswar, bypolls were held in four other seats -- Ernakulam, Vattiyoorkkavu, Konni and Aroor -- after the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. Amid a general dip in voter turnout, the polling percentage in Vattiyoorkkavu came down to 62.66% from the 2016 figure of 70.29%. Similarly, in Ernakulam, the percentage dipped to 57.90% from 71.76%. During the past two bypolls held during the current LDF government -- in 2022 and 2023 -- the voting percentage witnessed a dip. The trend has continued in the three bypolls, including a Lok Sabha constituency, held this month. While there was a small decrease in Chelakkara and Palakkad, the Wayanad LS seat witnessed a substantial reduction in polling percentage. Voters are usually reluctant to cast their franchise during bypolls as these results do not determine the fate of a government. In constituencies like Wayanad, where the result is more or less predictable, voters tend to lose interest in the political contest, observed psephologist Sajad Ibrahim. Psychologically, people are not inclined to vote in by-elections, Sajad told TNIE. They know that their votes wont change anything. And there is only a short period left for the next election. The general character of voters in Kerala has also been changing through the years. They are now more educated but are not enthusiastic about casting their votes in the general election. This also reflects in the by-election. The ruling front suffered losses. However, this changes in the assembly election, he said. LDF candidate P Sarin and wife Dr Soumya after casting their votes at True Line Public School in Manappullikkavu
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58.43 per cent voters exercise franchise for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024
The figures are provisional, election officials said, adding 61.74 per cent polling was recorded in the 2019 elections
Maharashtra Election 2024: Mukesh Ambani and family cast their votes in Mumbai
Ambani family, several prominent figures from the corporate world and Bollywood also exercised their franchise in Mumbai
No violence recorded for the first time in Jharkhand assembly polls
RANCHI: In a major achievement, for the first time after the formation of Jharkhand, Assembly polls were conducted here without any incident of Maoist violence. The second phase of polling concluded peacefully for 38 Assembly seats in Jharkhand on Wednesday with an overall voter turnout of 67.59 %. Out of the 38 seats where polling was conducted in the second phase, BJP contested 32 and AJSU contested six seats from NDA side, while JMM contested 20, Congress 12, RJD two and CPI (ML) on four seats from the INDIA bloc. According to Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr Neha Arora, Maheshpur remained on the top with a maximum voting percentage of 79.4 per cent followed by Nala with 78.75 per cent and Sarath with 77.94 per cent. The lowest voter turnout on the other hand, was recorded at Bokaro with 50.52 per cent, Dhanbad with 52.31 per cent and Jharia with 55.23 per cent, she said. All constituencies except Bokaro, Dhanbad and Jharia recorded more than 60 per cent voter turnout, said the Additional Chief Electoral Officer. A total of 134 ballot units, 161 control units, and 377 VVPATs were replaced by 3 pm during polling, she added. Meanwhile, on the orders of the Election Commission, an FIR was registered against presiding officer Ramanand Kumar Paswan, posted at polling station number 111 of Madhupur assembly constituency, following a complaint was registered against him. Paswan was taken into custody immediately after that. A complaint was received against him for conducting votes in favour of the JMM candidate, which was confirmed through webcasting. ACEO Dr Neha Arora said that another officer was posted in his place. A total of 528 candidates are in the fray in the second phase, out of which 472 are men and 55 are women. Voting was completed at 14219 polling stations, which were monitored through webcasting from the State Election Building and the District Election Office. Jharkhand: Its infiltration vs mahila samman as 38 seats up for grabs in 2nd phase
Punjab bypolls: 63 per cent voter turnout recorded to four assembly seats
CHANDIGARH: A voter turnout of 63 per cent was recorded till 6 pm in the by-elections to four assembly segments in Punjab on Wednesday, according to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C. These by-polls to the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala assembly segments were necessitated after the incumbent lawmakers were elected to the Lok Sabha. Of the four assembly segments, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal were earlier held by the Congress, and the Barnala seat by the AAP. The precise figures of the total turnout will be updated by tomorrow morning once all polling parties return to the collection centres and final data entry is completed. The CEO shared that as per recorded data till 6 pm, the highest turnout of 81 per cent was recorded in Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak recorded 63 per cent turnout, while Barnala saw 54 per cent and Chabbewal 53 per cent turnout. At Dera Pathana village in Dera Baba Nanak segment, a clash took place between the AAP and Congress supporters. Gurdaspur Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is the husband of Congress candidate Jatinder Kaur, alleged that some outsiders at the behest of the AAP thrashed his party worker in the village and also accused the police of not taking action. The workers of both the warring factions engaged in heated arguments. A heavy police force was deputed at the site to defuse the situation. The ruling AAP would like to register victories after its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections in the three concerned contests while the Congress and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) are also out for triumph in these by-polls. From the hot assembly seat of Gidderbaha, Amrita Warring, the wife of Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana Member of Parliament Amrinder Singh Raja Warring in contesting against former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal of BJP and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon of AAP. Earlier this seat was represented by Warring himself. The other assembly seat where the focus is Dera Baba Nanak from here Jatinder Kaur wife of Gurdaspur Member of Parliament and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa is pitched against Ravikaran Singh Kahlon of BJP and Gurdeep Singh Randhawa of AAP. While from Barnala assembly segment Kewal Singh Dhillon of BJP is facing Kuldeep Singh Kaka Dhillon of Congress, Harinder Singh Dhaliwal of AAP, Govind Singh Mann of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and AAP rebel and Independent candidate Gurdeep Singh Batth. This assembly seat fell vacant after Gurmeet Singh Hayer, the local MLA from the AAP and states sports and youth affairs minister was elected from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat. Hayer won the Barnala seat in the 2017 and 2022 assembly polls. On the Chabbewal seat it is Ishank Kumar Chabbewal of AAP son of Hoshiarpur MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal as earlier this seat was presented by Raj Kumar who was then in Congress before lok sabha polls joined the AAP and then contested and won from Hosharpur. The other candidates in the fray are Sohan Singh Thandal of BJP who was earlier in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). SAD has opted to stay away from these by-polls. 45 candidates, including three women, are in the fray for the bypolls. A total of 6.96 lakh voters, including 3.31 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise at 831 polling stations. At present, the AAP has 91 MLAs in the 117-member Punjab assembly, while the Congress has 15, Shiromani Akali Dal three, BJP two, and the Bahujan Samaj Party one. One seat is held by an Independent MLA.
Voting concludes in Jharkhand with 67.59 pc turnout in final phase
Voting concludes in Jharkhand with 67.59 pc turnout in final phase Ranchi: Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly has ended. In the second and final phase held on Wednesday, so far, according to Election Commission data, 67.59 per cent of voters cast their ballots across 38 seats. This is a provisional figure recorded till 5 [] The post Voting concludes in Jharkhand with 67.59 pc turnout in final phase appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Gadchiroli: 111-year-old voter travels to polling booth to cast her ballot
Despite the Election Commission of India giving citizens above the age of 85 the option of home voting, Phulmati Binod Sarkar made her way to the polling station to exercise her franchise and send out a message to voters, especially the youth
Abu Dhabi T10: Ready To Defend Title, Pathirana, Bracewell Excited At Joining New York Strikers
The New York Strikers: Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana and New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell have voiced their enthusiasm about joining forces with the reigning champions New York Strikers for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 season. Pathirana, who is expected to play a key role in the Strikers' campaign expressed his enthusiasm about returning to defend the title: I am proud to be a part of New York Strikers' squad. I am hopeful and looking forward to picking the cup for my team. New Zealand all-rounder Bracewell was also excited about joining the defending champions. It feels great to be participating for the New York Strikers team in this season's Abu Dhabi T10. Im eager to contribute to the team and excited to play, Bracewell was quoted as saying in a release on Wednesday. Team owner Sagar Khanna also shared his excitement at the prospect of these two stars playing for the franchise. Our squad keeps getting bigger and we are sure to win a lot of support and excitement from Strikers Fan Club. We are aiming to do well and make it big in this campaign, he said. It feels great to be participating for the New York Strikers team in this season's Abu Dhabi T10. Im eager to contribute to the team and excited to play, Bracewell was quoted as saying in a release on Wednesday. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
PIX: For Mumbaikars election day is selfie day!
Mumbai, infamous for its voter apathy, stepped out to exercise its franchise on Wednesday.
RCB Pre-season Camps Are More About Building Potential Of Players, Says Rangarajan
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: While all the focus of IPL teams has been on planning their IPL 2025 mega auction strategy, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have also been building up the potential and skills of their current players in both mens and womens teams. Our camps are about more than just player evaluationthey're about building potential. By analysing current players and inviting promising talent from across the country, we form a solid team structure and boost every players game. It isnt something that happens only once a year; we try to do it as many times as possible, said Malolan Rangarajan, RCB head of scouting and assistant coach in womens team, in a franchise statement. One of the big examples coming out of players benefitting from RCB pre-season camps has been right-handed batter Rajat Patidar, who made his India ODI debut in South Africa in December 2023 and went on to make a Test debut this year against England. The RCB scouting team closely followed my domestic performances for a couple of years before bringing me into the team. The training camps werent just about practicethey were crucial in refining my game, boosting my confidence, and helping me realize my potential. The coaches and management were always there to guide and support me, giving me clarity on my role within the team and strengthening my self-belief. All of this played a huge part in what Ive been able to achieve for both the team and my own game, he said. Other players who have benefitted massively from RCB pre-season camps are leg-spinner Asha Sobhana, who became WPL 2024s second-highest wicket-taker, as the side won the tournament. Asha went on to make ODI and T20I debuts for India, and played in the T20 World Cup in October. The coaches and management were always there to guide and support me, giving me clarity on my role within the team and strengthening my self-belief. All of this played a huge part in what Ive been able to achieve for both the team and my own game, he said. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
Maharashtra Elections: 113-Year-Old Woman Casts Vote, Inspires the Nation
In the ongoing Maharasthra Assembly polls, an extraordinary moment of democratic spirit was on display as 113-year-old Kanchanben Badshah exercised her franchise on Wednesday.
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Maharashtra Assembly Polls: 113-Year-Old Woman Casts Vote, Inspires Nation
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IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant Will Go At Around 25-28 Crore In The Auction, Claims Robin Uthappa
Lucknow Super Giants: Former India batter Robin Uthappa has claimed that bids for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will earn a paycheck of anywhere between 25-28 crore in the upcoming IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Pant is amongst the high-profile Indian players in the auction, to be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after not being retained by Delhi Capitals. With him in the auction, teams like Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are expected to bid heavily for him. I feel Rishabh Pant will go at around 25-28 crores. He will definitely get the big bucks and become the highest-paid player in this auction. To afford Pant at such rates would be interesting to see, because I feel Punjab Kings may aim to get him, and so will RCB, for the role of leadership and as a wicketkeeper-batsman, said Uthappa on JioCinema. Similar sentiments were echoed by former India opener Aakash Chopra. I feel Rishabh Pant is going to become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL. If there is a good equation between Pant and Punjab Kings, then they will go hard for him, or else RCB becomes a very likely place for Rishabh Pant. But I believe other teams will also bid for Pant as well. Indian players are going to be the prime property in this mega auction. Uthappa also thinks DC will go hard on buying back Shreyas Iyer, who was with the franchise from 2015 to 2021. DC will go hard for Shreyas Iyer, and he should go within the bracket of 15-20 crores, and du Plessis above 10 crores. Indian youngsters like Nehal Wadhera and Ashutosh Sharma are a big part and the reason for the success of any team, and you want them to do really well. I think they will go for above 8 crores each. Similar sentiments were echoed by former India opener Aakash Chopra. I feel Rishabh Pant is going to become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL. If there is a good equation between Pant and Punjab Kings, then they will go hard for him, or else RCB becomes a very likely place for Rishabh Pant. But I believe other teams will also bid for Pant as well. Indian players are going to be the prime property in this mega auction. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
UP bypolls: 31.21 pc turnout at 1 pm in 9 assembly seats
Lucknow: Voting for bypolls in nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh picked up pace after a sluggish start, with over 31 per cent voters turning up to exercise their franchise by 1 pm on Wednesday.Voting started at 7 am in Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki seats and will end at 5 pm. According to the Election Commission's update at 1 am, the average voting across the seats stood at 31.21 per cent. The EC update showed the following voter turnout: Ghaziabad (20.92 per cent), Katehari (24.28 per cent), Khair (28.80 per cent), Kundarki (41.01 per cent), Karhal (32.29 per cent), Majhawan (31.68 per cent), Meerapur (36.77 per cent), Phulpur (26.67 per cent), Sisamau (28.50 per cent). The elderly, young and even physically-challenged people were seen at polling stations since morning. Apne dil ke hisaab se vote kiya hai (I've voted as per my wish), a burqa-clad woman told reporters outside a polling booth in Karhal. Another woman accompanying her said, Karobar sahi se chale. Kaam-dhandhe nahi chal rahe, mehngai hai, naukri nahi hai jis wajah se pareshani hai. (Business is not running fine, there is inflation and unemployment because of which there are problems). Standing in queue at a poll station in Phulpur, a middle-aged man, said he had issues of development on his mind, while another asserted law and order was a key issue in the state. Meanwhile, the Election Commission, acting on complaints by Samajwadi Party, has ordered the suspension of police personnel for violating its guidelines on checking of voters and stopping them from casting votes in the bypolls. Samajwadi Party claimed that in some places police personnel were checking the IDs of people and deterring them from voting. The BJP has also sought the intervention of the EC for checking identity of burqa-wearing women voters, claiming their IDs did not match with their faces. While eight seats fell vacant following the incumbent MLAs' election to the Lok Sabha, polling in Sisamau is being conducted due to Samajwadi Party lawmaker Irfan Solanki's disqualification from the assembly after his conviction in a criminal case. This is the first electoral contest in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is not contesting these bypolls and has lent support to the Samajwadi Party, its INDIA bloc ally. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting on all nine seats solo. According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), more than 34.35 lakh voters -- of whom 15.88 lakh are women -- are eligible to exercise their franchise. Ninety candidates are in the fray for the bypolls. Ghaziabad has the most candidates in the fray with 14, followed by Khair and Sisamau with five each. Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has fielded candidates from Ghaziabad, Kundarki and Mirapur while the Chandrashekhar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) is contesting on all seats except Sisamau. The results of the bypolls, however, will not have any impact on the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly. At present, the BJP has 251 members in the House, followed by the Samajwadi Party's 105. BJP allies Apna Dal (Sonelal) has 13 MLAs, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) eight, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) six and the NISHAD party five. The Congress and the Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) have two MLAs each and the BSP has one. In the 2022 assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party won from Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal and Kundarki while the Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair seats were bagged by the BJP. The Meerapur seat was won by the RLD, then an ally of the Samajwadi Party. It has since become a member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
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Over 31% Vote in Jharkhand; 18% in Maharashtra Till 11 AM
Voting is underway in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra, with significant voter participation reported in both states during the final phase of Jharkhand's assembly elections and the ongoing Maharashtra polls. In Jharkhand, over 31% of eligible voters cast their ballots by 11 AM across 38 constituencies. This phase of the election is crucial for the ruling JMM-led INDIA alliance, which is hoping to retain power based on its welfare programs, while the opposition BJP is vying for control. In the first four hours of polling, the highest turnout was recorded in Pakur at 35.15%, with Ranchi following closely at 34.75%. Other districts, including Jamtara and Ramgarh, also saw strong participation. However, Bokaro recorded the lowest turnout at 27.72% and's election sees 528 candidates, including prominent figures like Chief Minister Hemant Soren, competing across 38 seats. Election authorities have ensured smooth voting, with 239 polling stations operated entirely by women and 22 managed by persons with disabilities . As of 1 enthusiasm is evident, with national leaders like Prime Minister Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and others urging citizens to cast their vote for a better future. In fact, Modi emphasized the importance of this great festival of democracy, especially highlighting the significance of young voters. Meanwhile in Maharashtra is also witnessing active voter engagement in its 288 constituencies. By 11 AM, the state recorded a voter turnout of 18.14%. Districts like Gadchiroli showed strong participation with 30% turnout, while Mumbai city reported a more moderate 15.78%. Constituencies like Colaba, Mahim, and Worli in Mumbai saw varied voter engagement, while areas like Bhandup in the suburban region had a notable 23.42% turnout. In Maharashtra h-profile contests are shaping up, including those in the constituencies of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shindes constituency, Kopri-Pachpakhadi in Thane, saw an 18.22% turnout, while Fadnavis's Nagpur South-West recorded 19.91%. Notably, the Baramati constituency, where NCP leader Ajit Pawar faces a challenge from his nephew, also saw a voter turnout of 18.81%. With both states undergoin, the outcomes will influence political landscapes, making todays voter turnout a key indicator of democratic engagement and the political future of these regions.
Uddhav casts vote with family; urges people to protect Maharashtras self-respect through voting
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday cast his vote in Mumbai, and urged people to exercise their franchise by coming out in large numbers in order to protect the self respect of Maharashtra. Thackeray cast vote with his wife Rashmi and sons Aaditya and Tejas in Bandra East. Vote in large numbers []
Maharashtra polls: First-time voters and youth seek more jobs, security for women
NAGPUR: With the Maharashtra assembly polls underway on Wednesday, the young voters and first time electors in Nagpur appreciated the infrastructure development here, but raised concern over lack of job avenues and inflation. Some of them also raised the issue of women's security. Several youths flocked to the polling booths in Nagpur, located in the state's Vidarbha region, from early morning to exercise their democratic right. First-time voter Manswi Admane, an engineering student, carried a placard outside a polling booth with the message highlighting the need for women's safety. Ishita Tiwari, another first-time voter and a working professional, was quite disturbed when her name did not figure in the electoral rolls before the Lok Sabha elections held in May this year. But this time before the assembly polls, her joy knew no bounds when she received her voting card. Will Mumbai evade 'voter apathy'? All eyes on financial capital as Maharashtra set for crucial polls Tiwari, who left for work after casting vote, said it was a good experience to exercise her franchise for the first time and she was very happy about it. Manzari Pinjarkar, an MBA student who voted in Nagpur, appreciated the present government's welfare schemes, but raised concern over layoffs in jobs and inflation. Pinjarkar said the government should work to address these problems. She also said everyone should vote as it their duty and responsibility. Vedant, a management course student who was one of the early voters, said he took time out of his exam preparation and came to exercise his democratic right. The student said that while voting, he kept in mind the development work done in the city as well as the image of candidates in his constituency. FOLLOW OUR LIVE HERE FOR MORE UPDATES Political heat to intensify in Telangana after Maharashtra, Jharkhand polls
Kharge, Rahul urge Jharkhand, Maharashtra people to vote
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to voters to cast their ballots in large numbers in Maharashtra and Jharkhand where polling for assembly elections is underway.Keep those who do opportunistic politics and endanger the future of farmers and youth away from power, Kharge said to voters in Maharashtra. He urged voters in Jharkhand to vote to protect their rights. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, too, urged voters in the two states to exercise their franchise to save the Constitution and avail the benefits of guarantees offered by the INDIA bloc. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, All the voters of Maharashtra who follow the ideology of Shivaji-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar are requested to vote in maximum numbers. - INDIA -- 7 #VoteForINDIA Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 20, 2024 Preserve the pride of Maharashtra, the prosperity of the state and the development that has been taking place for decades. The forces that have been doing opportunistic politics, policies that benefit select capitalists and endanger the future of farmers and youth -- keep them away from Maharashtra, the Congress chief said. Kharge said the politics of money and muscle power has never happened in Maharashtra, and said the voters will have to think how much such falling political standards have hurt the self-respect of Maharashtra. Appealing to the people of Jharkhand, he said they had voted for public welfare, protection of water, forest, land and tribal civilisation in the first phase. You have to protect your rights in this phase too. The victory of social justice is certain, the defeat of polarisation is certain, Kharge said. The Congress leader also made a fervent appeal to young voters to come out and vote. We appeal to our young friends to definitely vote, we welcome them on this festival of democracy. Vote, and encourage others to vote as well, Kharge said. Former party chief Rahul Gandhi also put out separate appeals for the people of Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Brothers and sisters of Maharashtra, I appeal to all of you to vote today to protect the self-respect and constitution of the state. Your every vote for Mahavikas Aghadi will stop the theft of your jobs and projects, will ensure fair prices for crops to farmers and will bring prosperity to your lives with 5 guarantees, Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. In another post, he appealed to the people of Jharkhand to vote in large numbers to protect their interests and for a better future. Your every vote for INDIA will protect your water, forest and land and will make your life prosperous with 7 guarantees like the Maiya Samman Yojana, Gandhi said. Polling for the single phase election in Maharashtra and the second phase of elections in Jharkhand began in the morning. The results of the polls will be declared on Saturday.
Voting to the 288 seats in Maharashtra Assembly began on Wednesdayat 7 am, a high-stakes election that will see the ruling Mahayuti alliance led by the BJP take on the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine. As many as 4,132 candidates are in the fray. In Mahayuti, the BJP has the highest number of candidates at 149, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) has candidates in 81 seats while Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates. Other parties in the fray include Bahujan Samaj Party which fielded 237 candidates and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), which has 17 candidates. Both Mahayuti and MVA alliances ran a mammoth campaign ahead of the campaign, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah leading the campaigning for the former. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Sharad Pawar crisscrossed the state meeting voters for the MVA, as the Opposition hopes to repeat their performance in the Lok Sabha elections to bounce back to power. Early voters Among those who cast their votes early were Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar, a candidate from Baramati Assembly constituency and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Ajit Pawar faces his nephew Yugendra Pawar, a political debutant, in the constituency. Yugendra is the son of Ajit Pawar's younger brother. However, Ajit expressed optimism about his win after casting his vote. Even during Lok Sabha elections, members of our family contested against each other. I have tried to meet every voter in Baramati and am hopeful that the people will make me victorious. I am sure that the voters will think about the numerous allegations against the MVA, Ajit told voters. NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule was also one of the early voters. While Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote at a polling station in Nagpur, Governor C P Radhakrishnan was seen exercising his franchise at the polling booth at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, under the Colaba Assembly Constituency. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das was also seen arriving at the polling booth Actor Rajkummar Rao and director Kabir Khan were also among those who arrived at the booth before 8 am to cast their votes. It is very important (to vote). Everyone, please step out and vote, Rao said.
Punjab bypolls: 8.53 pc polling in 4 Assembly seats in first two hours
Chandigarh: , A voter turnout of over eight percent was recorded in the first two hours of polling in the bypolls to four assembly segments in Punjab on Wednesday, officials said.Polling began at 7 am and would end at 6 pm. Bypolls to the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala assembly segments were necessitated after the incumbent lawmakers were elected to the Lok Sabha. A voter turnout of 8.53 percent was registered till 9 am, they said. The Gidderbaha seat recorded 13.1 percent polling, Dera Baba Nanak 9.7 percent, Barnala 6.9 percent and Chabbewal 4.15 percent. Forty-five candidates, including three women, are in the fray for the bypolls. A total of 6.96 lakh voters, including 3.31 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise at 831 polling stations. More than 6,400 Punjab Police personnel and 17 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed, the officials said. There will be 100 per cent webcasting of all polling stations, they added. Among the key contestants in the fray are former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Kewal Singh Dhillon, Sohan Singh Thandal and Ravikaran Singh Kahlon (BJP), Amrita Warring and Jatinder Kaur (Congress), and Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon and Ishank Kumar Chabbewal (AAP). Amrita is the wife of the Congress' Punjab chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. Jatinder Kaur is the spouse of Gurdaspur MP and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. The Shiromani Akali Dal has not fielded candidates for the bypolls, the results of which will be announced on November 23. The AAP currently has 91 MLAs in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, while the Congress has 15, Shiromani Akali Dal three, BJP two, and the Bahujan Samaj Party one. One seat is held by an Independent MLA.
Maharashtra polls: Ajit Pawar, RSS chief Bhagwat among early voters
MUMBAI, Nov 20: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat were among the early voters to exercise their franchise as polling was underway on Wednesday for the state assembly elections. NCP leader Ajit Pawar and his wife Sunetra Pawar cast their vote at Katewadi in Baramati area of Pune district. The deputy CM is pitted against his nephew and NCP (SP) candidate Yugendra Pawar in the Baramati assembly seat. I am confident that the [] The post Maharashtra polls: Ajit Pawar, RSS chief Bhagwat among early voters appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Maharashtra Polls: Actors Akshay Kumar, Rajkummar Rao, Shubha Khote Cast Vote
Actor Sonu Sood, who also exercised his franchise, said, Voting is important for a country. It's the responsibility of every citizen to vote, don't take it as a holiday.
Maharashtra Polls: NCP's Ajit Pawar, RSS Chief Bhagwat Among Early Voters
RSS head Bhagwat exercised his franchise at a polling booth in Nagpur's Mahal area soon after the voting began at 7 a.m.
UP bypolls: Voting underway in nine Assembly seats
Lucknow: Nearly 10 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in the first two hours of polling across nine assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Voting started at 7 am in Katehari, Karhal, Mirapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur and Kundarki seats and will end at 5 pm. According to the Election Commission's update at 9 am, the average voting across the seats stood at 9.67 per cent. Another EC update at 9.30 am showed the voter turnout as Ghaziabad (5.36 per cent), Katehari (11.48 per cent), Khair (9.03 per cent), Kundarki (13.59 per cent), Karhal (9.67 per cent), Majhawan (10.55 per cent), Meerapur (13.01 per cent), Phulpur (8.83 per cent), Sisamau (5.73 per cent). Elderly, young and even physically-challenged people were seen at polling stations since morning. Apne dil ke hisaab se vote Kiya hai (I've voted as per my wish), a burqa-clad woman told reporters outside a polling booth in Karhal. Another woman accompanying her said, Karobar sahi se chale. Kaam-dhandhe nahi chal rahe, mehngai hai, naukri nahi hai jis wajah se pareshani hai. (Business is not running fine, there is inflation and unemployment because of which there are problems). Standing in queue at a poll station in Phulpur, a middle-aged man said he had issues of development on his mind, while another asserted law and order was a key issue in the state. While eight seats fell vacant following the incumbent MLAs' election to the Lok Sabha, polling in Sisamau is being conducted due to Samajwadi Party lawmaker Irfan Solanki's disqualification from the assembly after his conviction in a criminal case. This is the first electoral contest in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress is not contesting these bypolls and has lent support to the Samajwadi Party, its INDIA bloc ally. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is contesting on all nine seats solo. According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), more than 34.35 lakh voters -- of whom 15.88 lakh are women -- are eligible to exercise their franchise. Ninety candidates are in the fray for the bypolls. Ghaziabad has the most candidates in the fray with 14, followed by Khair and Sisamau with five each. Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has fielded candidates from Ghaziabad, Kundarki and Mirapur while the Chandrashekhar Azad-led Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) is contesting on all seats except Sisamau. The results of the bypolls, however, will not have any impact on the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly. At present, the BJP has 251 members in the House, followed by the Samajwadi Party's 105. BJP allies Apna Dal (Sonelal) has 13 MLAs, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) eight, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) six and the NISHAD party five. The Congress and the Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) have two MLAs each and the BSP has one. In the 2022 assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party won from Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal and Kundarki while the Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair seats were bagged by the BJP. The Mirapur seat was won by the RLD, then an ally of the Samajwadi Party. It has since become a member of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Ajit Pawar, RSS chief among early voters in Maha
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat were among the early voters to exercise their franchise as polling was underway on Wednesday for the state assembly elections.
Polling begins for second phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections
Ranchi: Voting for the 38 constituencies across 12 districts of Jharkhand in the second and final phase of Assembly elections began on Wednesday morning amid tight security. A total of 14,218 polling stations have been set up for this phase 2,414 are in urban areas, and 11,804 are in rural locations. All security arrangements 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 .
Jharkhand assembly polls 2nd phase: Voting begins
Ranchi: Polling for 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of Jharkhand elections commenced on Wednesday, amid tight security arrangements, officials said. Voting began at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 PM. However, polling in 31 booths will end at 4 PM though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, the officials said. A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender electors, are eligible to exercise their franchise on Wednesday. Altogether 528 candidates, including Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of the BJP, are trying their luck in the second phase of the elections. Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state. Eighteen of the 38 constituencies are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts - Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur. The remaining 18 seats are in the North Chotanagpur division and two in South Chotanagpur. Of the total 14,218 polling stations, the responsibility of the entire voting process at 239 is in the hands of women and 22 are manned by persons with disabilities (PwDs), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said. The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it. The first phase of elections was held on November 13, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Jharkhand: Its infiltration vs mahila samman as 38 seats up for grabs in 2nd phase
RANCHI: Voting in the second phase in Jharkhands 38 constituencies in a dozen districts on Wednesday will test the campaign pitches of the BJP-led alliance over the Bangla infiltration and the JMMs Mahila Samman scheme under which Rs 1,000 are given each month to women in the 18-50 years age group. Out of 38 seats, 18 each are in Santhal Pargana and North Chhotanagpur and two in Ranchi. According to the Election Commission, 528 candidates are in the fray of which 55 are women. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren and former CM Babulal Marandi are key contestants. The BJPs campaign revolved around accusing the ruling alliance of encouraging Bangladeshi infiltration that has allegedly changed the demographic character of Santhal Pargana. The BJP lost power to the JMM-led alliance in 2019. The JMM countered the BJP by labeling its narrative as motivated and called candidates outsiders. JMM and Congress leaders have told tribals that the outsider BJP was trying to spoil and divide the social structure of Santhal Pargana. The ruling alliance is equally banking on Mahila Samman. In the 2019 assembly elections, of the total 81 seats, the JMM won 29 and the BJP 25 seats. The Congress won 18 seats and RJD won one. An alliance of JMM-Congress-RJD formed the government. According to an ADR report, out of 522, 148 (28%) candidates have criminal cases registered against them. At the same time, there are 23% i.e. 122 candidates have serious cases registered against them. These cases involve murders and kidnappings. At least three candidates have murder cases. There are 12 candidates against whom cases related to atrocities against women have been registered. Out of these 12 candidates, rape has been registered against one of them. Among constituencies, Dumka has the most women-managed polling booths (52), followed by Jamtara (31) and Bokaro (23). Silli has 14 such booths, while Khijri has none.
Hemant Soren wants to turn Ranchi into Karachi, alleges Giriraj Singh
PATNA, Nov 19: Attacking the ruling JMM-Congress coalition in Jharkhand, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday claimed that Chief Minister Hemant Soren wants to turn the state capital Ranchi into Karachi. Speaking to reporters in Patna, Singh urged the people of Jharkhand to vote for the safety of women. Hemant Soren and Congress want []
New Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando will have British Ministry of Magic as setting
Harry Potter fans anticipating the third attraction based on the popular book and movie franchise at Universal Orlando Resort learned that the fictional setting for the ride will be the British Ministry of Magic
Maharashtra, Jharkhand to Go for Polling Today
New Delhi, Mumbai, Ranchi: The stage is set for polling in 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra and for 38 in the second and last phase of Jharkhand elections on Wednesday. In Maharashtra, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance vying to retain power is pitched against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). In Jharkhand, the BJP-led coalition left no stone unturned to wrest power from the incumbent JMM-led alliance. The election campaign witnessed top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and many Union ministers crisscrossing in both poll-bound states. The BJPs use of slogans like Batenge toh katenge and Ek hai toh safe hai prompted the Opposition parties to accuse the saffron party of polarising voters along religious lines. The Congress to counter the BJPs Batenge to Katenge used Daroge to Maroge. In Jharkhand, the electoral battle is for 38 of the total 81 Assembly seats. This phase will decide the electoral fate of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (both JMM), and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) besides more than 500 other candidates. The NDA alliance has put all efforts to break the JMM citadel in the state including 18 seats of Santhal Pargana. 18 of the 38 constituencies are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts - Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur. While the JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the saffron party has raised the election pitch flagging the issues of Hindutva, infiltration from Bangladesh and corruption of the current dispensation, the NDA has been harping on large-scale infiltration took place in Santhal Pargana during the past five years of the JMM-led regime.
Will Mumbai evade 'voter apathy'? All eyes on financial capital as Maharashtra set for crucial polls
MUMBAI: As Maharashtra goes to polls on November 20, all eyes will be on Mumbai, where 420 candidates are in the fray for 36 assembly constituencies, to see if the metropolis can overcome voter apathy of the past and record a high turnout. More than 1 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the financial capital, which accounts for 36 of the state's 288 assembly constituencies, and is home to industry leaders and prominent politicians. On Tuesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said it has completed all preparations for smooth conduct of the assembly elections on Wednesday (November 20). As per the civic body, Mumbai has a total 10,117 booths located at 2,085 locations, where voting will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm. Of the total candidates in the fray, 105 are contesting from the 10 constituencies in the island city, while 315 nominees are vying for the 26 seats in the suburbs. For the first time, Mumbai's voter count has suppressed the one crore mark. Mumbai has 1,02,29,708 eligible electors -- 25,43,610 in the island city and 76,86,098 in the suburbs. Mumbai voter count for assembly polls crosses 1-crore mark; rises by 2.91 lakh since LS polls After the Lok Sabha polls in April-May-June, 53,372 new voters were added in the island city limits and 2,37,715 in the suburban areas. Among the total voters in Mumbai, 54,67,361 are males, 47,61,265 females, and 1,082 transgender persons. Also, 1,46,859 voters are above 85 years, while 23,928 are divyangs (persons with disability). The metropolis has 2,288 overseas electors and 1,475 service voters. The Election Commission (EC) has approved 12 identification documents for voters such as Aadhaar card, driving licence and passport among others. Voters will have to carry any one of these documents to enter polling centres and cast their ballots. Authorities have already clarified that voters won't be permitted to carry their mobile phones inside polling stations. Polling teams, equipped with 14,172 ballot units, 12,120 control units, and 13,131 VVPATs (Voter verifiable paper audit trail), have been dispatched to their respective centres across the metropolis, an official release said. More than 46,816 officers and employees, supported by 25,696 police personnel, will oversee the voting process, it said. Special provisions have been made for senior citizens and differently-abled voters, including free transport services with 997 vehicles, 3,388 wheelchairs, and dedicated volunteers, they said. As per EC directives, facilities like drinking water, clean toilets, waiting rooms, wheelchairs and volunteers for divyang voters, fans, dustbins, medical kits, and signboards have been provided at every voting station. Voters can contact the helpline at 1950 for assistance, the release said. Civic transport undertaking BEST has given 657 buses of its fleet of 2,807 for election duty. Mumbai Metro One, Maha Mumbai Metro, and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, along with the Central Railway, have announced to extend their operation hours for the convenience of polling staff. In a release issued on Tuesday, the BMC said essential facilities, robust security arrangements, and deployment of polling staff have been finalized, with officers and employees working round the clock to ensure a seamless voting process. In the release, district election officer and BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani urged citizens to exercise their franchise, emphasizing the importance of strengthening democracy through active participation in polls. To ensure transparency and vigilance, webcasting systems have been installed at all polling stations, with live monitoring set up at the BMC headquarters (in south Mumbai). Gagrani inspected these arrangements on Tuesday, the civic body said. Assembly election results will be declared on November 23.
Control Ultimate Edition comes to Mac computers on February 12
Remedy just announced that Control Ultimate Edition will be released for Mac computers on February 12, 2025. The developer didnt say which Macs would run the title, but its a safe bet that the game will only work on M-series computers. Control Ultimate Edition contains the original game, post-launch patches and season pass expansions. It hasnt been revealed if this version will include the updates for current-gen consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This information comes from the companys Capital Markets Day , a meeting of investors. Remedy made some other announcements during the gathering, including that its still working on Control 2 . The game was first revealed back in 2022 and we havent heard much since that original announcement. The developer did note that the sequel would be an action RPG. This is interesting because the first Control had some RPG elements, with various weapon and ability upgrades, but I wouldnt call it a full-fledged action RPG. Remedy owns the Control IP now, so it can do whatever it wants with the franchise. The developer made an announcement that the original Control would be receiving a free update early next year. This update will unlock some previously released content. It also crowed that the critical darling Alan Wake 2 has sold more than 1.8 million units since launch. The sequel was Remedys fastest-selling game ever . Finally, the developer offered some extremely vague plans to transform both Alan Wake and Control from great games to world-class franchises by 2030. We arent exactly sure what that means, but it likely points to an expanded pop culture footprint . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/control-ultimate-edition-comes-to-macs-on-february-12-181018677.html?src=rss
Squid Game for your phone arrives on December 17
We know that theres been a Squid Game -inspired video game in the works since July. Now, Netflix is announcing Squid Game: Unleashed and dropping a trailer on YouTube. The game will be available on Netflix starting December 17. The multiplayer party royale (think Mario Party ) will be available for everyone with a Netflix subscription, and you can pre-register now to get an exclusive skin when the game launches. The games cartoony art style may be eye-catching, but the gameplay will be violent. Fortunately, its not excessive, and there doesnt seem to be any blood. While Netflix has made mobile spinoff titles based on famous franchises or exclusive shows for years now, it did try to branch out into AAA games . Sadly, it shut down its AAA studio, Team Blue, last month. Whether the streaming giant still has ambitions for bigger games remains to be seen. You can play Squid Game: Unleashed on Android and iOS after logging in with your Netflix account credentials. If youre interested in more Netflix games, Monument Valley 3 is a great one. Its a beautiful puzzle game and can be enjoyed without playing the previous two titles in the series. We also have a list of our favorite Netflix games if these two arent enough. These include popular dungeon crawler roguelike Hades , GTA San Andreas and Terra Nil , a peaceful strategy game. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/squid-game-for-your-phone-arrives-on-december-17-170018220.html?src=rss
Congress and its allies want to divide people, says BJP leader ahead of the second phase polling in Jharkhand
Minecraft is entering the real world
Minecraft is entering the real world sort of. The Guardian reports that Microsoft, the owner of the Minecraft video game franchise, has struck a deal with European theme park operator Merlin Entertainments to open Minecraft-themed attractions, including rides, retail outlets, and hotel rooms. Merlin plans to invest more than $110 million in the first [] 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
Hospitality Sector Adds 30 New Hotels in September Quarter
Chennai: Hospitality sector saw 30 hotels with around 2000 keys opening in the September quarter. The quarter registered double-digit year-on-year growth as well as sequential growth in revenues in the September quarter and Hyderabad grew fastest at 23.6 per cent. Around 30 branded hotels with an aggregate 1988 keys opened in the quarter. Of the total number of keys, approximately 80 per cent were located in Tier II and III cities, including Tirupati, Udaipur, Ranchi, and Mussoorie. Karnataka saw the highest number of hotel openings with 280 keys. In Q3 2024, 96 branded hotels comprising 10,686 rooms were signed. Around 12 hotels signed were conversions of other hotels, accounting for 11 per cent of the inventory signed. Tamil Nadu saw the highest signing for hotels with 1247 keys. Meanwhile, the Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) of the hospitality sector recorded 10.8 per cent year-on-year growth in Q3 2024, while continuing to register a sequential growth of 2 per cent, as per the data of JLL. Hyderabad recorded the highest RevPAR growth of 23.6 per cent, followed by Chennai and Mumbai with YoY growth of 17.7 per cent and 16.8 per cent respectively. Though occupancy levels remained relatively stable, Average Daily Rate levels improved, leading to an increase in RevPAR across all major markets. The occupancy levels in Hyderabad hotels remained flat at 0.7 per cent, while the ADR grew 16.2 per cent. Similarly, Mumbai saw occupancies stagnant at 0.1 per cent and ADR growing 15.7 per cent. Chennai, however, saw occupancies growing by 4.7 per cent and ADR 11.5 per cent. According to HVS Anarock, ADR across cities in the month of September ranged between Rs 7,300 Rs 7,500, marking both yearly and sequential gain. The fourth quarter of the calendar year is anticipated to benefit from the continued resurgence of corporate travel, festivals, and other corporate and social Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). Backed by strong performance of hotels across India, we continue to see investors moving money in this asset class. There is strong momentum on both greenfield developments as well as operating assets across business and leisure markets, said Jaideep Dang, Managing Director, Hotels and Hospitality Group, India, JLL.
Housefull 5: Akshay Kumar And Full Star Cast To Film Grand Song Celebrating 14 Years Of Laughter
The excitement for Housefull 5 reaches new heights as the cast gears up for a grand song celebrating 14 years of the beloved franchise.
I wish Blizzard loved Warcraft as much as I do
Blizzard's first real-time strategy games had a profound impact on me as a young immigrant to Canada in 1994 and 95. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness helped me learn how to read and write in English, and formed the basis for some of my oldest friendships in a brand-new country. Suffice to say, I have a lot of love for these old RTS games maybe more than Blizzard itself. So you can imagine my excitement at remaster rumors for Warcraft II and its expansion, Beyond the Dark Portal . When Blizzard aired its Warcraft Direct last week, not only were those rumors confirmed, but it announced that the original Warcraft would receive the same treatment, and both would be sold alongside Warcraft III: Reforged (itself a remaster) as part of a new battle chest. Of course, I immediately booted up Battle.net and bought the bundle. I was just as quickly disappointed. Where to start? The most obvious place is the new hand-drawn graphics. Some fans have accused Blizzard of using AI to upscale the art in Warcraft and Warcraft II . I dont think thats what happened here, but what is clear is that the new assets dont live up to the companys usual quality. The unit sprites are completely missing the charm of their original counterparts. They also dont look properly proportioned, and many of them have new stilted animations. Additionally, the extensive use of black outlining makes everything look a bit too stark. At best, the remasters resemble poorly made mobile games. Both games feature a toggle to switch between their original and remastered graphics seamlessly, but here again, Blizzard missed the mark. Theres a great YouTube video explaining the issue, but the short of it is the company didn't accurately represent the tall pixels that the original graphics were designed around, so every asset appear stretched horizontally. Like every game from that era, Warcraft was designed to be played on a 4:3 CRT monitor. However, the original art assets were made to scale within a 320 x 200 frame, which is a 16:10 resolution. As a result, UI elements and units look taller in the 1994 release than in the remaster. GOG correctly accounted for this when it rereleased Warcraft and Warcraft II in 2019, and theres no reason Blizzard couldnt do the same in 2024. Without these nods to the games original visuals, Warcraft: Remastered just doesnt look right. What gameplay enhancements the remasters include are minimal, and while theyre all appreciated, Blizzard could and should have done more. In Warcraft , for instance, its now possible to select up to 12 units simultaneously, up from four, and bind buildings to hotkeys for more efficient macro play. Oh, and you can finally issue attack move commands, something you couldnt do in the original release. However, any features you might find in a modern RTS are notably missing. For example, neither game allows you to queue commands or tab between different types of units in a control group. If this sounds familiar, its because Blizzard took the same approach with StarCraft: Remastered . StarCraft: Brood War still had a sizable professional scene when Blizzard released its remaster. Had Blizzard touched the balance or mechanics of that game, it would have caused an outcry. By contrast, Warcraft II is essentially moribund, and would have greatly benefited from modernization. At the very least, Blizzard could have done a balance pass and added a ladder mode to give the game a chance to attract a new multiplayer fanbase. Coming back from the dead is achievable for an old RTS. Age of Empires II managed to pull this trick off with flying colors: Since the release of its Definitive Edition in 2019, Microsofts genre-defining RTS has never been in a better place. A constant stream of support, including a substantial new expansion that was released just last week, has managed to grow the AoE2 community. At any time, there are as many a 30,000 people playing the Definitive Edition on Steam. If you ask me, thats pretty great for a game that was originally released in 1999, and it shows whats possible when a company cares and nurtures a beloved franchise. The fact Microsoft now owns Blizzard makes its treatment of Warcraft feel particularly unfair. Most disappointing is the lack of bonus content. Contrast this with Half-Life 2 s free anniversary update , which Valve released just days after the Warcraft remasters. It includes three and a half hours of new commentary from Gabe Newell and the dev team. Valve also uploaded a two-hour documentary and announced a second edition of Raising the Bar, a behind-the-scenes look at Half-Life 2s turbulent development. If Newell could take time away from his yachts to talk about Valve's most important game, surely Chris Metzen could have done the same for Warcraft. The people who were vital to Warcraft and Warcraft IIs development arent getting any younger Blizzard should preserve their stories. If theres one thing Im hopeful for, its that Blizzard will eventually do the right thing. As I mentioned, the bundle I bought also came with Warcraft III: Reforged . Last week it received a free patch that does a lot to fix the disastrous issues with that remaster, albeit four years late. With more work, I can see the Warcraft and Warcraft II remasters becoming essential. But as things stand, the studio has done the bare minimum to honor its own legacy. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/i-wish-blizzard-loved-warcraft-as-much-as-i-do-141524674.html?src=rss
Stage set for final phase of Jharkhand assembly elections
RANCHI: Jharkhand is geared up for polling in 38 of the total 81 assembly seats in the second and final phase on Wednesday, when the electoral fate of 528 candidates, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren both (both JMM) and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP) will be decided. The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance are engaged in a fierce battle in the elections in the state , the first phase of which was held on November 13. Polling is scheduled to begin at 7 am in 14,218 polling stations and will continue till 5 pm barring 31 booths where it will end at 4 pm. A total of 1.23 crore voters including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third gender voters are eligible to vote on Wednesday. Altogether 528 candidates - 472 men, 55 women and a third gender person - are in the fray. The JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the saffron party has raised the election pitch raising the issues of Hindutva, infiltration from Bangladesh and corruption of the current dispensation. BJP expert in spreading hatred, spent Rs 500 crore on campaign against me: Jharkhand CM Soren Eighteen of the 38 constituencies are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts - Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur. The NDA has been alleging during electioneering that large-scale infiltration took place in Santhal Pargana during the past five years of the JMM-led regime. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said all preparations for voting have been completed and polling personnel for all the booths have been despatched peacefully. Since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, about Rs 200 crore worth of illegal materials and cash have been seized, which is the highest in the recent past. Kumar said that 90 cases pertaining to violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) violation were recorded. Out of the 38 seats, eight are reserved for scheduled tribes and three for scheduled castes. Of the total 14,218 polling stations, the responsibility of the entire voting process at 239 polling stations will be in the hands of women while 22 booths will be manned by persons with disabilities (PwDs), the CEO said. Modi says BJP will protect Jharkhands roti, mati, beti Besides CM Soren and his wife, prominent among the candidates include state BJP president and ex-CM Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM) and BJP ally AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto. Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP present JP Nadda and chief ministers of several states addressed a number of rallies where they attacked the JMM-led coalition over corruption and infiltration. INDIA bloc leaders including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and his wife and legislator Kalpana Soren campaigned extensively, promising welfare schemes and accusing the BJP-led Centre of unleashing ED and CBI against the rival parties. There are 28 reserved seats for ST candidates and nine for SC contestants. Of the SC seats, JMM won 2, BJP 6 and RJD 1 in the 2019 polls. In ST reserved seats, JMM was victorious in 19, Congress in 6, BJP 2 and JVM(P) 1. This time, as far as NDA is concerned, BJP has fielded candidates in 68 seats while allies AJSU Party in 10, JD(U) in two and Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas) in one. Of the INDIA bloc, JMM has fielded candidates in 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD 6 and CPI(ML) 4 with friendly fights on some seats. In the 2019 assembly elections, the contest was close, with the JMM winning 30 seats and the BJP securing 25, down from 37 in 2014. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority with 47 seats. BJP using money garnered from paper leaks to fund Jharkhand poll campaign, alleges Soren
IPL auction: Will Yuzvendra Chahal return to RCB? These franchises might bid for T20 star bowler
Yuzvendra Chahal IPL Auction 2025: One of the well-known wicket-takers in T20 World Cup, Yuzvendra Chahal was not retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the mega IPL auction. Now, it remains to be seen whether the ace bowler will return to RCB or will Rajasthan Royals pick him.
From Glenn Maxwell to Harshal Patel: Top 10 all-rounders who may bag big bucks at IPL 2025 Auction
The upcoming IPL auction is set to be dominated by all-rounders, with franchises eager to bolster their lineups. Players like Livingstone, Maxwell, and Stoinis are expected to draw high bids, while emerging stars like Ravindra and Jansen add intrigue to the mix. Proven performers such as Patel, Ashwin, and Hasaranga offer experience and match-winning potential.
Hemant Soren wants to turn Ranchi into Karachi: Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused the JMM-Congress coalition of aiming to turn Ranchi into Karachi and other Jharkhand districts into Bangladesh. He urged voters to prioritize the safety of women and prevent the division of the majority community's votes. Singh also criticized Congress leaders for using divisive language and alleged their silence on religious conversions in Bihar.
Sony in talks to buy media powerhouse behind Elden Ring
New York/Tokyo: Sony is in talks to acquire Kadokawa, the Japanese media powerhouse behind the Elden Ring game, two sources familiar with the matter said, as the technology giant looks to add to its entertainment portfolio. The talks between the two sides are ongoing and, if successful, a deal could be signed in the coming weeks, the sources said. Kadokawa's shares closed up 23% at their daily limit. Its market capitalisation was around $2.7 billion prior to the Reuters report. Sony's shares closed up 0.6%. Sony declined to comment. Kadokawa said it cannot comment. Sony already has a 2% stake in Kadokawa and a stake in Kadokawa controlled FromSoftware, the developer of the hit fantasy action role-playing game. The critically acclaimed title is a collaboration between veteran game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. The game, which depicts an atmospheric world where players battle monsters and quest to repair the Elden Ring, has sold 25 million units and been widely praised. The title is available on platforms including Sony's PlayStation. An expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, sold 5 million units in the three days after its release in June. Kadokawa began as a publisher in 1945, but has expanded into games, anime, events and figures with franchises such as Re:Zero, in which a teenage boy is summoned to a fantasy world. Other franchises include Delicious in Dungeon, a manga series adapted into anime about adventurers exploring dungeons and eating monsters they encounter. Known as the inventor of the Walkman, Sony has transformed from an electronics manufacturer into an entertainment and technology juggernaut spanning movies, music, games and chips. Loveable characters and intellectual property (IP) can live for 30, 50 or 100 years, Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said last year. That's something we want to make investment in for sustainable growth, he said. Sony's focus includes anime, whose growth worldwide has been fueled by the spread of streaming services and greater familiarity with Japanese culture. The group has also had success in extending the reach of its own franchises, with The Last of Us games series adapted into a popular HBO drama. Sony, which has a market valuation of around $114 billion, in January scrapped the $10 billion merger of its Indian arm with Zee Entertainment Enterprises saying some conditions were not met. Kadokawa's business has been buffeted in recent years. In June, it was hit by a cyberattack that resulted in a data leak and affected business activities. Two years ago, Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, the son of the company's founder, resigned as chairman after he was indicted on bribery charges related to the Tokyo Olympics.
Gavaskar Believes CSK, RCB To Go For KL Rahul In IPL Auction
Lucknow Super Giants: After being released by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) would target wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. LSG snubbed their captain Rahul and retained Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni in the squad. On the other hand, RCB and CSK retained three (Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal) and five players (Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni), respectively. Both southern franchises will head into the auction with a bank of Rs 83 crore (RCB) and Rs 55 crore (CSK) to fill 22 and 20 spots, respectively. I do believe that the two south franchises, Bengaluru as well as Chennai, will go for KL Rahul. Maybe even Hyderabad will go, but Bangalore is of course KL Rahul's hometown. So clearly I think he will be enthused, he will be encouraged, he will want to play in front of his home crowd. So Bengaluru might go for KL Rahul, Gavaskar said on Star Sports. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking on the auction, discussed the potential future of David Warner, a global superstar known for his powerful hitting. He said, It's been a few years since David Warner's performances have been great. But he is still a great player. When Devon Conway was released in CSK, I'm sure they will buy him back. They are quite influenced by Rachid Ravindra as well. I don't think they will be interested in bringing David Warner into their plans. I don't think David Warner can fit in CSK. Manjrekar also analysed why Punjab Kings might have released Arshdeep Singh and how they could still retain him. He said, I believe that they have released a lot of players so that they get some freedom. And the core of the team and the combination of the team should change completely. But they will definitely be interested in Arshdeep Singh. I believe there is a slight difference in today's Arshdeep Singh and 5 years ago's Arshdeep Singh. But he can still give you a wicket with a new ball. And you can still expect from him in the slog overs as well. So although Punjab Kings have released him, they will definitely be after Arshdeep in the mega auctions. Manjrekar further addressed Mohammed Shami's recent injury issues and their impact on the auction. Manjrekar also analysed why Punjab Kings might have released Arshdeep Singh and how they could still retain him. He said, I believe that they have released a lot of players so that they get some freedom. And the core of the team and the combination of the team should change completely. But they will definitely be interested in Arshdeep Singh. I believe there is a slight difference in today's Arshdeep Singh and 5 years ago's Arshdeep Singh. But he can still give you a wicket with a new ball. And you can still expect from him in the slog overs as well. So although Punjab Kings have released him, they will definitely be after Arshdeep in the mega auctions. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
With the IPL auction just around the corner, on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, all ten franchises are expected to battle it out for Pant's services
Rishabh Pant has always been a part of the Delhi franchise since his IPL debut in 2016, scoring 3,284 runs at 35.31 with one century and 18 fifties in 111 matches.
Not about money: Pant's response to Gavaskar's take on why he left DC
New Delhi: Rishabh Pant on Tuesday rejected the legendary Sunil Gavaskar's assessment that the India wicketkeeper-batter left Delhi Capitals due to disagreement over his retention fee ahead of the mega auction of the Indian Premier League.Pant, who captained Delhi Capitals last year after making a comeback from a horrific car accident, is among the marquee players who were not retained by their franchises. He is expected to be one of the most sought-after players when the auction takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25. My retention wasn't about the money for sure that I can say, Pant wrote on X, responding to a broadcaster video showing Gavaskar talking about the auction dynamics. Gavaskar said while he expects Delhi Capitals to rope in Pant once again, he also wondered if there was a disagreement over the fee between the franchise and the player. The auction dynamics are completely different; we don't really know how it will go. But what I feel is that Delhi would certainly want Rishabh Pant back in the squad, Gavaskar told Star Sports. Sometimes, when a player is to be retained, there is talk between the franchise and the player and franchise about the fees that are expected. As you can see, some of the players who have been retained by the franchise, they've gone for more than say, what the No 1 retention fee deduction would be. Clearly I think, maybe there was some disagreement over there, he said. Gavaskar said Delhi Capitals will have to look for a new captain as well if Pant is not there in the roster. My feeling is that Delhi would definitely want Pant back because they need a captain as well. If Rishabh Pant is not in their squad then they have to look for a new captain. My feeling is (that) Delhi would definitely go for Rishabh Pant, he said. Pant, along with other former captains Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders) and KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants), is listed at a base price of Rs 2 crore each among marquee Indian players. Pant has always been a part of the Delhi franchise since his IPL debut in 2016, scoring 3,284 runs at 35.31 with one century and 18 fifties in 111 matches.
IPL 2025 Auction Overseas Batters Prediction: The IPL 2025 mega auction is on the horizon. Teams are preparing to build their squads. Several prominent players are expected to draw significant interest from franchises. These players include Jos Buttler, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Harry Brook. Rachin Ravindra, David Miller, Phil Salt, and Devon Conway are also anticipated to be sought-after assets in the auction.
BJP spent Rs 500 cr on campaign against me: Jharkhand CM
Ranchi: A day after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren charged the BJP with launching a whisper campaign to influence voters, he hit out at the saffron camp again on Tuesday, alleging that the opposition party in the state spent over Rs 500 crore in malicious campaigns against him. Soren also accused the BJP of being 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 .
BJP expert in spreading hatred, spent Rs 500 crore on campaign against me: Jharkhand CM Soren
RANCHI: A day after Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren charged the BJP with launching a whisper campaign to influence voters, he hit out at the saffron camp again on Tuesday, alleging that the opposition party in the state spent over Rs 500 crore in malicious campaigns against him. Soren also accused the BJP of being an expert in fulfilling political ambitions by inciting hatred among people. He claimed that Jharkhand's culture does not allow such malicious campaigns. It is the easiest thing for leaders to fulfil their political ambitions by inciting hateful feelings in you. This campaign is the easiest and the BJP is an expert in it. But I am from Jharkhandour culture doesn't allow this and I will never do this, Soren claimed in a post on X. - , pic.twitter.com/niE4J1qnHa Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) November 19, 2024 According to one estimate, the BJP has spent more than Rs 500 crore on shadow, whisper and hate campaigns against me, the JMM leader alleged. Soren also accused the BJP of bringing in people from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Bengal to campaign against him and allegedly instil fear among voters on roads and intersections during the election period. People from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bengal are seen discussing the elections on roads and intersections in the constituencies where elections are being held. This is BJP's new gimmick, called the 'whisper campaign'. For this, over Rs 1 crore has been spent in each constituency. They will not come and talk about their work, instead, they will scare you with lies, Soren had said, sharing a video of the alleged campaign. He said there was o truth to the whisper campaign. We haven't collected donations by playing with the lives of the countrymen through electoral bonds, fake medicines, or fake vaccines. Therefore, I appeal to all of you, the residents of Jharkhand, to openly campaign for me today and tomorrow, not in a 'whisper' because it is not in the nature of Jharkhandis to be afraid, he claimed. Don't whisper, speak boldly! Soren said, sharing a video in which youths sitting in a choupal are seen praising the BJP and criticising the JMM for alleged corruption. Earlier, Soren had accused the BJP of running shadow campaigns to tarnish both his and the state's reputation. He had alleged that the saffron party spent crores of rupees on various social media platforms and created 95,000 WhatsApp groups to campaign against the JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand. In response, the BJP claimed that these allegations reflected Soren's desperation, frustration, and fear of losing the elections. Earlier, the Jharkhand Police had registered FIRs against the operators of two social media accounts for allegedly running campaigns aimed at maligning the image of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the state. These FIRs were filed after Soren and the ruling JMM accused the BJP of running shadow campaigns against them. Soren had previously claimed that dictators may possess billions of rupees, but he believed it was etter to stick to principles than win through unfair means. The CM also claimed that while the BJP spent crores of rupees to tarnish his image, he himself had ot spent a single rupee on any promotion, which, he said, could be verified by checking the ad library of any social media platform.
IPL teams that may bid for Mohammed Siraj in the 2025 auction
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, the teams are strategizing to strengthen their squads. One of the key focuses for franchises is securing experienced Indian fast bowlers including Mohammed Siraj. Having been surprisingly released by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Siraj is expected to spark intense bidding wars in the auction. With 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 .
'My Retention Wasn't About Money For Sure': Pant Reveals Ahead Of IPL Auction
ICC T20 World Cup: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has revealed that his release from Delhi Capitals squad ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction was not about the money. In a first public reaction after not being retained by the franchise which he captained across three seasons after missing the 2023 edition due to injury, Pant countered Sunil Gavaskar's opinion where he suggested the move was made due to the disagreement on the retention fees and Delhi would want his back in the squad. My retention wasnt about the money for sure that I can say, Pant wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). Talking about Delhi's auction strategy on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, See the auction dynamics are completely different so we don't know how it will go but what I feel is that Delhi would certainly want Rishabh Pant back in their squad. Sometimes when the player has to be retained there's talk between franchises and players about the fees that are expected. As some of those who have been retained by their franchise they've gone for more than say what the number one retention fee would be. So clearly may be I think there was some disagreement over that but my feeling is Delhi definitely want Rishabh Pant back because they need a captain as well. If Rishabh Pant is not in their squad then they have to look for a new captain. Delhi Capitals have two Right to Match (RTM) cards, which they can use on the auction table for Pant or any other previous squad member after only retaining Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abhishek Porel. Earlier, Pant casted doubts over his retention by the franchise and posted a cryptic post on social media. He wrote, If go to the auction. Will I be sold or not and for how much? Delhi Capitals have two Right to Match (RTM) cards, which they can use on the auction table for Pant or any other previous squad member after only retaining Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs and Abhishek Porel. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
Pant breaks silence on not being retained by Delhi Capitals
Rishabh Pant has refuted Sunil Gavaskar's speculation that his non-retention by the Delhi Capitals was due to financial disagreements. Pant clarified that money was not a factor in him not being retained by the IPL franchise. Gavaskar had suggested that Pant and the Capitals might have disagreed on the retention fee.
Shinde, Soren prestige at stake as campaigning ends
MUMBAI/RANCHI: Campaigning for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls ended on Monday, with the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance vying to retain power and the JMM-headed INDIA bloc making a spirited attempt to keep the opposition BJP and its allies away. Maharashtra Assembly has 288 members and Jharkhand House 81. The polling is due in both states on November 20 with Jharkhand voting in the second round after November 13. Votes will be counted on November 23. In Maharashtra, the campaign saw prominent leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and many Union ministers crisscrossing the state to garner votes for their candidates. The ruling MahaYuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is banking on its popular schemes like Majhi Ladki Bahin for women helping it retain power. The BJPs slogans Batenge toh katenge (divided we fall) and Ek hai toh safe hai (unity ensures safety) have prompted the opposition parties to accuse the MahaYuti of polarising voters along religious lines. Not all the BJP allies supported these slogans. Ajit Pawar, distanced himself from them. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attempted to clarify the meaning of the slogans, leading to confusion within the ruling alliance. The MVA alliance countered the ruling combines rhetoric by focusing on caste-based census and protecting the Constitution. The BJP is contesting the November 20 elections in 149 seats in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP 59. The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) 86. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge during an election rally at Vasai in Maharashtras Palghar on Monday. In Jharkhands second phase of polling, the prestige of CM Hemant Soren, his brother Basant Soren, sister in-law Sita Soren, Assembly speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto, and three ministers, are at stake. The polling will take place at 14,218 booths for 38 seats in the state. During the second phase, polling for the 18 seats of the Santhal Pargana division falling in six districts of Jharkhand, is also being held along with the others. Santhal Pargana is considered the key to power. Out of the total 18 seats in Santhal Pargana, seven are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, one seat for SC, and 10 seats are general. Some of the high-stake constituencies include: Barhait where Soren is challenged by BJPs Gamaliel Hembrom. Soren won this seat for the first time in 2014 and then in 2019. In Borio constituency, JMM won in 2009 and 2019 while the BJP won it in 2005 and 2014, The Jamtara constituency is said to be a Congress stronghold. Rebel JMM MLA Sita Soren is contesting the seat on a BJP ticket. Anil Deshmukh hurt as stones thrown at his car Former Maharashtra home minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured after stones were hurled at his car in Nagpur district on Monday night while he was returnig to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed. He was rushed to Katol Civil Hospital.
Rahul takes jibe at Modis Ek hai to safe hai remarks
MUMBAI/RANCHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modis Ek hai toh safe hai slogan, claiming that the slogan is for protection of his industrialist friends. He claimed a link between the slogan and the Dharavi redevelopment project being given to the Adani Group. At his news conference in Mumbai, Gandhi pulled out two posters from a metal safe, one featuring a picture of industrialist Gautam Adani and PM Modi with the caption Ek hai toh Safe hai, and another showing a map of the Dharavi project. He sought to draw a parallel between the word safe in the slogan and the tendering process in the project, suggesting it was designed to protect Adanis interests. The slogan primarily serves to help Adani acquire Rs 1 lakh crore worth land through the Dharavi project. They (MahaYuti) want to come back to the government in Maharashtra to protect Adani and give him projects, Rahul alleged. Modi is taking away big projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat while Adani is getting all major projects in Mumbai and Maharashtra. People have to choose between two people one is working for common men and farmers while other is backed by industrialists and will work for them after the polls, he said. Gandhi said, This election is a fight between two ideologies one is protecting the Constitution and wants to run a government of the poor, the other wants to end Ambedkar jis Constitution. Maharashtras DNA is Congress. Its progressive and secular mind should not be hurt in this election. Gandhi again mocked the slogan at another news conference in Ranchi by claiming that it translated into the unity between Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and billionaires like Ambani. I will explain the real meaning of BJPs slogan. It is if Modi, Shah and Ambani are ek (united), then they are safe, he said.
Not releasing caste survey data in 2011 was UPA mistake: Rahul Gandhi
During a press conference in Ranchi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi acknowledged that not implementing a caste census in 2011 was a mistake by the UPA government. He emphasized the necessity of a new caste census to guide equitable resource allocation and policy development, contrasting it with the current administration's focus on a select group of capitalists.
Campaigning Ends in Maharashtra, Jharkhand
New Delhi, Ranchi, Mumbai: The high decibel campaigns for Jharkhand and Maharashtra drew to a close on Monday for the second and final phase of polls to be held on November 20. In Jharkhand , the remaining 38 of the total 81 seats go to polls while all the 288 assembly seats of Maharashtra will go for voting on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23 for the both states. Eighteen of the 38 constituencies going to polls fall in the Santhal Paragana region comprising six districts. The NDA has been alleging during electioneering that large-scale infiltration took place in Santhal Paragana during the past five years of the JMM-led regime. A total of 1.23 crore voters including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third gender voters are eligible to participate in the voting on Wednesday. Altogether 528 candidates - 472 men, 55 women and a third gender person - are in the fray in 38 seats. Out of the 38, eight are reserved for scheduled tribes and three for scheduled castes. A total of 14,218 polling stations have been set up in both rural and urban areas for the second and final phase of elections. Prominent among the candidates include Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren (both JMM), his sister-in-law Sita Soren (BJP), state BJP president and ex-CM Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri (BJP). In the second phase, voting will be held on November 20 from 7 am to 5 pm. However, in 31 booths, the voting time will end at 4 pm, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to vote. The Jharkhand's chief electoral officer said since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, a total of Rs 196 crore worth of illegal material and cash has been seized. Both the NDA and INDIA bloc pulled out all the stops to ensure their victories in the upcoming elections with the former concentrating on ?infiltration, corruption and scams? while the latter focused on tribal rights and welfare issues and how they were being harassed. In the 2019 assembly elections, the contest was close, with the JMM winning 30 seats and the BJP securing 25, down from 37 in 2014. The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority with 47 seats. In Maharashtra, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance vying to retain power and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine hoping for a strong comeback. The election campaign saw prominent leaders like Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and many Union ministers crisscrossing the state to garner votes for their candidates. The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is banking on its popular schemes like Majhi Ladki Bahin for women helping it retain power. The BJP's use of slogans like Batenge toh katenge and Ek hai toh safe hai prompted the opposition parties to accuse the Mahayuti of polarising voters along religious lines. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's use of Batenge toh katenge and PM Modi's Ek hai toh safe hai? slogans. Not all the BJP allies supported these slogans. Mr Ajit Pawar, distanced himself from them. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attempted to clarify the meaning of the slogans, leading to confusion within the ruling alliance. The BJP in is contesting the November 20 elections in 149 seats, Shiv Sena is in the fray in 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP has fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. The Congress has fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) has put up 86 candidates. Smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), are also contesting, with BSP fielding 237 candidates and AIMIM 17 in the 288-member Lower House. Among these candidates, 2,086 are independents. Rebels are in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. The number of registered voters has increased to 9,63,69,410, up from 8,94,46,211 in 2019, with addition of 69,23,199 new voters. The state electorate also includes 6,36,278 voters with disabilities and 1,16,355 voters from the armed forces. Of the total electorate, 12,43,192 voters are over the age of 85, with as many as 47,716 centenarians, according to the official. There will be 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections. This increase is due to the rise in the number of voters.Around six lakh state government employees will be involved in election duties.
Nintendo Black Friday deals include The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $50
Nintendo has announced its various Black Friday promotions , and they're worth paying attention to if you want to pick up some big games on a rare sale. These include discounts on first-party Switch titles as well as some extras with a special version of the Switch Lite. The deals will be available at popular retailers like Best Buy, Target and Walmart. These discounts are for physical copies of games only, so the Nintendo eShop won't be involved. The sale starts on Sunday, November 24 and runs through Saturday, November 30. Perhaps the jewel in Black Fridays crown is a $20 discount on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom . The game is normally $70, so this drops the price down to $50. The game is an absolute blast and builds on all of the good stuff originally introduced in Breath of the Wild . This time, however, new abilities allow for even more unique solutions to puzzles. The sale also applies to the long-gestating Pikmin 4 and the sublimely creative Super Mario Maker 2 . Both will be available for $40. Animal Crossing: New Horizons , the belle of the COVID-era ball , will also cost $40. The same goes for Nintendo Switch Sports and Kirby and the Forgotten Land . Super Mario Odyssey, which is still the franchises latest 3D platformer, will shoot down to just $30. The same price will apply to the remake collection Pikmin 1 + 2 . Joy-Con controllers, carrying cases and other accessories will also be on sale. There will even be a deal on an actual Switch console bundle. The Nintendo Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition is going to cost $210, but it comes with some serious perks. This bundle ships with the gold-colored console and a full year of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. This provides access to all kinds of retro games, from the NES all the way to the N64. Theres a caveat here. The Nintendo Switch isnt long for this world, as a sequel is imminent . Adults may want to wait for the new console, but a Switch Lite is still a great gift for a kid. However, nobody has any idea what Trumps promised tariffs will do to console prices, so maybe even the Switch Lite will cost $600 next year. Who the heck knows anymore. If you're keen on getting some holiday shopping done now, though, you can browse the best Black Friday tech deals we've curated. Gaming deals are a little sparse at the moment, but you can get up to 55 percent off Xbox titles right now, or a 1TB Xbox Series X with two included controllers for $490 that's $110 off the usual rate. Elsewhere, Lego deals are in full swing with up to 40 percent off Star Wars and Super Mario sets, including this Super Mario King Boo's Haunted Mansion (71436) for $60 and Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV Fantasy Toy (75387) for $44 . Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/nintendo-just-announced-its-black-friday-deals-and-they-include-tears-of-the-kingdom-for-50-194609765.html?src=rss
Shikha Mukerjee | Mismatched vocabularies in Maha and Jharkhand battle
Following the rigmarole of politicians pitching for votes has never been as befuddling as it is in this round of state Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. This is an election where the regional idiosyncrasies and ethos are posing a major challenge to the BJPs beliefs and Hindutva ideology, with its surreal notion of a homogenous Hindu majority that pays obeisance in a standardised format, ignoring the particular practices of an estimated 33 crore gods and deities according to Bengali folklore. The fight is whether Batange ya Katange (divided we will be decimated), Yogi Adityanaths contribution to the continuous proliferation of vocabularies of violence, and Narendra Modis spin Ek hain to safe hain, which means united we stand (and) divided we fall, to counter the tactics of Vote Jihad, correctly reflects the ethos of Maharashtra. Had the Opposition said these rabble-rousing chants were not relevant or said, Frankly, my politics is different. I wont support it just because I belong to the same party. My belief is that we should work on development alone. A leaders job is to make every living person on this land their own. Therefore, we need not bring any such topic to Maharashtra, the BJP would have been unfazed. Its pracharaks, including Devendra Fadnavis of blighted chief ministerial ambitions, would not have rushed to counter the narrative. The embarrassing thing is that these direct attacks on toxic, communally divisive rhetoric originates within the BJP. Pankaja Munde, a daughter with BJP lineage, and Ashok Chavan, a defector from the Congress, have said it. The BJPs difficulties are further complicated by the direct and indirect criticism of the Batange-Katange rhetoric voiced by Ajit Pawar and chief minister Eknath Shinde, the icons of the other side who split the Nationalist Congress Party and the Shiv Sena to join up with the BJP to form the Mahayuti. Since neither Mr Pawar nor Mr Shinde are nave politicians, their reason for distancing themselves from the BJPs venomous verbal strikes may be a protective device, because each wants a future, rooted in Maharashtra and its politics. Had Mr Modi studied Swami Vivekanandas guru Sri Ramakrishnas teachings he would have discovered that the Ramakrishna Math order is committed to an entirely different ideology Joto mot, toto poth which roughly translated means that there are as many paths to spiritualism as there are opinions. In other words, any Hindu is free to seek his own road to salvation. The obvious disrespect to the political culture and ethos of Maharashtra implicit in the last-ditch effort by Mr Fadnavis and the RSS in countering the criticism of Ms Munde, Mr Shinde, Mr Chavan and Ajit Pawar reveals the BJP hasnt learnt to deal with diversity even after losing elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Its obsession with one size-one formula doesnt fit all states. Successful in deploying a vocabulary that worked to its advantage in the Hindi heartland and in Assam where bhoomi putra politics versus migrants, illegal or otherwise, predates the BJPs rise as a dominant national party, its consistent failures elsewhere should have been a lesson. In Jharkhand, the BJP is tone deaf to the complex tribal identity issue. It has promised to bring in the Uniform Civil Code, by offering exceptions for tribal practices and laws. It has consistently campaigned against reservation benefits going to Christians among the tribals. The inability to understand that the tribal identity is not erased because a person has converted to Christianity in the same way as tribals do not change their identity by following mainstream Hindu practices is beyond their limited imagination. By adopting a nativist agenda and presenting themselves as the saviours of tribals, the BJP seems to have conveniently forgotten that the unanimous resolution passed by the Jharkhand Assembly to recognise Sarna and its Code as a separate religion has been blocked by the Centre, which has failed to accept the demand. The promise by Amit Shah to eject all infiltrators and Rohingyas and protect women and land rights from Muslims who seem to have been portrayed as an invasive species is a peculiar gambit. The Ek hain to safe hain message backed by the RSS call in Jharkhand Sajag Raho (Be Vigilant, Be Alert) to mobilise Hindus and tribals has fallen flat, by all accounts. In the expectation that tribal voters can be detached from their loyalty to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha by attackling the Soren family, including Shibu Soren, Hemant Soren, his wife and son, for facilitating the expanding settlements of illegal Muslim migrants from Bangladesh and Rohinghyas Muslims from Myanmar, the RSS and BJP used communal identity and the fear of being outnumbered to present themselves as nativists, the only bulwark against further marginalisation of tribals. It is hard to imagine that the politically astute Mr Modi, has not figured out that Jharkhands tribals are seriously suspicious of the Centres policies on tribal land and forest rights and have organised to oppose the alienation of rights. He and his party and the RSS and its offshoots have forgotten that the tribals, especially converts, hold a grudge because Father Stan Swamy lived and worked in Ranchi. The BJPs increasing anxiety can be measured by the shrillness of its marketing campaigns in successive Assembly elections of cash handouts to women, unemployed youth, farmers, free electricity and foodgrains to woo voters. The much reviled revdi (free handouts) culture as a cash-for-votes mechanism is now the BJPs own tactics. Since all its slightly different iterations of Mamata Banerjees original scheme Lakshmir Bhandar, rolled out in 2021, are sweeteners for voters, its an admission that the Modi magic has failed; Sabka Saath hasnt produced Sabka Vikas and Viksit Bharat is a farfetched promise since the poor need cash handouts and free foodgrains. The party and Mr Modi cannot cover up what the voter already knows through lived experiences. In Maharashtra and Jharkhand, voters were beneficiaries of the policy of liberalisation and the economic boom that followed. The current state of the economy, of joblessness, unemployment, inflation and sluggish and fitful and uneven growth, is something voters understand. It needs incentives to sell itself. The core message is obvious; regardless of how much confidence Mr Modi and the BJP try to exude, the appeal is minimalist; there is no alternative to the BJP, unsatisfactory as it is. The increasingly bizarre content of the BJPs campaign messages replete with references to the Red Book, Urban Naxals, anti-Hindus and anti-Sanatans, Vote Jihad and the mystifying resurrection of Razakars to trash the Congress and its president Mallikarjun Kharge, are pointers that even Mr Modis mystique needs props.
IPL Auction 2025: From KL Rahul to Yuzvendra Chahal; 10 players RCB may target
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has retained Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Kohli will captain the side, and the franchise aims to strengthen its squad with players like Rachin Ravindra, Yuzvendra Chahal, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and others. RCB is targeting key players to fill gaps in their lineup and improve performance, especially in key areas like spin bowling, wicketkeeping, and batting depth.
Who is the next James Bond? Daniel Craig drops major hint, teases 007 actor. 'He might be...'
At the 2024 Governors Awards in Los Angeles, Daniel Craig teased that the next James Bond might be in the room. While introducing Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, Craig jokingly suggested the identity of the new 007 might be revealed, though he remained cryptic. The producers, who have overseen the casting of multiple Bonds, emphasized the significance of selecting the right actor to carry the franchise forward.
If Modi, Shah, Ambani are 'ek', then they are 'safe': Rahul mocks BJP's slogan
RANCHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday mocked BJP's 'ek rahenge toh safe rahenge' (if we remain united, we will be safe) slogan, by claiming that it translated into the unity between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and billionaires like Ambani. The Congress leader also attacked Modi for not visiting Manipur which has been urning for the last one-and-a-half years , and alleged that Shah was not taking interest in containing violence in the northeastern state as vested interests were at play. I will explain the real meaning of BJP's slogan 'ek hai to safe hai'. It is if Modi, Shah and Ambani are 'ek' (united), then they are 'safe', Gandhi claimed at a press conference in Ranchi on the last day of campaigning. UP CM Yogi Adityanaths Batenge toh Katenge statement gains RSS support The former Congress president alleged that the country's prime assets such as airports, ports and natural resources were being handed over to billionaires like Adani and Ambani without following transparent tender processes. Gandhi asserted that caste census was a must for the country and it would provide wealth distribution data, helping the Congress to take accurate decisions. I consider it a mistake that the UPA government, which came up with the idea of a caste census, did not implement it, the Rae Bareli MP asserted. A caste census will reveal the place of SCs, STs, and OBCs , who are 73 per cent of India's population, in the country's power structure, he said, adding that the survey will also lead to the country's development and transformation. This is a battle of ideologies. On one hand is the INDIA bloc which is protecting the Constitution and wants to run a government of poor, Dalits and Adivasis. On the other hand are those powers that want to destroy the Constitution. This is what senior leaders of the BJP and RSS have said, he alleged. I had said in the Lok Sabha that the Congress and INDIA bloc will conduct caste census to know the percentage of Dalits, Adivasis and backward communities, and their participation in different institutions. I also said that the 50 per cent cap on reservations will be removed by the Congress and INDIA bloc, Gandhi said. He alleged that the Prime Minister is lying when he says that Rahul Gandhi is against reservations. I am not against reservations, I want to increase it beyond 50 per cent. I requested PM Modi to hold caste census and increase reservations but he did not respond, he said. We will break 50 per cent cap on reservations: Rahul Gandhi He added that the BJP is against our plans of increasing reservations and conducting caste census. (If voted to power) Congress will get caste census done to find out representation of OBCs, SCs, tribals in institutions, private firms, judiciary and other institutions, he said. On Manipur, he said that the entire country is watching what is happening in the northeastern state. Manipur has been burning for the last one-and-a-half years but PM Modi did not visit the state even once. I went there, saw the situation and urged the government to control the violence. The (Union) Home Minister should have done his work but he is not taking interest. Some vested interest is at play, he alleged. Centre to deploy 5,000 personnel to Manipur as Amit Shah reviews situation; CM to meet MLAs The Congress leader, however, did not provide any evidence to back his allegations. About Jharkhand, he said, We will conduct caste census here and increase the reservation. ST reservations will be increased from 26 per cent to 28 per cent, SC reservations from 10 per cent to 12 per cent, and OBC from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. We are trying to implement this, but BJP people are trying to stop us, he said. Terming the BJP as anti-tribal, Gandhi said it arrested Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and tried to intimidate him with false cases. The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Soren on January 31 in a money laundering case linked to a land scam. He was released from jail on June 28 after the high court granted him bail. Accusing the BJP-led Centre of working against the interests of the state, Gandhi claimed that it is not releasing Rs 1. 36 lakh crore coal dues of Jharkhand besides other funds besides land compensation and other dues creating obstacles to development. We want to run government for the poor, not for billionaires but BJP is handing over mines, forests, land in Jharkhand to capitalists, he alleged. The Congress leader accused PM Modi of handing over the country's wealth to a few billionaires and charged him with trying to transfer Rs 1 lakh crore worth of Dharavi land in Maharashtra to Adani. He also alleged that political decisions in the country were being influenced by billionaires. In the political meeting to topple the Maharashtra government, Adani was present besides Home Minister Shah, Gandhi claimed. He promised that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc would give 10 lakh jobs to the youths of Jharkhand, Rs 2,500 financial assistance to women, make gas cylinders available at Rs 450 and distribute 7 kg of free ration under food security and health insurance cover of upto Rs 15 lakh. In the second phase of Jharkhand assembly elections, polling for 38 seats will be held on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23. PM Modi accuses Congress of 'dangerous intentions' on reservations, vows to protect 'roti, beti, maati' in Jharkhand
Rakesh Roshan Announces Retirement From Direction; Promises Update On Krrish 4 Soon
Filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, who has directed the Krrrish franchise thus far, has decided to step down from direction duties. He will be producing Krrish 4, starring Hrithik Roshan.
If Modi, Shah, Ambani are ek, then they are safe: Rahul Gandhi mocks BJPs slogan
Ranchi, Nov 18 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday mocked BJPs slogan ek rahenge toh safe rahenge (if we remain united, we will be safe) by saying that it translated into unity between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and billionaires like Ambani. The Congress leader also attacked Modi for not visiting Manipur which has been burning for the last one-and-a-half years, and alleged that Shah was not taking interest in containing violence in the northeastern state as vested interests were at play. I will explain the real meaning of BJPs slogan ek hai to
Rakesh Roshan, the renowned Bollywood filmmaker, has announced his retirement from directing, marking the end of an era for the industry. Known for his successful Krrish franchise, Roshans decision to step down raises questions about the future of Krrish 4. However, he has assured fans that the film will still move forward, with fresh updates and exciting developments on the horizon.
If Modi, Shah, Ambani are 'ek', then they are 'safe': Rahul Gandhi mocks BJP's slogan
Rahul Gandhi, during a press conference in Ranchi, criticized BJP's slogan 'ek rahenge toh safe rahenge', alleging it signifies unity between PM Modi, Amit Shah, and billionaires like Ambani for their benefit. He also attacked PM Modi for not visiting violence-hit Manipur and accused the BJP of prioritizing vested interests over the welfare of the marginalized communities.
IPL Auction 2025: From Shreyas Iyer to Bhuvneshwar Kumar; 10 players DC may target
Delhi Capitals (DC) retained four players, including Axar Patel, for the IPL 2025 mega auction, while releasing captain Rishabh Pant. The franchise is now focusing on rebuilding, with the goal of securing their first title. Key targets include Shreyas Iyer for leadership, Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his experience, and explosive players like Phil Salt and Prithvi Shaw.
Irfan Pathan backs this young Indian star to pip Starc's IPL auction record
Team India former player and cricket analyst Irfan Pathan on Monday backed young Indian star Rishabh Pant to break Mitchell Starc's IPL auction record of Rs 24.75 crore in the upcoming mega auctions. Taking to social media platform 'X', the analyst wrote Mitchell Starcs auction record is in danger. @RishabhPant17 is ready to break it! Mitchell Starcs auction record is in danger. @RishabhPant17 is ready to break it! Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 18, 2024 The much-hyped auction is scheduled to take place in Jeddah from November 24. Surprising many, Rishab Pant ended his long standing association with Delhi Capitals and entered the fray of 574 players across the world listed for the mega auctions. Out of the 574, key players like Iyer, KL Rahul, Arshadeep Singh and Starc and others are enlisted. Interestingly, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi also found a place in the roaster. Pant, coming back after a long hiatus, is making a significant impact for team India in almost all his outings. The 27-year-old player from Delhi brings in a power-hitter, Wicketkeeper, Captain and of course a lot of fan-following to any franchise that gets him. Earlier in 2016, the Delhi-based franchise that got him for Rs 1.9 crore, retained him for Rs 8 crore and Rs 16 crore in 2018 and 2022. Top teams including Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangaluru, Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders are keen to bring the star player into their line-up. However, the Delhi Capitals still have a Right to Match (RTM) card to use on their former captain.
No illegality in ban on mobile phones at polling booths: HC
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday said there was no illegality in the Election Commission of India's decision prohibiting the use of mobile phones at polling booths in the upcoming state assembly elections. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar dismissed a public interest litigation filed by city-based lawyer Ujala Yadav against the ban on mobile phones at polling booths in the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled on November 20. The PIL had urged the HC to direct the ECI and the State Election Commission to allow voters to carry phones and to show their identity proof through the DigiLocker app introduced by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology. The bench said the ECI has powers to introduce any measures for smooth functioning of the election process. As it is the process of holding elections is a cumbersome process. And in this you (petitioner) are saying show documents in digilocker, the court said. The bench said no right is vested in any person to only show their document for verification on their phones via digital lockers. We do not find any illegality (in ECI's decision), the court said dismissing the petition. The PIL had also claimed voters would be discouraged from exercising their franchise as arrangements are not made for phones to be deposited at the polling booths.
England's white-ball star Jos Buttler has parted ways with Rajasthan Royals after the franchise decided not to retain him for the 2025 IPL season. Buttler, who joined RR in 2018, expressed gratitude for his time with the team, calling it the start of his best cricketing years.
Vettori To Leave Perth Test Coaching Duty For IPL Mega Auction
Gavaskar Trophy Test: Australia bowling coach Daniel Vettori will leave the team during the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India, starting on November 22 in Perth, to attend the IPL 2025 mega auction. Vettori will attend the two-day auction proceedings in Jeddah on November 24 and 25 as Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach. We are very supportive of Dan's role as Head Coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Dan will complete final preparation for the first Test before attending the IPL auction. He will then be with team for the remainder of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, said a statement from the Australian team spokesperson. Apart from Vettori, it is also believed that former Australia players Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, who are contracted with Channel Seven as commentators for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, are also set to miss part of the first Test to attend the IPL 2025 mega auction as head coaches of Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants respectively. Vettori has been Australia's bowling coach across formats since 2022, but has held roles in franchise cricket. Apart from being SRH head coach in the IPL, Vettori is also the head coach of the Birmingham Phoenix side in the Hundred. During Australias first practice session at WACA on Monday, Vettori was focused on preparing the hosts batting unit for facing Ravindra Jadeja in the Perth Test by providing left-arm spin throwdowns, while also working diligently with the bowling unit. For the Perth Test, Australia will count on the services of two consultants based in the city: former batter Michael Hussey and ex all-rounder Jim Allenby, who previously played for Glamorgan, Leicestershire, and Somerset in county cricket in England. The duo had worked with the Australian team when they faced Pakistan in last years Test at Perth. During Australias first practice session at WACA on Monday, Vettori was focused on preparing the hosts batting unit for facing Ravindra Jadeja in the Perth Test by providing left-arm spin throwdowns, while also working diligently with the bowling unit. Also Read: Highest tax paying cricketers Article Source: IANS
Tiger Shroff unleashes his dark spirit with Baaghi 4 first look, Watch
Tiger Shroff is set to return with a darker and more intense installment of the Baaghi franchise. The first look poster of Baaghi 4, slated for a September 5, 2025 release, shows a blood-soaked Shroff amidst a carnage, hinting at a high-octane action thriller. Directed by A. Harsha, the film promises a grittier and more intense experience for fans.
SRH IPL Mega Auction 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) retained five key players, including captain Pat Cummins and the IPL's most expensive retention ever, Heinrich Klaasen, for a record Rs 23 crore. The franchise is now focusing on rebuilding its bowling department in the upcoming mega-auction.
Allu Arjun bowls over fans in Patna
Allu Arjun, the reigning star of Telugu cinema, was visibly overwhelmed by the massive response he received from fans in Patna during the trailer launch of his highly anticipated film Pushpa: The Rule . The event took place on Sunday eveningthe crowd greeted the actor with an uproarious cheer as he took to the stage., and the crowd greeted the actor with an uproarious cheer as he took to the stage. In a heartfelt address, Arjun spoke in both Hindi and English to connect with his fans, beginning with, Namaste, Bihar ki pawan dharti ko mera shat shat pranaam. Pehli baar Bihar aya hun. Aapka pyar aur swagat ke liye bahot bahot shukriya (I bow down to this great land of Bihar. I have come here for the first time. I cant thank you enough for your love and warm welcome). He went on to acknowledge the passionate response he received, adding, Pushpa kabhi jhukega nahi, par aaj pehli baar, aapke pyaar ke liye jhukega (Pushpa Raj bows down to no one, but today, for your love, I bow before you all). Arjun humorously added that he no longer considers himself just a flower, saying, Pushpa ko flower samjhe kya? Flower nahi, ab wildfire hai main (Did you think of Pushpa as a flower? No, Im now wildfire). Apologizing for his imperfect Hindi, he asked for forgiveness for any mistakes. The Pushpa actor then took a moment to thank those who contributed to the film's success. Id like to thank everyone across the nation and beyond for the immense love youve shown Pushpa . Your love has made Pushpa 2 one of the most awaited films in the country, he said. He expressed his gratitude to the police, event organizers, and, most importantly, his fans, emphasizing how crucial their support had been in making the event a success. He also announced that the film is set to release worldwide on December 5, 2024, and shared his excitement about launching the film, stating, I will never forget this experience. Co-star Rashmika Mandanna also addressed the crowd, thanking Patnas residents for their warm reception. She assured fans that their two-year wait for Pushpa: The Rule would be well worth it and encouraged them to watch the film with their loved ones when it releases. I hope you all enjoy the trailer and experience the world of Pushpa , she added. The trailer event marked a significant moment in the Pushpa franchise's journey, as fans eagerly await the sequel's December release.
Tiger Shroff announces Baaghi 4, to release on September 5, 2025
Mumbai: Bollywoods action hero Tiger Shroff on Monday morning announced the fourth installment of his Baaghi franchise, which will be directed by A. Harsha, and that the actioner will hit the screens on September 5, 2025. Tiger took to his Instagram handle, where he shared a poster of the film. Going by the first look, 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 .
Baaghi 4 First Look: A Bloody Preview Of What's To Come In 2025. Bonus - Blood-Soaked Tiger Shroff
The Baaghi franchise began in 2016 with the release of the first film, directed by Sabbir Khan
Land hurdles continue to stall railway, NH projects in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: Even after five months of the BJP government in Odisha and the double-engine of Centre and state working in tandem, land-related bottlenecks continue to stall some of the major infrastructure projects, including new railway lines and national highways. The BJP, which accused the previous BJD government of inefficiency in resolving land-related issues, now faces growing criticism for failing to address the long-standing challenges. The railway projects that have been delayed for years include 301-km Khurda Road-Balangir, 149.78 km Talcher-Bimalagarh, 41.9 km Jeypore-Nabarangpur, 126 km Jeypore-Malkangiri, 138 km Baragarh Road-Nuapada Road, 116.21 km Junagarh-Nabarangpur, 173.6 km Malkangiri-Pandurangapuram via Bhadrachalam, extension of Nuapada-Gunupur line up to Theruvali (73.62 km) and 32 km Puri-Konark new lines. Among the major second, third and fourth lines, 164.56 km Koraput-Singapur Road doubling project, third and fourth lines between Jarpada and Budhapank (91 km), Salegaon and Budhapank (170 km), Sarla-Sasan patch of Sambalpur division (16 km) and third line between Vizianagaram-Titlagarh (264.6 km) and Bhadrak-Nergundi (92 km) are also facing land hurdles. Apart from the railway lines, some important and long flyovers, including the structures at Baghuapal, Sambalpur city-Sarla, Haridaspur, Siju-Paradip coaching yard, Titlagarh, Sambalpur-Sambalpur city and Khurda Road from Puri-end and the 12.6-km bypass line from Rahenbata to Sikir by passing Titlagarh have been delayed due to land issues. Sources said, land acquisition and disputes over handing over land in Nayagarh, Boudh, Subarnapur, Balangir, Sundargarh and Angul districts in connection with the Khurda Road-Balangir are yet to be resolved even over three decades after the project was sanctioned and despite repeated consultations and reminders from the railway authorities. In Talcher-Bimlagarh new line project, of 247.64 acre of private land in Sundargarh district, 171.45 acre has been acquired and partial possession of 138.11 acre of government land has been obtained. Similarly, land acquisition issues continue to prevail in Deogarh and Angul districts. Similarly, NH-55, Ranchi-Sambalpur Economic Corridor, Chandikhole-Paradip NH-53, expansion of Panikoili-Remuli NH-20, Bhadrak-Balasore NH-16 and Capital Region Ring Road along with the much-awaited coastal highway continue to face hurdles due to land acquisition disputes. Sources said the land issues were thoroughly discussed at a recent high-level meeting chaired by chief secretary Manoj Ahuja. He directed the Revenue and Forest departments along with the collectors of districts concerned to expedite the land handover process. We are working on fast-tracking compensation settlements and streamlining coordination with the central agencies. The groundwork is being done to address all challenges and ensure that there will be no further delay, said a senior officer who attended the meeting.
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With 18 seats, BJP bets big on Santhal Pargana
RANCHI: The BJP is making all-out efforts to make a dent in the Santhal Pargana region, a stronghold of CM Hemant Soren-led JMM, especially on the Bangladeshi infiltration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have spelled out areas where the alleged infiltration has taken place over the years. These are Pakur, Rajmahal, Barhait and Dumka. But JMM has called it a poll plank. All BJP leaders Jharkhand election in-charge Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister and co-election in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma have promised to bring a law to check infiltration. Former CM Chamapi Soren, who joined the BJP recently, has attacked the JMM over the changing demography of Santhal Pargana. JMM patriarch Shibu Sorens daughter-in-law Sita Soren and former JMM MLA Lobin Hembram, who recently joined BJP, also took the campaign forward. The BJP maintains it is the tribals who are suffering due to infiltration; their identity is in danger due to love and land jihad. Infiltrators are grabbing tribals land by marrying their daughters and snatching their political right by fielding their tribal wives on the seats reserved for tribals. They interfere in the village administration after making their wives win in panchayat polls, says state BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha. The locals are now becoming increasingly aware about their roti-mati-beti (bread, land, daugthers) being in danger due to the influx of Bangladeshi people, he added. The JMM, on the other hand, believes that the people of Jharkhand have defied the issue being raised by the BJP and the Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana will prove to be a masterstroke and pave the way for the formation of JMM-led INDIA alliance in the state yet again. Santhal Pargana is considered the focal point of Jharkhand politics and has given three CMs to the state. Besides that, more than a dozen MLAs of this region have become ministers. Out of the total 18 seats in Santhal Pargana, seven are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and one seat for SC, while 10 seats are general seats. In the 2019 assembly elections, the JMM won 9 seats including Barhet, Borio, Littipara, Maheshpur, Shikaripara, Dumka, Jama, Madhupur and Nala in Santhal Pargana, while Congress won four seats Pakur, Mahagama, Jamtara and Jarmundi. The BJP managed to get only four seats Rajmahal, Godda, Deoghar and Sarath. CM Hemant Soren is again in the election fray from the Barhait seat. His brother Basant Soren is contesting from Dumka on a JMM ticket. Hemant Soren in poll fray from Barhait CM Hemant Soren is again in the election fray from the Barhait seat. His brother Basant Soren is contesting from Dumka on a JMM ticket. Barhait is considered a safe seat for JMM as it has succeeded in retaining the seat since 1990. Meanwhile, for the first time, Shibu Soren is away from the election campaign due to poor health.
Protests in PoJK amid ongoing electricity crisis, economic struggles
Muzaffarabad : A fresh wave of protests erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), as residents expressed growing frustration over the administration's failure to address persistent issues that have long plagued the region. The protests are fuelled by a combination of economic hardship, inadequate public services, and unfulfilled promises from authorities, with local activists warning that the situation could escalate if the government does not act quickly. At the heart of the unrest is the ongoing electricity crisis. While the administration recently announced a reduction in electricity prices, residents argue that the relief has been largely symbolic. Instead of improvements in the energy supply, they say the government has reduced the voltage of electricity and increased the frequency and duration of power outages. As a result, many parts of PoJK are now enduring long periods of load shedding, exacerbating their economic struggles. Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a prominent activist from the region, voiced the public's growing frustration, saying The call for protest, issued by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, is clear. If the issues of the people are not addressed, the demands outlined in our charter will not go unnoticed. The public will take to the streets, and this time, they will come out with a clear agenda for change. Certain local residents, already struggling to meet basic needs, are facing increasing difficulties due to the unreliable power supply. In several areas, power outages have become a daily reality, affecting businesses, education, healthcare, and daily life. For many, the electricity crisis is just one more broken promise from a government that has consistently failed to deliver on its commitments. Despite PoJK's strategic importance and natural beauty, the region has long been neglected by Islamabad, with many residents feeling disenfranchised. Promises of economic development, improved infrastructure, and better public services have failed to materialise, leaving the population feeling trapped in a cycle of poverty and broken hopes. The lack of meaningful economic opportunities and essential services has led to widespread disillusionment and frustration. The growing protests reflect broader demands for political and economic reforms, with many in PoJK calling for more autonomy, greater political representation, and an end to what they perceive as years of neglect by the Pakistan government. Activists argue that these issues go beyond just electricity, and include a wide range of economic, political, and social concerns that need to be addressed to ensure the region's development and the well-being of its residents.
