In 2022, Tom Hanks launched his own nonprofit coffee brand for war veterans
Tom Hanks took a significant step in 2022 by launching a coffee brand, dubbed Hanks for Our Troops, with the noble goal of supporting military families. This brand channels every profit towards vital veteran services, offering a diverse range of coffee blends. With his longstanding commitment to philanthropy, Hanks continues to uplift communities and provide essential resources such as employment assistance for veterans.
Psychology explains how US Navy SEAL training builds resilience - even when motivation runs out
US Navy SEAL training reveals resilience is not innate but can develop. Psychological traits like hardiness and grit adapt during demanding conditions. Viewing stress as enhancing improves performance and perseverance among candidates. Goal-setting and emotional control become vital when motivation wanes. True resilience involves adaptation and regulating reactions, not just persistence.
Paramount settlement talks include penalty for missing 30-film pledge
Paramount would have to pay $30 million for each film that falls short of that goal, according to two people familiar with the discussions
Premier League: A weekend that changed the mood at the top
The international break gives managers time to reflect, regroup and address their weaknesses before the Premier League resumes -- but after a weekend of twists, goals and unexpected results, the early shape of the season is already beginning to emerge.
Premier Energies commissions 7 GW solar cell plant in Andhra Pradesh
Premier Energies commissioned a large solar cell manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. This new plant significantly boosts the company's total solar cell production capacity. The facility is India's largest solar cell manufacturing plant and was completed on schedule. It aims to meet rising demand for high-efficiency solar modules in domestic and international markets. This expansion supports India's broader clean-energy transition goals.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels warn against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen's growing civil war
Cairo, Sep 20: A senior official with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels is warning countries against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen's revived civil war, telling The Associated Press on Sunday that his group has assured the Trump administration that it won't attack US vessels in the Red Sea. Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, said Washington reached out to the rebels after their rapid advance down Yemen's western coast to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this month. We confirmed that we are not targeting the United States, or any other nation, in the strait, with the sole exception of the Saudi enemy, he told the AP in a Zoom interview from the rebel-held Yemeni capital, Sanaa. That remains the case. US President Donald Trump last weekend said his administration has had discussions with the Houthis, but did not say when. The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us, he said. They would much prefer not having us involved, and they're letting most ships go through. The AP later reported that Oman hosted a meeting between US and Houthi representatives last weekend, citing a Houthi official and another individual familiar with the talks. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. However, al-Bukhaiti only confirmed indirect contacts with US officials through longtime mediator Oman, which brokered a 2025 ceasefire between the Houthis and the Trump administration. That ended a week-long US bombing campaign against the rebels in return for them ceasing attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea. The goal of our military operations is not to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but rather to ensure freedom of navigation through it for everyone, including Yemen, he said. The Houthis claim they can fight a war on multiple fronts Al-Bukhaiti said the rebels have the capacity to fight a war on multiple fronts should any nation become implicated in the aggression against Yemen alongside Saudi Arabia. Today, Yemen is capable of waging battle -- not merely an internal conflict, but an international one as well, he said. He said the Houthi attacks against neighbouring Saudi Arabia will persist until Riyadh ends its decade-long blockade on rebel-held areas in Yemen and allows vessels to reach Houthi-controlled ports on the Red Sea. Then they will be ready to negotiate, he said. Al-Bukhaiti blamed Saudi Arabia for the latest escalation of violence in Yemen, which he said erupted after an airstrike blamed on the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels hit the Sanaa international airport. The strike prevented an Iranian flight carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The flight was a Houthi attempt to challenge the coalition's air and naval blockade. The Houthis responded with missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, including one that targeted Riyadh on Saturday before being intercepted. Saudi officials said debris from a Houthi drone also killed one civilian and injured others. The Houthis also declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, attacking Saudi-linked vessels and oil facilities inside the kingdom, the world's top oil exporter. The Saudis and their allies have long struggled to contain the Houthis, and may be tempted to seek a diplomatic solution to halt attacks. That might ultimately require US concessions to Iran, the only country with leverage over the Houthis. But Washington's negotiations with Tehran over their own war fell apart weeks ago. The US, which bombed the Houthis under the Biden and Trump administrations, has shown no interest in getting involved militarily this time around. The rebels believe power has shifted in their favour The rebels' advance inside Yemen seized the crucial port city of Mokha and key Red Sea islands that allow them to better monitor shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb, through which some 12 per cent of world trade normally passes. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, long divided into factions, withdrew but have vowed to regroup. The escalation ended a 2022 ceasefire that largely ended fighting in Yemen's civil war, which started when the Houthis swept in from their mountainous heartland and seized much of northern and central Yemen, including Sanaa, 12 years ago. The Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on behalf of the internationally recognised government. The civil war killed at least 150,000 people, according to UN estimates, and pushed the country to the brink of famine. Now, with Houthis in control of Yemen's western coast overlooking the Red Sea shipping corridor, the balance of power has shifted in favour of the Sanaa government, al-Bukhaiti said, referring to the rebels' de facto authorities there. Ultimately, (Saudi Arabia) lost its most critical card: the west coast, he said.
7 goals in 6 matches: Torres keeps scoring for PSG
Torres scored PSG's winning goal in Brest last weekend and now has seven goals in six appearances in all competitions since joining the reigning European champions from Barcelona. He has only started three times.
US proposes AI incident alert system in talks with China: Bessent
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday the US has proposed a new otification mechanism for artificial intelligence incidents that could affect national security, part of weekend discussions ahead of talks at the White House this week between President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping. We want a shared vision of common goals and common threats, Bessent told reporters after talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York. We think that just like any cross-border activity, that moving from opaque to more transparency between the No. 1 and the No. 2 AI powers in the world is very important. Trump has resisted calls to slow down AI development, saying that would help China catch up to US companies. Standing together in the soaring lobby of the JPMorgan Chase headquarters late Sunday, Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the groundwork had been laid for talks between Xi and Trump set to take place on Thursday. They said the two sides had agreed t
DC Poonch attends felicitation ceremony for NEET, academic achievers
Poonch, Sep 20: Deputy Commissioner Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma today attended a felicitation ceremony organised by the Shia Federation Province Jammu at Town Hall, Poonch, to honour students who excelled in NEET and other academic fields. The Deputy Commissioner graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Retired Principal Syed Musarrat Husain Shah attended the programme as the Guest of Honour. Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Commissioner congratulated the achievers and appreciated the Shia Federation for organising the programme to recognise academic excellence and encourage young students. He emphasised the importance of hard work, dedication and perseverance in achieving success, and urged the students to continue pursuing their educational goals with commitment and sincerity. The DC also interacted with the students and felicitated the academic achievers, appreciating their accomplishments and wishing them continued success in their future endeavours. The programme was attended by members of the Shia Federation, students, parents, prominent citizens and other dignitaries.
Messi, Miami frustrated by San Diego
Two goals from Danish forward Anders Dreyer secured a share of the points for San Diego at Miami's Nu Stadium
Lionel Messi scores 101st goal for Inter Miami in 2-2 draw with San Diego
Lionel Messi netted his 101st goal for Inter Miami, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Anders Dreyer scored twice for San Diego FC, securing their draw. Luis Suarez briefly put Miami ahead before Dreyer's late equalizer. Inter Miami's home stadium will host the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup final. The team returns to MLS play next Sunday against the Columbus Crew.
J&K Cine Association seeks second International Film Festival in Jammu
The Jammu and Kashmir Cine Association (JKCA) on Sunday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to host the second edition of the prestigious event of International Film Festival in Jammu. Demand was raised in a meeting, convened to express JKCAs appreciation to the government for successfully organising the Union Territorys first-ever International Film Festival in Kashmir. The meeting, held at Kalakendra Jammu, attended by members of the executive body and general membership, welcomed the successful conduct of the inaugural festival and emphasised the need for greater recognition of Jammus rich cinematic, cultural and artistic potential. JKCA president Dharminder Kohli said the association was grateful to the government and Department of Information to effect immediate arrangements for including Jammu also in showcasing the films of Jammu region at Wave Mall, a concept mooted by Jammu and Kashmir Cine Association. It was JKCAs effort that 12 Dogri regional films directors, producers and other artists besides technicians associated with filmmaking were honoured on the occasion for which JKCA expresses its gratitude, said president Dharminder Kohli, adding that though the International Film Festival of J&K was slated for Kashmir. He further expressed his gratitude towards the Department of Information for holding the prestigious festival. I sincerely thank you for honouring Dogri cinema and its creators in Jammu and for organizing such a wonderful film festival. Your support and encouragement not only encouraged the filmmakers but also provided a new respect and platform for the Dogri language, culture, and cinematic identity of Jammu, Kohli said. On the occasion, the Association urged the government to take concrete measures to promote regional cinema by providing dedicated theatre space and adequate screening time to local filmmakers, directors and producers. It also called for the introduction of a comprehensive subsidy scheme for film production and demanded that the film sector be accorded industry status, along with appropriate financial incentives and subsidies to encourage filmmakers and strengthen the regional film industry. The meeting also marked the induction of Baljit Singh Raina into the association and an announcement for his appointment as its chairman. The post had remained vacant following the demise of former chairman Mushtaq Kak. The association members discussed in detail about holding investors meet and frame a committee in this regard to broad base the activities of the association to further its commitment towards achieving better goals. Certain members also suggested since the association was focused on holding film festivals and promoting the cinema of the region, the songs and various religious albums produced and directed by many local directors should also be promoted. Those present at the meeting included Rajesh Khajuria, Amarjit Singh, Irfan Chaudhary, Shammi Malhotra, Sandeep Rattan Verma, Sudesh Verma, Pankaj Khajuria, Maloop Singh, Veena Dogra, Lalita Tapasvi, Baljit Singh Raina and Ravinder Koul, besides other members of the association.
Strengthening State Economic Capacity Crucial for Developed India, Says Ashish Jaiswal
Ashish Jaiswal emphasizes the need for enhanced state economic capacity to achieve Indias development goals by 2047. Strengthening State Economic Capacity Crucial for Developed India, Says Ashish Jaiswal
PIX: Atletico down 10-man Real in fiery Madrid derby
Atletico Madrid defeated 10-man Real Madrid 2-1 in a heated LaLiga derby at the Metropolitano. Goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David secured the win, moving Atletico above Real in the standings. Real's Dean Huijsen was sent off, and Antonio Ruediger scored a late consolation goal.
Poorvas four-wicket haul goes in vain as they lose by five wickets Panaji: Goa senior women suffered a five-wicket defeat against Baroda in a T20 practice match organised by the Baroda Cricket Association at BCA Stadium B, Baroda, on Sunday. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Baroda restricted Goa to 96/9 in their []
They will face HOPS FC, Roots FC and Krida Sirsaim: Goas SESA Football Academy will begin its campaign in the inaugural AIFF U15 Womens Youth League in Group A, alongside HOPS FC, Roots FC and Krida Prabodhini Pune. The competition is set to kick off on October 15 at the Sporting Planet Sports Complex in []
Porvorim firing: 7th accused operated gambling den in Mum
Panaji: The seventh accused, Satish Shinde, a native of Maharashtra, who was arrested by the Goa Police Crime Branch in connection with the Porvorim firing incident, was reportedly operating two tables in a casino in Goa. He was also allegedly operating a gambling den in Mumbai, which was shut on August 28, the day of []
Montra bets on heavy electric trucks to hit $1-billion revenue milestone by 2030
Montra Electric has set an ambitious goal of reaching one billion dollars in revenue by 2030, with electric trucks playing a vital role by contributing seventy percent of that figure. Heavy trucks are projected to bring in fifty percent of the total. Additionally, small commercial vehicles and three-wheelers are expected to enhance sales significantly, as the company anticipates over fifty percent annual growth in its electric heavy truck segment.
Goa's property boom hits a realty check
Goa's real estate market is stabilizing after a significant boom period. Sales and enquiries for second homes have slowed considerably over the past year. North Goa experienced a price correction, while smart capital moves to emerging pockets. Established developers are strengthening their position as buyers seek reliable track records. South Goa is increasingly recognized for its peaceful coastal living and refined lifestyle.
There is a scene that often repeats itself in almost every college hostel, every office party, every group of friends growing up. Some substances get passed around. A voice, casual but insistent says, everyone else is doing it. Saying no can feel like stepping out of the group. A pause follows, the kind where a young person quickly weighs the embarrassment of saying NO to a peer group against the discomfort of being singled out. That is the make-or-break moment, because addiction does not always happen with a conscious decision; it often starts due to the fear of being left out. NO To Drugs, YES To Life This is the quiet but critical moment that the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was conceived to influence. Its larger purpose has been to build awareness around substance abuse, but its deeper challenge is social: to make a drug-free choice easier to make, easier to express and eventually, easier to see as normal. STEELY Resolve When the campaign was launched on 15 August 2020 by the Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, NMBA chose to fight for something more challenging: the courage of a single person, in a weak moment, to say NO in front of a peer group. That is why the most powerful word in the campaign may be the simplest one, No! Not a dramatic No!. Not a moral lecture. Just the confidence to decline when everyone around you appears to be saying YES. Honble PM has said, For the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, the name Nasha Mukt Yuva itself makes the resolve clear. As India sets the goal of becoming a developed nation, it is essential that our youth remain healthy in body and mind, full of confidence, and always free from the deadly habit of drugs. This is the purpose of the campaign. We must all resolve that our youth understand the dangers of addiction, remain aware, and stay away from it. The National Nasha Mukt Yuva Abhiyan now plays a major role in this resolve. NMBA: A Nationwide Movement of Shared Responsibility Six years on, that individual act has become part of something much larger. The campaign has reached more than 13.71 crore young people through pledges and mobilisation, while more than 31 lakh awareness activities have been conducted across schools, colleges and communities. It has become voluntarily common on campuses for students to make pledges, a gram Sabha now taking the topic as routine business. Where families once accepted a member's addiction in private shame, more than 10.65 crore women, through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and community networks, have begun speaking about it openly, in their own language, to their own neighbours. More than 1.70 lakh Nasha Mukti Mitras (NMM) have emerged as community-level champions, helping carry the message to over 34.57 crore people, as on September 19, 2026. And the trend is skyward in the positive direction. This is where a public campaign begins to change social behaviour. NMBA has steadily moved beyond one-way awareness to create multiple avenues through which people can engage with the campaign, seek information and carry its message forward. The NMBA portal brings together information, educational resources, best practices and opportunities for citizens to engage with the Abhiyaan. https://www.dosje.gov.in/organisation/nasha-mukt-bharat-abhiyaan Drug-Free Youth, Drug-Free India Honble Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi gave voice to this larger mission recently, in the 137th episode of the monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, when he renewed the call for its goal- drug-free youth, drug-free India. His appeal was particularly significant because it extended beyond institutions and enforcement agencies to young musicians, students and theatre groups, recognising that messages are often most powerful when they travel through voices that young people already trust. That is, in many ways, what the last six years of NMBA have quietly built, not a wall of prohibition, but an alternative circle of belonging, one large enough now to reach every State and Union Territory, into schools, colleges, Panchayati Raj institutions, ASHA and Anganwadi networks and thousands of community organisations, each carrying the same pledge in its own words. From Awareness To Resolve A movement of this size does not stay confined to statistics for long; it begins to shape conversations in homes, classrooms and communities, bringing substance abuse into the open and making prevention a shared responsibility rather than a conversation reserved for moments of crisis. But awareness is only the beginning. For someone seeking help for themselves or a loved one, the next question is: where does one go to? NMBA has sought to make that step easier too. The National De-Addiction Helpline, 14446, provides a point of contact for information, guidance and referral to appropriate de-addiction services, helping turn a moment of concern into a possible first step towards recovery. For any person who has ever stood in that hesitant pause, weighing a friends insistence against their own better judgment, the journey of NMBA offers reassurance that they are not alone. What began in 2020 has grown into a nationwide movement, bringing together young people, families, communities and institutions around a common purpose. Together For Safeguarding Youth-The Beacon of India Citizens now have the opportunity to carry that mission further as Nasha Mukti Mitras, taking the conversation beyond campaigns and into the places where everyday choices are shaped. Because lasting change is rarely created by one campaign, one institution or one moment. It is sustained when awareness translates into everyday conversation, conversation becomes a collective resolve and that resolve finds its way into everyday life. That is the potential and impact of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a campaign against substance abuse where the country stands together. Lets Join Hands To Safeguard Youth-The Beacon Of India. (Shri Sudhansh Pant, IAS, is Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice And Empowerment, Government of India. Courtesy: PIB)
Cunha's late strike earns Manchester United draw at Fulham
Matheus Cunha scored a late deflected goal to secure a 1-1 draw for Manchester United against Fulham in the Premier League. This result spared United a third consecutive defeat, after Lisandro Martinez's own goal had given Fulham the lead.
Oilers Roll Past Jets 5-2 As McDavid, Draisaitl Shine In Preseason Opener
The Edmonton Oilers' are looking to avenge their first-round in the NHL Playoffs last season, as they hammered the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 thanks to goals from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Last-minute Cunha goal saves Man Utd from another defeat - who rated highest at Fulham?
Last minute Cunha goal saves Man Utd from another defeat - who rated highest at Fulham?
Five arrested for robbing Rs 4.31 lakh from goat trader
PIX: Isak's lone goal takes Liverpool past Bournemouth
Alexander Isak scored the only goal, securing a 1-0 Premier League victory for Liverpool against AFC Bournemouth. Despite the win, Liverpool's attack, featuring Gakpo, Wirtz, and Barcola, struggled to create chances, managing only six shots on goal. Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the team's need to improve but highlighted the importance of the three points and a clean sheet.
PIX: Brobbey 'tricks' for Sunderland, but Man City win 8-goal thriller
Manchester City secured their position at the top of the Premier League table with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Sunderland. Despite a hat-trick from Sunderland's Brian Brobbey, City maintained their 100% start to the season, with Antoine Semenyo scoring a double and Erling Haaland sealing the win late on. Elsewhere, Liverpool secured a 1-0 win against Bournemouth, while Leeds United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace.
La Liga: Atletico Madrid Edge 10-Man Real Madrid 2-1 in Derby Clash
Dean Huijsen was sent off early in the second half for Los Blancos before Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David's goals gave Atletico victory
Atletico ride derby storm to beat 10-man Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid beat archrivals Real Madrid 2-1 in LaLiga on Sunday as second-half goals from Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David settled a tense derby at a packed Estadio Metropolitano.
Jennifer Winget and William Ishmael celebrate Goa wedding
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Cooch Behar Trophy: Aman Mokhade has already worn an India A shirt, but he believes the upcoming red-ball games against Australia A, starting in Puducherry on September 22, will be the biggest matches of his career so far. The Nagpur-based Mokhade doesn't think he will need anyone to fire him up for putting his best foot forward. These games will probably be the biggest matches of my life in terms of level. For that, I don't think there is a need for motivation. It comes from within. The tricolour and the logo of BCCI is on your chest. So I don't think you need any motivation to get up and do well. No matter how much you work on it, it comes from within because growing up is the feeling we need as a cricketer and do good for India, right? Mokhade told IANS in an exclusive chat. The opener will not be short of familiar company, as his state team-mates Yash Rathod, Praful Hinge and Nachiketa Bhute will be there. We have played together since childhood and they will also be in the India 'A 'team. So the atmosphere of the team is similar to what it is in Vidarbha. Its because when we went to Sri Lanka, I was with Yash (Thakur) and Harsh (Dubey) and I didn't feel anything new. It didn't take long to get along with the other players, he added. The Australia A series comes after Mokhade got his first taste of India A cricket via a tour of Sri Lanka that they A won 1-0 and made scores of 38 and 11 not out in Galle. But the tour began for Mokhade, in Bengaluru, where the squad received their match shirts before flying out to Sri Lanka. Overcome by emotions, Mokhade wore his India A jersey to bed that night. It was a very good feeling. While growing up, every cricketer dreams about earning it. So, it is always a good experience for that dream to become a reality. When I got the India shirt, I went to sleep wearing it. The material was also soft. So, it was a very special feeling. I mean, I actually got the same feeling which MS Dhoni's character got on getting his first India jersey with his surname and number behind in that movie in 2016. Mokhade said the tour to Sri Lanka was as much about the conversations as the cricket. That was a very great experience. enjoyed it a lot and I got to interact with a lot of players. I got to learn a lot. It was fun. The overall experience was really good. I spoke to Ruturaj (Gaikwad) for a long time. We both are from Maharashtra and we had a connection. Ruturaj bhaiya is very helpful. If I have to ask him about batting, he would tell me a lot. I used to bat alongside Sai Sudarshan. Hes also an opener, just like me. While batting in nets, we talked a lot about cricket and batting. So, it was fun talking to both of them. Adjusting took little effort, he said, with no time difference and weather much like what he had played while in Chennai and Goa, and enjoyed the local crowds that turned up for the A games. Puducherry, though, will not be Mokhade's first encounter with an Australian side. His earliest brush with international cricket came while being on ball boy duties in Nagpur, a role reserved for the best performers from the Under-14 camps, at a time when Nagpur hosted only one or two international games every few years. A couple of years later, he talked his way into the nets. Being a net bowler happened after 2-3 years. Net bowlers are people who are U19 or U23 players. As a batter, I knew I won't get the chance to be there and convinced one of the coaches that I will bowl leg-spin. At that time, the Australian team and Indian team wanted some leg-spinners to be as a net bowler. After convincing my coach that I would love to go and have a bowl, I just wanted to see how they the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul - prepare before a game. I just wanted to be as close to that and there was the time I went in there to have a bowl to them. It was in 2017, where Rohit Sharma scored a century and MSD was also there in that game. Mokhades cricketing journey began on the playground outside his home, where the older boys of the neighbourhood saw some potential in him and suggested to his mother Manisha that he join a club. In India, at every playground, there are hundreds of people playing cricket. So, that is how I started my cricketing journey. I used to play there and all the boys from the colony used to come and play cricket there. That is how I started and I used to play with senior people the bade bhaiya log. When I used to play, they told my mom that you can try him in professional cricket because there was a cricket club near our house. My dad took me there one day in the cricket club and then that is how I started into professional cricket. It was a club called PHCA, from where I started. At the club, under coach Nitin Kanade, Mokhade spent his first week only fielding. With the nets full of batters and few willing to bowl in the Nagpur heat, he volunteered to bowl fast, and batting time came gradually. He still enjoys bowling and has sent down overs in senior cricket. Nobody in Mokhade's family had played sport seriously, though his father Ravindra harboured an ambition for being a professional cricketer. Most of his family members are engineers, doctors or teachers, and studies came first. Lean patches were usually met with suggestions that he return to his books. The turning point came in his Under-16 season, when he finished as the second-highest run-getter behind Tilak Varma and later captained Vidarbha in Cooch Behar Trophy. That convinced his family that cricket could be a viable career for him, and the pressure around academics eased. Until then, homework went with him to matches and exams waited until his games were over. He still has one or two papers left to complete his postgraduate degree after completing his B.Com course. Mokhade credits Mumbai-based coach Umesh Patwal, who was in VCA academy at that time, with first telling him, as an Under-16 player, that he could play for India. Jwala (Singh) sir had a good impact. But before that, I worked a lot with Umesh Patwal sir in Mumbai as well. When I was under 16 that time, he saw some potential in me and that time only, he said that you can play for India and can do good there. Before that, I had never heard someone say that to me. If someone is saying you at that point of time, it feels like it is a very good feeling and you actually start believing in yourself ki, you can also do good at that level. He has worked with Patwal on and off since 2016, and also leans on Jwala, who has nurtured India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jwala sir has an amazing set-up and if you go there, whatever a top level cricketer needs, he has all the facilities there. He knows what exactly is important to play at that level. It actually helps whenever I feel like talking cricket to anyone. I do give him a call and these two have had a very good impact. Even coaches and good people around you, who know you in and out and who are there for you whenever you need them, are actually a blessing. Mokhade's breakthrough domestic season last year featured making 760 runs in 11 Ranji Trophy innings at an average of 76 and scoring 814 runs in a victorious 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy run for Vidarbha, including hitting five centuries to be the tournament's leading run-scorer. But Mokhade, who had to wait for his chance to break into Vidarbha playing eleven after debuting in 2022/23, rejected the idea that anything had suddenly clicked for him and pointed to his steady returns in age-group cricket. The shift, he said, was in going bigger when it mattered the most. If you want to be a top-run getter, you have to score in the knockouts. Consistently, you have to. But if you score in the knockout games, you will get one more chance to play. That's how you get to the top and my coaches told me the same. I was working on it for a while. I was lucky enough that when the phase came, I was able to learn everything from my age group. When the phase came, I was able to play in my senior cricket. So, I'm grateful for that. He considers himself an all-format batter, and in red-ball cricket, he said, going after the bowlers from the outset rarely works, and a batter has to respect good spells before cashing in. It is a mixture of both. That is the beauty of red ball cricket. If you see T20s and one day, if you get the momentum, you just bat into that momentum. But in red ball cricket, you have to grind and then you can dominate as well. But there is a thing that it has sessions. So, your momentum will break, your focus will go down and you have to start again. So, thats it - you have to be a mixture of everything. In the Vidarbha dressing room, two senior players shaped him India pacer Umesh Yadav and batter Karun Nair. Umesh bhai was with us for a long time when I was in the senior team. So, he was there and you know the kind of a guy he is. He will be always willing to play for his team. He doesn't see if it is a state match or any match. If he is there, he will come to the game and he will guide everyone. He is not someone like, I have played such and such level or I will not talk to these guys or not say anything. When I was young in the team, he guided me a lot and told me that I can play and belong here. So, that is always a good influence to have. Mokhade recalled Nair was solid but not dominant in his first season after moving from Karnataka, as he adjusted from black-soil pitches to Vidarbha's bouncier red-soil surfaces. By the next pre-season camp, the work was showing. When Karun Nair came, I thought that he had so many options for scoring runs. We knew he was going to do wonders in that season because he had adapted to our conditions. I saw him practicing a lot of shots which are required on the red soil wickets. So, his way of approaching batting gave me a lot of options into my batting as well because he has so many options of scoring runs. Mokhade recalled Nair was solid but not dominant in his first season after moving from Karnataka, as he adjusted from black-soil pitches to Vidarbha's bouncier red-soil surfaces. By the next pre-season camp, the work was showing. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Mokhades competitive streak carries over to anything he plays, including PUBG and now Call of Duty on his phone, though he keeps screen time in check during matches. With a journey built on quiet grit and self-belief, whenever Mokhade gets a chance to play in Puducherry, trust him to be ready to write the most crucial chapter of his career yet - one ball and one session at a time. Article Source: IANS
Premier League: Semenyo Nets Two as Manchester City Beat Sunderland in 8-Goal Thriller
City have the only perfect record left in the Premier League this season and sit three points above champions Arsenal heading into the international break
Five-star Man City top Premier League after Sunderland thriller
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League in explosive style as Enzo Fernandez's first goal for the club lit the fuse on a pulsating 5-3 win against Sunderland on Sunday.
Could Your Webcam Help With Dementia and Stroke Rehab? This Startup Thinks So
Dual-task cognitive rehabilitation training scene utilizing EYAS Dual | Image provided by INTHETECH Grocery shopping or putting food away involves more than memory. You need to recognize objects, decide what to do with them, and coordinate your movements. For someone experiencing cognitive difficulties, those familiar routines can become challenging. South Korean company InTheTech is developing EYAS Dual around that connection between thinking and movement. Its platform combines cognitive exercises with physical actions, using a camera to let people interact with activities such as sorting recycling or shopping for groceries. The potentially useful part is how the company intends to deliver it: through ordinary computers, tablets, and smartphones , without requiring a dedicated rehabilitation machine. It runs on any device you already own, no hardware purchase, InTheTech representative Lucy Lee told me during our interview. The direction is clear. InTheTech wants to make movement-based cognitive training easier to bring into care facilities and, eventually, peoples homes. Cognitive rehabilitation training program screen of EYAS Dual | Image provided by INTHETECH InTheTech already has an established rehabilitation business and a family of EYAS products. EYAS Dual represents a new delivery model within that business, with the company aiming to reduce the equipment and setup needed to access its exercises. During the demonstration, I noticed that much of the interaction involved the arms and upper body. I asked Lee what moving an arm adds compared with tapping a touchscreen. She explained that the goal is to practice actions such as reaching and grasping while completing a cognitive task. For example, a person might need to identify an item, decide where it belongs, and move it to the appropriate location. This approach is generally called dual-task training : combining a physical activity with a thinking task. It is an established area of rehabilitation research, and there is evidence supporting its potential. An August 2026 review published in PLOS Digital Health examined 23 randomized trials involving 1,674 older adults with cognitive decline. It found that dual-task programs delivered outside clinics could improve cognitive performance, including a modest average advantage over other active interventions. InTheTechs technology also has a published research history. A 2023 randomized study involving 60 stroke patients used the companys virtual-reality content as part of an eight-week rehabilitation program and reported encouraging cognitive and functional results. Context: the earlier program combined adapted VR exercises with workbook training in a hospital setting. The broader review covered different interventions and patient groups. Neither establishes that EYAS Dual will produce the same outcomes. Lee made that distinction during our conversation, explaining that the research supports the general training method while validation of the new product is still underway. The platform could also be useful to therapists and caregivers. According to InTheTech, it starts with an assessment, selects exercises, and generates reports from session data, including response times and movement measurements. Automating some of that work could make progress easier to follow and reduce administrative effort. Using consumer hardware for a medical application is entirely plausible. FDA-authorized software such as EndeavorRx already runs on mobile devices at home. What matters is the particular softwares evidence and authorized use. Pricing is also provisional. Lee suggested approximately $50 per month , or $30 per month for home use , while emphasizing that the business model was unfinished. At the time of our interview, demos were available, but the product had not launched. A subsequent public release date remains unconfirmed. What interests me most is the possibility of making a useful rehabilitation approach easier to access through familiar hardware. InTheTechs next challenge is to show that EYAS Dual can turn that convenience into measurable benefits in peoples everyday lives. InTheTech plans to showcase EYAS Dual at CES 2027 and is competing for a CES Innovation Award. Could Your Webcam Help With Dementia and Stroke Rehab? This Startup Thinks So , original content from Ubergizmo . Read our Copyrights and terms of use .
Your choice of benchmark must be the large-cap index or the broadest investable index for institutional investors in the market where you can make goal-based investments
Can you name every player to score 10+ Premier League goals for Bournemouth?
Sixteen names to get. The post Can you name every player to score 10+ Premier League goals for Bournemouth? appeared first on Planet Football .
Vadnagar-Varanasi Seva Yatra: 500 volunteers on motorcycles clean schools, ponds along the route
Digital Desk | Vadnagar/Varanasi, Sep 20 (IANS) More than 500 young volunteers taking part in the Seva Yatra on motorcycles from Vadnagar to Varanasi from September 17 to October 7 are offering manual service and cleaning campuses of schools, hospitals, orphanages and old-age homes along the route. The 22-day journey, aiming to cover 35,500 kilometres across 20 teams, is part of a campaign organised around Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday and his 25 years of public service. Driven by the goal of offering service to communities, the 500 youths are travelling from village to village and undertaking activities including cleanliness drives, cow service, care of older people and sharing awareness about government schemes, said a statement issued by the BJP. They are travelling through towns, districts, talukas and villages, taking the spirit of Seva right to the grassroots, said the statement. The Seva Yatris are not just passing through communities but stopping, meeting people and committing Seva in activities that respond to local needs - from cleanliness drives at ponds, temples, schools, parks, hospitals and other public areas to beneficiary interactions, youth dialogues, Gram Sabha samvad and Gau Seva to tree plantation under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam. At PM SHRI Schools, the Yatris are cleaning campuses, interacting with students and distributing books and stationery and at hospitals, orphanages and old-age homes, they are extending their support to those who need it the most, the statement said. Kits are being distributed to widows, ASHA workers are being honoured, and communities are coming together for different welfare activities, it said. The Yatra is equally about contact and dialogue. Yuva Samvads, Gram Sabha interactions, Mahila Samvads and beneficiary interactions are creating opportunities to meet people directly and understand the aspirations and provide awareness at the grassroots, the statement said. Organ donation pledges are also being encouraged by the volunteers to promote the spirit of giving, while tributes to martyrs and freedom fighters are connecting communities with the nation's history and its heroes, it said. The Yatra is bringing together several dimensions of public engagement, including Seva, Sampark, youth participation, social welfare, cultural connect and community mobilisation and carrying them from one grassroots location to another, it said. On the occasion of PM Modis birthday on September 17, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off a 'Seva Sankalp Yatra' from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) to Vadnagar in Gujarat. He said the 'Seva Sankalp Yatra' is not merely a means of traversing the geographical distance between two places; rather, it is a sacred spiritual and social journey connecting the birthplace of PM Modi with his 'karmabhoomi', Kashi. The Yatra is being organised under the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' as a means of serving the people, said the Defence Minister, adding that during the journey the waters of Varanasi and Vadnagar will be exchanged and used for the Jalabhishek of Hatkeshwar Mahadev and Baba Vishwanath. He said the objective of this journey is to connect public sentiments, reach the last person through service activities, and highlight PM Modi's 25 years of dedicated service to the people.
Finance Ministry calls meeting with banks ahead of 3-day nationwide strike
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) The Finance Ministry has convened a meeting of chief executives of public sector banks (PSBs), regional rural banks (RRBs), the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and NABARD on Monday to review preparedness and contingency plans ahead of a proposed three-day nationwide bank strike beginning September 28. The meeting, which will be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), is expected to focus on measures to ensure continuity of banking operations and the availability of essential customer services during the strike period. Officials are likely to discuss contingency arrangements to minimise disruptions, particularly as the proposed industrial action coincides with the half-yearly closing period for banks. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing seven bank employee and officer unions. The unions have raised several demands, with the implementation of a five-day banking week emerging as a key issue. UFBU had earlier organised a nationwide strike on September 11 over the same demand. The previous strike affected over-the-counter banking services, cash transactions and cheque clearances in several parts of the country. While banking operations remained largely normal in Mumbai, disruptions were reported in states including Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, particularly in smaller cities and towns. Apart from a five-day work week, the unions are seeking improvements in pension benefits, implementation of a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the old pension scheme. UFBU has claimed that it represents nearly 90 per cent of the country's banking workforce. The proposed strike could have a wider impact on customers because September 26 and 27 fall on a weekend. As a result, normal branch operations could remain affected for up to five consecutive days, from September 26 to 30, increasing concerns about cheque processing, cash transactions and other branch-dependent services. The unions had served a strike notice on August 26, following which conciliation meetings were held involving union representatives, the IBA and government officials. However, discussions failed to produce a breakthrough on the demand for a five-day banking week.
Karnataka: DJ noise row escalates, man protests outside DC home
Raichur: A dispute over alleged excessive DJ noise in Raichur has intensified after a father staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioners residence, claiming that his three-year-old daughter fell ill because of loud music played late at night. The incident occurred late on September 18 in the Goal Market area. Jai Bheem Vallabh, a resident 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 .
14 goals in 8 matches: Raphinha on a golden streak
His incredible scoring run has also seen him rewrite part of Barcelona
Anand Mahindra shared a video of the KangraRanital stretch with the Dhauladhar mountains visible in the distance, and the view brought back a decades-old idea about aspirations. The billionaire industrialist used the road and the seemingly unreachable mountains to explain how certain goals can continue to guide people even when they are never actually meant to be reached.
TV and OTT actor Jennifer Winget and William Ishmael hosted a wedding celebration in Goa on Friday, bringing together some of their closest friends from the television and film industry. The gathering came two months after the couple's intimate wedding ceremony in the UK and was filled with music, dancing and familiar faces. Mandira Bedi officiated the Goa celebrations, while Harleen Sethi caught the bouquet during the festivities.
'Assam can become Battery of India': Jeet Adani announces 40,000 jobs in state
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 20 (IANS) Assam has the potential to emerge as a major energy hub for the country and could become the Battery of India in the coming years, Adani Group Director Jeet Adani said on Sunday. In his remarks at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Adani Power's 3,200 MW thermal power project in Chapar in the state's Dhubri district, Jeet Adani said Assam's transformation over the past few years has been remarkable, with the state emerging as one of India's most attractive investment destinations. Over the past 5 years, Ive been to Assam 40 times. But standing here today, right in the middle of all of you on this beautiful land, is a massive honour for me, he said. I truly believe that in the coming years, Assam won't just generate energy for its own needs -- it will become a major energy hub, powering the security of the entire nation. You could say that Assam has the potential to become the 'Battery of India', Jeet Adani added. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for creating an environment that has accelerated economic growth, infrastructure development and business opportunities across the state. Jeet Adani said Assam is no longer known only for its natural beauty and cultural heritage, but is increasingly gaining recognition as a hub for investment, industry, and large-scale development projects. Reflecting on the Adani Group's journey in Assam, Jeet Adani said the company initially entered the state with the objective of contributing to its growth but soon discovered expanding opportunities across multiple sectors. He praised Chief Minister Sarma's governance style, describing it as focused on swift execution and rapid implementation of projects. Last year, at the Rising Northeast Global Investors Summit, our Group Chairman, Gautam Adani, announced that the Adani Group would invest up to Rs 1 lakh crore in the Northeast over the next 10 years. Today, I am incredibly proud to share that work is already underway in Assam with an investment of nearly Rs 80,000 crore, he stated. He emphasised that job creation and local participation remain central to the Group's investment strategy. The upcoming Rs 48,000-crore thermal power project, which will have a generation capacity of 3,200 MW, is expected to become the largest power generation asset in the Northeast. Weve already conducted 4 to 5 job drives here, and 4,500 local youth from Assam have already been hired! The Adani Groups businesses in Assam will generate around 40,000 direct and indirect job opportunities for the people here, Jeet Adani noted. And this is just the beginning. As we grow in Assam, opportunities for local youth will grow with us. Our goal is to ensure that more and more local talent becomes an active part of this growth journey, he stressed.
Deepika reveals 'main target' after scoring 8 goals in Asian Games hockey match
Family members of Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan expressed their happiness after she clinched silver medals in the women's 10m air rifle team and individual events at the Asian Games 2026.
Dilpreet Singh Slams 4 Goals As India Beat Indonesia 13-1 In Asian Games Men's Hockey Opener
Striker Dilpreet Singh showed glimpses of his brilliance with four goals as defending champions India outplayed minnows Indonesia 13-1 in their opening Pool A match of the Asian Games on Sunday.
Asian Games Hockey: India Crushes Indonesia 13-1 In Opening Match
Defending champions India began their Asian Games campaign with a dominant 13-1 victory over Indonesia in their opening Pool A match. Striker Dilpreet Singh led the charge with four goals, supported by braces from Shilanand Lakra and Sukhjeet Singh. India's focus remains on securing the gold medal and a direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Late Nights, Early Starts Dominate In Sano For One-off Japan-India T20I: Japan Cricket COO
Sano International Cricket Ground: Pulling the covers, putting up tents and keeping scores are not usually part of a chief operating officer's job, but Japan Cricket Association (JCA) COO Alan Curr has been doing all of it as his small team gets Sano International Cricket Ground ready for Tuesday's historic one-off mens T20I against heavyweights India. It's been a big learning curve, and we're a small team. We don't have a lot of staff here at the JCA. I'm COO, but this morning I was pulling the covers. I've also been putting up tents, scoring and doing sort of everything. So we're all doing a lot of different things that we don't normally do. It's asking a lot from our staff. It's been a lot of late nights and early starts, but hopefully it's all worth it when we get a whole load of people into the ground and getting so excited and seeing their heroes play, Curr told IANS in a select virtual interaction organised by FanCode, the official broadcasters of the match. Over the past week, Sano hosted a three-match series between Japan's women and Malaysia, after which the hosts left for the Asian Games matches in Nagoya, while Hong Kong mens team were here for games against Japan. Such was the impact of this one-off game against India, billed as the Suzuki Cup, that all tickets were sold out soon after going on sale, with the grounds capacity going from 500 to 2,000 via temporary stands. Well, it's certainly a big undertaking. We've never really done anything quite on this scale before. At the ground, we have permanent seating probably for around 500 people. So we've put in a lot of temporary seating. We're putting in a whole load of extra areas for VIPs and there's even a VVIP area. We've got ticket gates, for example, as we don't normally have ticketing at our events. We've had a separate section put together for where the players will come in. We always have a PMOA, but a PMOA here is usually just through some cones and barriers, which basically anyone could step over if they wanted to. But now we've got it set up properly so that we understand the security measures that need to be taken around India coming, added Curr. With India's visit bringing a different level of scrutiny, the JCA has hired outside help too. We've actually brought out a consultant from England who arrived yesterday and has worked on World Cups, The Hundred and has been around events where India have participated before. He's got a good understanding from a cricketing point of view of what security measures we need to take. So we are taking all of this stuff very seriously, and it's really important for us to show that we have the capacity to handle something like this, added Curr. All of that effort could still be undone by the weather. Curr revealed a large typhoon was sitting south of Japan and there was no reserve day if the match is abandoned. Japan will also play their first Asian Games mens T20 match in Nagoya, around 500 km away and the squad is due to board a bus for the long journey straight after playing the game against India. With India also heading to Nagoya soon after and already facing a packed calendar, Curr said there was no scope for a reserve day, and he was trying not to think about a washout. The JCA had been planning to relay its turf square in Sano for about 18 months, and a groundsman sent by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) under a partnership arrived in December 2024 to look for suitable clay. It was eventually sourced within Japan and used for the Asian Games square in Nagoya. The JCA then laid the same clay in Sano and pitched the ground to full-member nations as a training base, with the idea coming from the last Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where the top-ranked full members waited a week or more for playing their first knockout match with little access to proper cricket facilities. A proposal went out around June, and talks with the BCCI began at the ICC conference in Edinburgh in July. Curr said the BCCI moved quickly, and all things fell in place, with the players excited on seeing the ground change shape over the past few days. At the same time, the players are under no illusion about the gulf in class against an India side they have never faced before at this level. For the JCA, success would be measured by how Japan conduct themselves as much as by the result. Curr felt he wanted the team to play hard, but also show that cricket was friendly, accessible and fun, and to earn respect. Having handled the JCA's social media accounts, Curr admitted to being taken aback by comments from people surprised that Japan has a cricket team. The game in Sano comes at a time when Japanese cricket is busier than it has ever been, with the mens side beating Kuwait, Bahrain, and PNG earlier this year. In terms of what's led to the improvement, we're a bit better resourced now than we have been previously, particularly with it being an Olympic sport. By being part of the Japan Olympic Committee, we do get a lot more funding. That funding isn't hard cash. We don't get money from the Olympic Association, but they do help us with human resources. So, for example, we've been able to hire a strength and conditioning coach. We've been able to bring in a part-time analyst and these are kind of things that we didn't have before. We've got more people on the coaching staff going out and coaching our junior teams. So those have been important. Becoming members of the Asian Cricket Council in 2024, and the opportunities to play there after joining have been significant. The ACC does an amazing job of putting on events and tournaments that we've now been able to play in. When I first got into the high-performance side of things, we went from 2014 to 2017 without a men's tournament. It was just complete blanks. We had to start arranging our own cricket games because there was just literally nothing to play for, and nothing to play in, explained Curr. The quiet months that once gave the JCA breathing space, he said, are gone. Whereas now, that's completely the opposite. I mentioned the other day how probably the single biggest change from a performance perspective since I've been here is that the Japan Cricket Association used to have a very definite on-season and off-season. We'd have a quiet time where you could relax a little bit and plan more in advance for the following summer. But now, we're a 12-month-a-year organisation. There always seems to be a team away playing somewhere. So there's a lot happening and just the sheer amount of cricket, the depth that we've been able to create through having under 19, even under 16 national teams now is really helping drive the standards. As we're becoming more well-known, we can't shy away from it, added Curr. The numbers back up that claim. Japan has 8,800 registered cricketers in its latest census, roughly three times the figure of about 3,000 when Curr arrived in 2014. The nationwide Japan Cup T20 competition has grown from 11 or 12 teams to more than 80, while the Tokyo-based 40-over Japan Cricket League now runs four divisions with around 37 or 38 teams. The JCA also introduced the game to about 12,000 children last year through schools, community programmes and festivals. Part of the growth at the top end has come from players of Japanese heritage raised in established cricket nations, and in turn leading to growth of watching games, especially the International Cricket Council (ICC) providing Japanese commentary feed for matches under its umbrella. We have a lot of players of Japanese heritage who live overseas. A lot of our players might have been born in Japan but then at some stage moved back to Australia, England, New Zealand, cricket-playing nations. They've grown up learning the game in a strong environment, which as much as we're trying our best here in Japan, it can't compare to an environment that you're going to get playing in Australia or New Zealand or England or any other full member in terms of the number of facilities you've got, the accessibility of those facilities, the accessibility to coaches. We're finding players at a younger age who want to come and be part of Japan cricket. For me, it's been fantastic to see so many people who are mixed race - one parent is Japanese, one parent is from somewhere else. They might have moved overseas, but they are reconnecting with their Japanese heritage through cricket, he added. Curr called this the most satisfying part of his work, especially with cricket in Japan growing despite the overwhelming popularity of baseball, football, rugby and martial arts. For me, that's been one of the most rewarding parts of my job. Some of them are great cricketers and they make our national teams and some of them just enjoy playing and they come back to Japan and just make friends in the cricket community and they do that once a year. But it's been a brilliant way for people to reconnect with who they are, particularly post-Covid-19. All that stuff really took off after 2020 when we qualified for the Under-19 World Cup for the first time. That gave us a profile and nowadays, people contact us pretty regularly with sometimes it's about themselves, or their sons or daughters who have Japanese heritage and who want to come and play. Those players are helping to lift the standards because they come from a different, a more entrenched cricketing culture. So we have our players who are based in Japan who bring sort of that knowledge of what the Japan way is and how things are done in Japan and the discipline and everything that goes around the culture there. Then we've got the players from overseas who just have the training nous and what a training schedule looks like. So that's been really helpful in terms of lifting the standards, he elaborated. Home-grown talent faces a structural hurdle, as per Curr. Japan's school club system, known as bukatsu, usually has children pick a single sport at around 12 and play it year-round until they leave school, and only a handful of schools offer cricket. Those schools have historically produced most of the national team players. A government-level working group is looking at how cricket could fit into the school curriculum, though Curr said such processes take time. The lack of people with cricket expertise in Japan has meant the JCA leaned heavily on volunteers and backers who saw the sport's potential, citing sportswear brand Mizuno's sponsorship of the men's team as a significant boost. Cricket's place in the Asian Games, an event Japanese audiences regard as of immense importance like the Olympics, has also given the sport a legitimacy it lacked before. As for what's next, we will have an East Asia Pacific regional final for the men who will try to qualify for the global qualifier for the next T20 World Cup. So we're not sure exactly when that's going to be yet. It's going to be four teams and we will be playing that probably in the second half of next year with a view to making the global qualifier, which I believe will be early 2027. That's not confirmed and then, the goal is to make a World Cup. We've not shied away from that at all. I mean, the qualification pathway was actually changed last year. It seems to be changing every cycle. But if the qualification cycle for the last World Cup had been the same as the cycle before, we would have been at the last World Cup, said Curr. He also admitted to Japan feeling short-changed by the revamped qualifying structure. We were the highest-placed team in the East Asia Pacific region at the Asia EAP final. They've never had a combined qualifying structure between Asia and East Asia Pacific before. So, we kind of felt we got a bit hard done by in that reshuffle. I mean, the qualification pathway was actually changed last year. It seems to be changing every cycle. But if the qualification cycle for the last World Cup had been the same as the cycle before, we would have been at the last World Cup, said Curr. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories So I hope cricket can continue to grow, there can be more teams and the tournament can get bigger. But for us, reaching a World Cup is certainly the next goal and there's work to do, for sure. But we're ambitious and we want to keep striving for the heights that we believe we can get to, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Methamphetamine tablets and heroin worth Rs 3.68 crores seized in Mizoram and Manipur; 5 arrested
Digital Desk | Aizawl/Imphal, Sep 20 (IANS) Security forces in Mizoram and Manipur seized methamphetamine tablets and heroin worth over Rs 3.68 crore and arrested five drug peddlers, officials said on Sunday. A defence spokesman said that acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding illegal transportation of narcotic substances, Assam Rifles launched a joint operation with Mizoram Police T-Junction areas of Mimbung-Kawlbem-Ngopa in Saitual District. During the operation, the joint team apprehended a drug peddler. Further search of the individual led to recovery of 2.285 kg of the methamphetamine tablets, valued at approximately Rs 1.83 crore. The apprehended individual along with the recovered contraband were taken by Ngopa Police station for further investigation and necessary legal action under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985. In another operation, based on credible intelligence regarding transhipment of narcotics at Iron Gate in bordering Zokhawthar, troops of Assam Rifles in coordination with Mizoram Police launched a targeted operation in the area under the Champhai district, a hot spot of illegal drug trade from Myanmar. During the operation, the joint team intercepted a drug smuggler at Iron Gate, and on thorough search recovered 28 grams of heroin, a highly dangerous narcotic substance with an estimated value of Rs 5.6 lakh. The individual was subsequently arrested. The seized contraband and the apprehended individual were subsequently handed over to Zokhawthar Police Station for further investigation and requisite legal proceedings under the NDPS act. This seizure reflects Assam Rifles continued resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks and ensure the safety and security of the border population in Mizoram. The successful operation highlights the operational effectiveness, vigilance and intelligence-based approach of Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police in combating the trafficking of narcotic substances and maintaining security in the region, an official statement said. According to the statement, the force remains steadfast in its commitment towards ensuring peace, security and stability in the Northeast. In Manipur, a combined team of state Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Rifles in Senapati district arrested two drug peddlers, both natives of Assams Goalpara District and recovered methamphetamine tablets weighing 2.3 kg contained in ten packets. The value of the drugs estimated to be Rs 1.80 crore. The arrested drug smugglers were identified as Rohim Ali (23) and Anowar Hussiain Laskar (48). Following further investigation, one of their accomplices, Md Nawaz Khan, a resident Mayai Leikai in Imphal, was also arrested. A Bolero vehicle, cash amount of Rs 5,000 also recovered from them. Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as major drug-trafficking corridors in the Northeast because of their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and their proximity to the Golden Triangle, one of the world's major illicit narcotics-producing regions. Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share around 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar.
Asian Games: From reel to real, surfer Kamali Moorthy ready to make waves
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) From starring in a documentary that brought her childhood story to global attention to preparing for Indias first Asian Games surfing campaign, Kamali Moorthy is ready to turn another chapter of her remarkable journey into reality when the sport makes its debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Weeks away from her 17th birthday, Kamali will spearhead Indias four-member surfing team at the Asian Games, with competition set to begin at Pacific Long Beach in Tahara, Aichi, on September 25. The Mahabalipuram surfer, currently Indias No. 1 in womens shortboard, has already experienced the spotlight. Her story with her single mother, Suganthi, became the subject of a 24-minute short film that was nominated in the short film category at the 2020 British Academy Film Awards and was also shortlisted for the Oscars. But Kamalis sporting journey has extended far beyond the screen. She first stepped on a surfboard at the age of three, inspired by her uncle and surfing instructor Santhosh Moorthy. What began as a childhood pursuit gradually developed into a competitive career. I have worked so hard to reach this stage, and now its time to believe in myself and enjoy every moment. No matter what happens, Ill give everything I have and make our country proud, Kamali told SAI Media. Her competitive breakthrough came in 2023, when she won both the Womens Open and U-16 Girls titles at the Indian Open of Surfing. A year later, she became national champion before successfully defending both titles at the 2025 Indian Open of Surfing. She has continued that momentum in 2026, winning the Womens Open at the Little Andaman Pro and claiming gold in both the Womens Open and U-18 Girls categories at the NMPA Indian Open of Surfing. Kamali also played a significant role in Indias journey towards the Asian Games. At the 2024 Asian Surfing Championships in the Maldives, her performance contributed to India securing its historic qualification for surfing at the Games. She was subsequently selected alongside Goas Sugar Shanthi Banarse for Indias maiden Asian Games surfing team. So excited for this journey. Endless training, sacrifices, challenges, and countless hours of practice have made this Asian Games possible. Every drop of sweat and every difficult day was worth it. Im truly happy, proud, and grateful for how far weve come. This is just the beginning, and were going to give it everything weve got, she said. Surfing is one of six sports making its Asian Games debut in Japan. India faces established surfing nations such as Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, but the stakes extend beyond the continental competition, with the event also offering quota opportunities for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Kamalis rise has been supported through the Union Sports Ministrys Annual Calendar for Training and Competition scheme, including financial assistance for her participation in the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Peru and the Asian Pro-Am Surf Series in China. Now, with the Pacific waves awaiting her, the teenager who once found herself at the centre of a film is preparing for a very real sporting stage one that could shape the next phase of her young career.
Asian Games: India begin men's hockey title defence with 13-1 rout of Indonesia
Digital Desk | Nagoya, Sep 20 (IANS) India launched their Asian Games mens hockey title defence in emphatic fashion, decimating Indonesia 13-1 in their opening Pool A encounter on Sunday. Eight different goal-scorers were on target for the Indian team, headlined by Dilpreet Singh's four-goal haul, as India put on a clinical display from the first whistle to the last. With a comprehensive win to start their campaign, India will next take on Sri Lanka in their second Pool A fixture on September 22. India got off to a fast start with Shilanand Lakra converting a rebound off Harmanpreet Singh's saved drag-flick in the 6th minute, before Abhishek doubled the advantage in the 12th minute, turning home a rebound after the initial effort was parried by Indonesia custodian Alam Fajar. Despite Fajar producing a couple of early saves to deny Mandeep Singh, India carried the momentum into the break, closing the first quarter with a 2-0 lead. The second quarter saw the Men in Blue run riot. Dilpreet Singh struck twice inside two minutes (18th, 19th) to open his account for the tournament, followed by a well-worked finish from Rajinder Singh in the 19th minute and a first goal of the campaign for Mandeep Singh (21st). Harmanpreet Singh added a penalty corner strike in the 28th minute, though he had earlier seen a penalty stroke saved by Fajar diving to his right. India went into the half-time break with a commanding 7-0 lead, having found the target from open play, penalty corners, and a variety of combinations across the pitch. Indonesia found their first goal of the match early in the third quarter when captain Aulia Al Ardh converted a penalty corner in the 33rd minute, reducing the deficit to 7-1 after a video referral confirmed the decision in Indonesia's favour. India responded swiftly to the setback, with Shilanand Lakra netting his second of the match (35th) and Dilpreet Singh completing his hat-trick (37th), before Sukhjeet Singh joined the scoring column in the 38th minute to push the lead out to 10-1 by the end of the third quarter. India continued their relentless attacking play in the final quarter. Jugraj Singh converted from India's second penalty corner attempt in the 47th minute after his first effort was blocked by the first rusher, before Sukhjeet Singh added his second of the match (48th) from a well-worked move, finishing off a driving run down the right flank. Dilpreet Singh rounded off a personal tally of four goals in the 49th minute, deflecting home after an initial touch from Abhishek, to take the score to a commanding 13-1 as the remaining minutes wound down with Indonesia retaining possession in the circle.
Dilpreet's four-goal show headlines India's 13-1 rout of Indonesia at Asian Games
Asian Games: Goals galore as India off to flying start in hockey with resounding wins
Asian Games: Goals galore as India off to flying start in hockey with resounding wins
An ode to Dinos Mavropanos, West Ham
Goals for West Ham, assists for the opposition. The post An ode to Dinos Mavropanos, West Hams defender who Makes Things Happen appeared first on Planet Football .
Asian Games Hockey LIVE: India Slam 13 Goals Past Indonesia, Begin Tournament In Style
India vs Indonesia Hockey LIVE Score, Asian Games 2026: India led 7-0 against Indonesia at half-time in their opening men's hockey match of the Asian Games.
'Beat the Aussies' - new England coach Fleming's key aim
New Test coach Stephen Fleming says he shares English crickets obsession with the Ashes and arrives with the goal to beat the Aussies.
36 goals, 4.5 per game and counting: Stop Barca if you can!
Those numbers are ridiculous enough on their own. The underlying data makes them even harder to dismiss.
Double hat-trick hero Raphinha leads the way in Top Five League goalscorer rankings
It was Harry Kane last season, but whose turn will it be this year? The post Double hat-trick hero Raphinha leads the way in Top Five League goalscorer rankings appeared first on Planet Football .
Asian Games: India Womens Hockey beats Uzbekistan 19-0; Rifle team wins silver
Forward Deepika scored eight goals in India's 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan at Asian Games 2026. India also secured a silver medal in women's 10m air rifle shooting
India vs Indonesia Hockey LIVE Score, Asian Games 2026: India are leading 7-0 against Indonesia at half-time in their opening men's hockey match of the Asian Games.
Deepika Sehrawat Scores Record Eight As India Crush Uzbekistan 19-0 In Asian Games Opener
Deepika Sehrawat produced a record-breaking performance as the India womens hockey team began their 2026 Asian Games campaign with a commanding 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Deepika scored eight goals, setting a new record for the most goals by a womens hockey player in a single match at the Asian Games. She was particularly effective from [] The post Deepika Sehrawat Scores Record Eight As India Crush Uzbekistan 19-0 In Asian Games Opener appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Asian Games 2026: Deepikas eight-goal blitz powers India to 19-0 hockey win over Uzbekistan
It was expected to be a one-sided affair and it turned out exactly that way as Uzbekistan defence had no answer to India's relentless attacks
NMDC looks to hit 60 MT iron ore production mark this fiscal: Chairman
NMDC is working on strategies to achieve the 60 MT iron ore production mark this fiscal to meet growing demand from domestic steelmakers for the key raw material, its Chairman Amitava Mukherjee said. Aligned with the National Steel Policy 2017, which targets an installed domestic steelmaking capacity of 300 MT by 2030-31, NMDC, India's largest iron ore producer, aims to scale its output to 100 MT during the period. Having crossed the 50 MT milestone in FY2026. NMDC is now aggressively executing a production ramp-up plan to reach 60 MTPA from existing iron ore mines, complemented by NMDC-CMDC Limited (NCL) joint venture assets this fiscal, which would be a rise of around 20 per cent year-on-year, the top company official said in an interaction. Mukherjee shared that the company has already applied for environmental clearances (ECs) for some deposits with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. On a question related to the 100 MT production goal, Mukherjee sai
Deepika's 8-goal blitz powers India to 19-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan at Asian Games
Deepika slammed as many as eight goals as the Indian women's hockey team thrashed lowly Uzbekistan 19-0 in their opening Pool B match at the Asian Games, on Sunday.
Women's Hockey: Deepika hits 8 as India storm to 19-0 Asian Games win
The Indian women's hockey team secured a dominant 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan in their opening Pool B match at the Asian Games. Deepika was the star performer, scoring eight goals, as India showcased their superior skill and relentless attack against a struggling Uzbekistan defence.
TN Forest Department steps up surveillance in Mettur after suspected leopard attacks
Digital Desk | Salem (Tamil Nadu), Sep 20 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has intensified surveillance in Kannamoochi village near Kolathur in Mettur following the killings of more than 10 goats, two calves, and several dogs in attacks suspected to have been carried out by a leopard, officials said. The incidents have triggered anxiety among residents, particularly farmers and livestock owners whose houses and agricultural fields are located close to the forest boundary. Officials believe that a leopard may have strayed into the village from the adjoining Erode Forest Reserve in search of prey. Forest Department personnel inspected the affected areas after receiving complaints from villagers and examined the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Though the presence of a leopard has not yet been conclusively confirmed, officials said the nature of the attacks indicated the possible movement of a large wild animal in the locality. Mettur Forest Range Officer Sengottaiyan said Kannamoochi is a relatively small village surrounded by a substantial stretch of forest. A total of 717 hectares of forest land are located in and around the area, providing a possible route for wild animals moving from the Erode reserve. Officials suspect that the leopard may have entered the Kannamoochi forest area and later moved into nearby farmlands after failing to find sufficient prey. Apart from goats and calves, hens and dogs are also believed to have been attacked by the animal. As a precautionary measure, the Forest Department has installed cages at five strategic locations in and around the village. Camera traps have also been positioned at several points to record the animals movement, confirm whether it is a leopard and identify the areas it visits frequently. Forest personnel are conducting continuous patrols across the village, adjoining agricultural fields and forest fringes. Officials are also gathering information from residents about sightings, unusual animal sounds and fresh footprints. Villagers have been advised to remain vigilant and avoid travelling alone near the forest boundary during early morning and late evening hours. Farmers have also been asked to keep goats, calves and other livestock inside secure enclosures at night. Officials said surveillance would continue until the suspected animal was identified and safely captured. The department is taking additional precautions to prevent further livestock deaths and ensure the safety of people living near the forest area.
Asian Games 2026: India shine as hockey team wins 19-0, shooters bag silver
India made a strong start to the 2026 Asian Games as the womens hockey team thrashed Uzbekistan 19-0, led by Deepikas eight goals. India also beat Indonesia 3-0 in womens table tennis, while Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod won silver in the womens 10m air rifle team event, earning the country its first medal of the Games.
Hojo wins triathlon as Japan take first gold at Asian Games
Takumi Hojo secured Japan's first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoa Asian Games, winning the men's individual triathlon. Hojo, who previously won mixed relay gold, overcame early positions to dominate the run segment, finishing nine seconds ahead of China's Zhang Xirui. His victory has boosted the Japanese team's morale.
Bayern's Harry Kane is fastest to 100 Bundesliga goals
Kane scored his 100th and 101st goals in just 98 games, obliterating the previous record set by Kolns Dieter Mueller by 31 games.
tete-e-tete with liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai believes Liverpool cannot replace Mohamed Salah By Monojit Mandal There is an obvious problem facing Liverpool this season, and Dominik Szoboszlai does not try to disguise it. Mohamed Salah is gone. His goals are gone with him. Liverpool can change their system, redistribute responsibilities and ask more from the players around him, but they []
Mohun Bagan clinch 31st Kolkata League title
Barasat, Sep 19: Mohun Bagan ended an eight-year wait for the Calcutta Football League title, beating Mohammedan Sporting 3-2 to secure their 31st crown at the Barasat Stadium on Saturday. The Mariners came from 1-2 down despite being reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Deeprobhat Ghosh was sent off in the 59th minute. Sahal Abdul []
The biggest psychological comfort zone: CA on why your FD may be quietly hurting your wealth
CA Nitin Kaushik explains why Fixed Deposits, despite offering guaranteed returns, may not always build long-term wealth. He compares Rs 1.2 lakh invested in a 10-year FD at 7% with the same amount invested in a Nifty 50 Index Fund, estimating around Rs 2.4 lakh versus Rs 3.72 lakh. Kaushik says FDs suit capital preservation, emergencies and short-term goals, while long-term wealth requires considering growth and purchasing power.
Lautaro Martinez Brace Saves Inter Milan In Serie A Top-Two Clash With Roma
Lautaro Martinez rode to Inter Milan's rescue on Saturday as the Serie A champions fought back from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw at Roma.
National Conference on Financing Indias Journey to Developed Status Concludes in New Delhi
A two-day national conference in New Delhi focused on financing Indias development goals, featuring key insights from finance leaders and experts. National Conference on Financing Indias Journey to Developed Status Concludes in New Delhi
Tourism Dept denies permission for Gurez Tantra retreat
Srinagar, Sep 19: The Tourism Department on Saturday clarified that no permission or authorisation has been granted for the proposed Tantra in Silence retreat advertised for Gurez Valley, saying no application for the event had been received or processed by its office. The Assistant Director Tourism, Gulmarg, said his office had neither granted permission nor issued any authorisation for the event and had no official communication regarding the programme circulated through social media. No application seeking permission for the event has been received or processed by this office, the department said in an official communication. It further clarified that the proposed event had not been authorised or approved by the Assistant Director Tourism, Gulmarg, and that the office had no association with the organisation or conduct of the programme. The clarification comes amid controversy over promotional material for a four-day Tantra in Silence A Journey Within retreat advertised for Gurez from September 24 to 27. The material identifies Swami Dhyan Sumit as the facilitator and describes the programme as a meditation and spiritual retreat. Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had earlier urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to intervene over the proposed event. In a post on X, she said Gurez was no playground for experiments in the name of spirituality or tourism and referred to a similar programme in Goa that she said was cancelled last year following controversy over its promotional material. Her reference to the Goa episode is presented as her claim. Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq subsequently said the concerns raised by Mehbooba deserve immediate attention and urged the authorities to take note of the proposed programme. Mirwaiz said tourism promotion should not, in his view, come at the expense of Kashmirs religious, cultural and social ethos and called for official intervention. The Tourism Departments clarification, however, makes clear that its office has not approved or authorised the proposed event.
Hear'Say, 'Snake' & Tony Blair: A Coventry win 25 years in the making
Coventry City's win over Nottingham Forest - thanks to Jay Dasilva's goal - was a victory which was over 25 years in the making following some dark days for the Sky Blues.
Look Up Before You Walk: When the Phone in Our Hands Becomes a Hazard
A man walking while intensely focused on his mobile phone recently fell into a construction area after apparently failing to notice the danger directly in front of him. The incident, although startling, is not merely another viral accident caught on camera. It offers a simple but increasingly important lesson: when we stop paying attention to where we are walking, even an ordinary journey can suddenly become dangerous. The incident is particularly relevant in an age when the smartphone has become almost inseparable from everyday life. We walk while texting, scroll through social media while crossing roads, answer calls while navigating crowded streets and sometimes even watch videos while moving through public spaces. What appears to be a harmless habit can, within seconds, turn into a serious safety risk. We often associate distracted driving with accidents. Governments, traffic authorities and road-safety organisations have repeatedly warned motorists about the dangers of using mobile phones behind the wheel. But there is another form of distracted behaviour that receives considerably less attention: distracted walking. The human brain is remarkably capable, but it cannot give full attention to multiple demanding tasks simultaneously. Walking may appear automatic, yet navigating an unfamiliar or crowded environment requires continuous awareness. A pedestrian needs to notice uneven surfaces, open drains, vehicles, bicycles, construction barriers, steps, other pedestrians and sudden changes in the path ahead. When attention is absorbed by a phone screen, these environmental cues can easily be missed. A notification may seem insignificant. A message may take only a few seconds to read. A social-media video may last less than a minute. But a pedestrian can cover a considerable distance in those few seconds. During that time, the person may be moving towards a pothole, an uncovered drain, a staircase, a roadside excavation or a moving vehicle without properly processing the danger. This is what makes distracted walking particularly deceptive. The danger is not always in the phone itself; it is in what the phone takes our attention away from. Construction zones are an obvious example. Roads and footpaths are frequently altered because of development, repairs, drainage work, utility installation and other infrastructure projects. Temporary diversions may not always be familiar to pedestrians. Barricades, excavated portions of roads, construction materials and uneven surfaces can create hazards even for an attentive person. For someone looking down at a screen, the risk increases substantially. There is also a psychological dimension to smartphone distraction. Modern phones are designed to demand attention. Notifications, messages, short videos, social-media feeds and constant updates create an environment in which people feel compelled to check the screen repeatedly. The habit can become so automatic that some people reach for their phones without consciously deciding to do so. The result is a peculiar contradiction: we may be physically moving through the real world while mentally occupying a digital one. This behaviour is becoming increasingly visible in public spaces. People walk through railway stations while typing messages, move across hospital corridors while watching videos, navigate shopping areas while scrolling through social-media feeds and cross streets while talking on their phones. Not every such incident ends in injury. That does not make the behaviour safe. Sometimes the consequence is simply bumping into another person. At other times, it may mean falling down stairs or stepping into traffic. In more serious situations, a moment of distraction can result in fractures, head injuries or even loss of life. There is another important concern: pedestrians are often considered the most vulnerable road users. Unlike motorists, they have no vehicle body protecting them. A small mistake can therefore have disproportionately serious consequences. This is why awareness about distracted walking should become part of the broader road-safety conversation. The responsibility, however, does not rest entirely with individuals. Urban planning and public infrastructure also play an important role. Construction sites should be properly barricaded and clearly marked. Pedestrian pathways should be maintained wherever possible. Excavated areas should have visible warning signs, adequate lighting and physical protection. Temporary diversions should be intuitive and safe. A person using a phone irresponsibly should certainly be accountable for their attention, but a dangerous construction site should never be left inadequately protected on the assumption that everyone will notice it. The same principle applies to footpaths and public spaces. Broken pavements, open manholes, poorly marked steps and unprotected roadside excavations can be dangerous even without mobile-phone distraction. Cities therefore need to develop infrastructure that anticipates human behaviour rather than assuming perfect attention from every pedestrian. At the same time, individuals can adopt some very simple habits. The first is perhaps the easiest: look up while walking. If a message requires concentration, stop at a safe place and read it. If a phone call is unavoidable, move away from traffic and other hazards before answering. Avoid watching videos while walking. Do not type messages while crossing a road. And when approaching a construction zone, railway crossing, intersection or crowded area, keep the phone away and pay attention to the surroundings. Parents can teach these habits to children early. Schools and colleges can incorporate pedestrian safety into awareness programmes. Employers can remind staff about safe phone use during commuting. Public-awareness campaigns can expand the concept of distracted driving to include distracted walking. The message does not need to be complicated. A notification can wait. A message can wait. A video can wait. Your safety cannot. There is also a broader social lesson here. Smartphones have made communication faster, but they have also changed the way we experience our surroundings. We increasingly document places instead of observing them, scroll instead of looking around and respond to virtual conversations while physically present somewhere else. The challenge is not to reject technology. Smartphones are indispensable tools for communication, education, navigation, work and emergency assistance. The goal is to use them responsibly. Technology should remain a tool that serves us, not an object that constantly captures our attention. Perhaps the most useful habit is to create simple phone-free moments during movement. When walking on a road, crossing a street, entering a construction area or navigating an unfamiliar place, the phone should take second place to environmental awareness. The viral construction-site incident is therefore worth viewing as more than an unusual accident. It is a reminder of a modern behavioural problem that can affect almost anyone. Most accidents do not announce themselves in advance. There is rarely a warning saying that the next step is the dangerous one. Safety often depends on noticing the small details around us before it is too late. A few seconds of looking down at a screen may not seem important. But in those few seconds, the world continues moving around us. A vehicle approaches. A cyclist passes. A pavement ends. A staircase begins. A drain remains uncovered. A construction barrier stands ahead. And if we are looking at our phones, we may not see any of it. Perhaps the simplest road-safety rule for the smartphone age should therefore be one we teach as routinely as looking both ways before crossing a road: Before you look at your screen, look where you are going. Because sometimes, the most important notification is the one our surroundings are already giving us: danger ahead. (The Author works at a premier medical college in Jammu & Kashmir)
When Algorithms Enter the Home
Artificial intelligence has entered our homes quietly. It sits inside the phone a child uses for homework, the application that answers questions in seconds, the game that adjusts itself to a players habits, and the platform that recommends what a young mind should watch next. It can write, explain, translate, draw, calculate and converse. For parents, AI may appear to be both a remarkable helper and a source of unease. The concern is not merely that children may spend too much time before screens. Parents have worried about screens for years. The deeper question is what happens when the screen begins to speak back. A search engine gives information; artificial intelligence can imitate conversation. It can respond patiently at midnight, explain a difficult concept without irritation, and offer what appears to be sympathy. For a child growing up in an increasingly lonely and hurried world, such a system may begin to feel less like a tool and more like a companion. This is where the parent-child relationship faces a new test. The challenge is not to wage a futile war against technology, nor to pretend that AI can be kept outside the home. The real task is to ensure that artificial intelligence does not replace the human relationships that give children their moral imagination, emotional security and sense of belonging. A child does not learn trust from an instant answer. Trust grows through presence. It is created when a parent listens to a confused question, waits through an awkward silence, admits a mistake and offers reassurance after failure. AI can imitate some of these responses, but it cannot share the lived bond between a parent and a child. It does not know the familys memories, sacrifices, anxieties and hopes in the way a parent does. It can produce words, but it cannot carry responsibility for the life those words may influence. Yet parents should not approach AI only with suspicion. Used wisely, it can become a useful educational companion. A child struggling with mathematics can ask for another explanation. A student learning a new language can practise without embarrassment. A curious mind can explore history, science, literature and the natural world beyond the limits of a textbook. Children who lack access to expensive coaching may find in AI a supplementary source of guidance. For families in Kashmir, where educational aspirations are often high and resources are not always evenly distributed, such possibilities deserve serious attention. Artificial intelligence can help students revise lessons, organise ideas and discover subjects that may not be taught in depth in the classroom. It can assist parents as well. A mother or father who feels unable to explain a complex topic can use technology to understand it first and then discuss it with the child. But convenience must not be confused with learning. If a child asks AI to complete every assignment, the immediate problem may be solved, but the capacity to think independently begins to weaken. Education is not simply the production of correct answers. It is the slow cultivation of judgement, patience and intellectual courage. A child must sometimes struggle with a problem, make an error, and remain with uncertainty long enough to discover something. If AI removes every difficulty, it may also remove the experience through which confidence is built. Parents therefore need to ask not only, What did AI tell you? but also, What do you think about it? The second question is more important. It invites the child to evaluate, challenge and interpret the answer. Artificial intelligence can provide information, but the family must provide the habit of questioning. A child should learn that an answer generated confidently may still be incomplete, inaccurate or shaped by hidden assumptions. This is particularly important because children may not understand how these systems work. They may believe that an AI response is neutral simply because it is expressed fluently. They may share personal information without recognising the risks. They may accept stereotypes, fabricated facts or harmful advice because the machine speaks in a calm and authoritative voice. Digital literacy must therefore become part of parenting. Children need to know what information should remain private, how to verify claims, and why no machine should be treated as the final authority on health, safety, relationships or personal worth. The emotional dimension is even more delicate. Many children today experience loneliness despite being constantly connected. A chatbot that is always available may offer comfort, but it can also become an escape from real relationships. A child who finds it easier to speak to an artificial companion than to a parent may gradually withdraw from the family. The response should not be anger or ridicule. If parents mock the child for confiding in AI, the child may retreat further. The response should be curiosity: What do you talk about? What makes the interaction feel safe? Is there something you find difficult to tell people? Such conversations require parents to examine their own behaviour. Adults often complain that children are addicted to devices while remaining absorbed in their own phones during meals, family gatherings and conversations. A parent cannot convincingly teach balance while being permanently unavailable. The message children receive is not shaped only by rules; it is shaped by example. If a parent puts away the phone to listen, the child learns that human attention has value. If a parent reaches for a screen whenever silence appears, the child learns that discomfort must always be escaped. The family home must therefore remain a place where conversation is not automated. Meals, walks, visits and ordinary household routines may appear unremarkable, but they are where children learn empathy and emotional expression. They learn to read a face, interpret a pause, notice another persons fatigue and respond to someone elses needs. These lessons cannot be outsourced to a machine. They emerge from shared life. There is also a danger that parents themselves may begin using AI as a substitute for difficult parenting. It is tempting to ask a system how to handle a childs anger, anxiety or disobedience and then apply a ready-made formula. Advice can be useful, but children are not problems to be solved through generic instructions. Every child has a different temperament, history and vulnerability. Parenting requires observation and patience. It asks adults to understand what lies beneath behaviour rather than merely suppressing the behaviour. Artificial intelligence may offer suggestions, but it cannot absolve parents of responsibility. A distressed child needs a trusted adult who can recognise changes in mood, notice what is not being said and remain present when the situation becomes difficult. No application can replace professional help when a child is facing serious emotional or psychological distress. Nor should an AI system be allowed to become the first or only place a child turns in a crisis. This does not mean that parents should monitor every interaction or invade every corner of a childs private life. Excessive surveillance can damage trust. Children need guidance, but they also need a growing sense of autonomy. The goal should be to create a relationship in which a child can disclose a mistake without expecting humiliation or punishment. A parent who says, Come to me if something online frightens or confuses you, offers more protection than one who relies only on restrictive software. Rules still matter. Age-appropriate limits, screen-free family time, privacy safeguards and clear expectations around schoolwork can provide structure. But rules work best when they are explained rather than imposed mechanically. A child is more likely to respect a limit when they understand that it protects sleep, attention and well-being, not merely parental authority. Schools, too, must enter this conversation. It is unrealistic to ask families alone to navigate the ethical and educational questions created by AI. Teachers need support in distinguishing genuine learning from machine-produced work. Students should be taught how to use AI transparently, critically and responsibly. Assignments may need to change so that they reward reflection, discussion and original thinking rather than only polished written answers. For parents, the most important shift is from control to companionship. They do not need to know every technical detail about artificial intelligence, but they should be willing to learn alongside their children. A parent can say, Show me how this works, or Let us check whether that answer is reliable. Such openness prevents technology from becoming a secret territory where children and adults live in separate worlds. The future will not belong to those who reject AI completely, nor to those who surrender to it uncritically. It will belong to families that use technology without allowing it to define their relationships. The child who knows how to operate an intelligent system but cannot speak honestly with a parent is not truly prepared for the future. Nor is the child protected by a family that fears every new tool but offers no guidance on how to understand it. Artificial intelligence may become more persuasive, more personal and more deeply integrated into daily life. That makes the ordinary acts of parenting more important, not less. Listening without rushing, correcting without humiliating, setting boundaries without abandoning warmth, and making time for conversation will remain the foundations of a childs emotional life. The central question is not whether AI will influence children. It already does. The question is whether parents will remain the strongest influence in the lives of their children. A machine may answer quickly, but a parent must help a child decide what is worth asking. A machine may imitate understanding, but a family must teach what it means to care. And while AI may shape the future, it is still human love, attention and responsibility that will determine whether that future is worthy of our children. ( The author is a lecturer in HED and a columnist)
Frederick Noronha By some chance, these five books came my way via a book exchange. It was a welcome addition. Five volumes of Konkani plays, making for a total of 20 plays. For sure, the value of such a work will only grow in time, in any Goa books collection. Listed as Volumes 1 to []
Coventry delight in Jay Dasilva winner but ruled-out goal riles Nottingham Forest
Japanese proverb of the day: Rushing tasks can lead to mistakes and delays, which take longer to fix. The Japanese proverb advises taking a slower, more thoughtful approach to goals. Careful preparation prevents problems and makes future work safer and more efficient. Patience and good judgment are forms of wisdom learned from experience. Modern life values speed, but important achievements require thoughtful, careful progress.
Police detain car driver for orchestrating theft of Rs 4.31 lakh from goat trader
INSV Neelkanth to sail from Visakhapatnam to Andamans for ANCs Silver Jubilee Celebrations
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 19 (IANS) The INSV Neelkanth, an ocean-going sailing vessel of the Indian Navy, will sail from the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) headquarters at Visakhapatnam to Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The sail ship will embark on a nearly 661.2 nautical miles voyage as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), headquartered at Sri Vijaya Puram (earlier Port Blair). Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, Commander-in-Chief, ANC (CINCAN), interacted with the crew of INSV Neelkanth at Visakhapatnam ahead of the voyage on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The interaction focused on key lessons for the voyage and inspiring the future of sailing in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the ANC said. The INSV Neelkanth is a nearly 40-foot-long sailing yacht or ocean-racing vessel. It is one of six ocean-going sailing vessels the Navy uses for expeditions and training. The others are INSV Mhadei, INSV Tarini, INSV Bulbul, INSV Hariyali, and INSV Kadalpura. In 2023, the INSV Neelkanth won first place in the Inter Command Ocean Sailing Race by covering 360 nautical miles from Kochi to Goa. During the race, the crew, comprising both men and women, encountered heavy rain and sea states of up to 04, along with speeds gusting over 25 knots for two days. In 2024, the sailing vessel undertook a 100-nautical-mile expedition in 24 hours to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Navys submarine training school INS Satavahana. Earlier, in 2021, it sailed from Chennai to Visakhapatnam to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Navys submarine base INS Virbahu. While these expeditions were along the Indian coastline, the voyage to the Andamans will be through open seas. The crew may experience rough weather when approaching the Andaman Sea, with the possibility of a low-pressure system developing over the area. Southwest winds of 2025 knots may blow over the South Andaman Sea, and the sea state may be rough, with poor visibility. The crew is extremely well-trained, and the vessel is capable of handling all weather conditions. In fact, it will be a very good experience for those participating in the expedition, an official said. The ANC is Indias first and only tri-services Command, established on October 1, 2001. The Command, comprising the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Coast Guard, was created to defend the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In addition to regular surveillance along Indias Exclusive Economic Zone around the archipelago for defence purposes, the ANC also protects the region's fragile ecosystem. It is also tasked with Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) operations in one of the worlds busiest maritime zones. The ANC has planned a series of activities for its Silver Jubilee celebrations, some of which, involving island residents, have already begun.
Indias large savings base needs to grow further, but significantly greater private-sector participation will be essential to mobilise the investment needed for the countrys Viksit Bharat goal, Chief Economic Adviser Anantha Nageswaran said at a conference on financing Indias development journey. He outlined three priorities for states: creating an environment that encourages private investment by improving access to land, power and logistics and ensuring effective single-window clearances.
Kamil Pooran gets maiden T20I call-up, Campbell returns for West Indies India tour
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 19 (IANS) Cricket West Indies on Saturday announced its squads for the upcoming limited-overs tour of India, with Kamil Pooran earning his maiden T20I call-up and John Campbell returning to the ODI squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. West Indies and India will play three ODIs and five T20Is in eight cities from September 27 to October 18. The Shai Hope-led ODI team has retained the core group that featured in the recent home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Campbell missed the last two ODIs against New Zealand due to his hamstring injury but returns for the India tour. Meanwhile, Ackeem Auguste has been ruled out as he continues his rehab after surgery in August. He has been replaced by Jewel Andrew, an additional option in the top and middle order. Shimron Hetmyer, who played in the final two matches of the New Zealand series, has been given an extended recovery period following the Caribbean Premier League andwill join the squad for the T20I leg. The first two ODIs against India will be the final of the automatic qualification cycle for the ICC Mens 50-over World Cup. However, whatever happens West Indies cannot overtake their nearest rivals in the qualifying table and will therefore have to take part in the ICC qualifying tournament early next year. West Indies coach Daren Sammy though believes the India series is still a big opportunity for his side. Playing against the top team in the world presents us with a chance to fine tune and improve our performances as an ODI team which has seen quality performances across the cycle, Sammy said. The series also creates a valuable platform to assess players who are stepping into important roles for this series with a long-term target of competing in the World Cup in 2027. Opening batter Kamil Pooran has been called up to the T20I squad for the first time following an impressive run in domestic cricket. The right-hander scored 273 runs in eight innings at a strike-rate of 159.64 with an average of 39. Quentin Sampson, who was part of the West Indies squad in the ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year in India, has also been included while experienced all-rounder Jason Holder has been rested. Sammy said the T20I squad has been picked with an eye on building a strong side for the 2028 T20 World Cup. We are looking to build on the momentum from our series win against Sri Lanka, with the long-term goal of developing a strong core of players ahead of the next T20 World Cup, he said. The challenge of playing against the World Champions at home will provide valuable preparation, allowing us to continue improving and developing both individually and as a collective unit. The West Indies squad will depart the Caribbean on September 21 and arrive in Thiruvananthapuram on September 23. West Indies ODI squad: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Jayden Seales. West Indies T20I squad: Shai Hope (captain), Jewel Andrew, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Kamil Pooran, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer.
Russia Launches First-Ever T10 Cricket League
The Russian T10 League has been launched, marking a significant step towards reviving and developing cricket in Russia with the long-term goal of establishing the country as a credible cricketing nation. The inaugural season will feature four franchises competing in seven matches at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on September 19 and 20, 2026.
EPL: Brilliant Brighton Rout Champions Arsenal
Brighton and Hove Albion delivered a stunning 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, ending the Premier League champions' perfect start to the season with goals from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Chema Andres.
Everton hold off Ipswich thanks to Thierno Barry goal despite VAR controversy
Mohun Bagan End Eight-Year Wait, Clinch 31st Kolkata League Title With Win Over Mohammedan Sporting
Mohun Bagan secured their 31st Calcutta Football League Premier Division title, and their first since 2018, with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Mohammedan Sporting in a five-goal thriller at the Barasat Stadium on Saturday.
