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Deadly Clashes in Egypt Kill 50: PICS
At least 50 people were killed in clashes between Islamists and police in Egypt, as thousands of the military's supporters marked the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
At least 50 people were killed in clashes between Islamists and police in Egypt, as thousands of the military's supporters marked the anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.
A riot police officer, on a armoured personnel carrier, fires rubber bullets at members of the Musli... Read More
A riot police officer, on a armoured personnel carrier, fires rubber bullets at members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi along a road at Ramsis square, which leads to Tahrir Square, during clashes at a celebration marking Egypt's 1973 war with Israel, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 28 people were killed and more than 90 wounded in clashes during protests in Egypt on Sunday, security sources and state media said, as the crisis since the army seized power three months ago showed no sign of abating. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Read LessAn Egyptian mourns a loved one, who was a supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi, kill... Read More
An Egyptian mourns a loved one, who was a supporter of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi, killed during clashes with security forces in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013. Deadly clashes left tens dead and scores injured as rival crowds of supporters of the military and backers of Morsi poured into streets around the country Sunday, as a holiday marking the anniversary of the last war with Israel turned into a showdown between the country's two rival camps. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Read LessProtesters throw stones behind a makeshift shield during a clash between supporters and opponents of... Read More
Protesters throw stones behind a makeshift shield during a clash between supporters and opponents of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, at Ramsis square, which leads to Tahrir Square, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 44 people were killed in clashes in Egyptian cities on Sunday, security sources said, after opponents and supporters of deposed president Mohamad Mursi took to the streets in one of the bloodiest days since the army seized power. REUTERS/ Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Read LessProtesters throw stones behind a makeshift shield during a clash between supporters and opponents of... Read More
Protesters throw stones behind a makeshift shield during a clash between supporters and opponents of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, at Ramsis square, which leads to Tahrir Square, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 44 people were killed in clashes in Egyptian cities on Sunday, security sources said, after opponents and supporters of deposed president Mohamad Mursi took to the streets in one of the bloodiest days since the army seized power. REUTERS/ Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Read LessProtesters throw stones during a clash between supporters and opponents of ousted Egyptian President... Read More
Protesters throw stones during a clash between supporters and opponents of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, at Ramsis square, which leads to Tahrir Square, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 44 people were killed in clashes in Egyptian cities on Sunday, security sources said, after opponents and supporters of deposed president Mohamad Mursi took to the streets in one of the bloodiest days since the army seized power. REUTERS/ Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Read LessSupporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi mourn relatives killed during clashes with sec... Read More
Supporters of Egypt's ousted President Mohammed Morsi mourn relatives killed during clashes with security forces in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013. Deadly clashes left tens dead and scores injured as rival crowds of supporters of the military and backers of Morsi poured into streets around the country Sunday, as a holiday marking the anniversary of the last war with Israel turned into a showdown between the country's two rival camps. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Read LessA man falls during clashes between anti-Mursi protesters, and members of the Muslim Brotherhood and ... Read More
A man falls during clashes between anti-Mursi protesters, and members of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi supporters, along a road at Ramsis square, which leads to Tahrir Square, at a celebration marking Egypt's 1973 war with Israel, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 28 people were killed and more than 90 wounded in clashes during protests in Egypt on Sunday, security sources and state media said, as the crisis since the army seized power three months ago showed no sign of abating. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Read LessAn anti-Mursi protester waves a national flag during clashes with members of the Muslim Brotherhood ... Read More
An anti-Mursi protester waves a national flag during clashes with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi supporters, along a road at The Ramsis square which leads to Tahrir Square, during a celebration marking Egypt's 1973 war with Israel, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 33 people were killed during protests in Egypt on Sunday, the interior ministry said, as the crisis since the army seized power three months ago showed no sign of abating. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)
Read LessPeople gather in Tahrir square to celebrate the anniversary of an attack on Israeli forces during the 1973 war, in Cairo October 6, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY)
A riot police officer, on a armoured personnel carrier surrounded by anti-Mursi protesters (foregrou... Read More
A riot police officer, on a armoured personnel carrier surrounded by anti-Mursi protesters (foreground), fires rubber bullets at members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi along a road at Ramsis square, which leads to Tahrir Square, during clashes at a celebration marking Egypt's 1973 war with Israel, in Cairo October 6, 2013. At least 28 people were killed and more than 90 wounded in clashes during protests in Egypt on Sunday, security sources and state media said, as the crisis since the army seized power three months ago showed no sign of abating. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/asia/deadly-clashes-hit-egypt-pics-105411.html
| 2024-12-16T06:21:36Z
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- A slim majority of economists — 13 out of 24 — polled by CNBC expects the Bank of Japan to stand pat after its two-day policy meeting ends on Thursday.
- The same majority predicts the central bank will raise rates in January.
- Analysts see the yen strengthening to 147.4 against the U.S. dollar by end-2025 from around 154 currently.
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is likely to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged this week as it awaits greater clarity on domestic wages and spending trends as well as policy changes by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, according to a survey of economists polled by CNBC.
A slim majority of 13 out of 24 economists, or 54%, said BOJ is likely to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.25% at the end of its two-day meeting on Thursday. The same number of economists expect the Japanese central bank to raise rates in January. The survey was conducted between Dec. 9-13.
The BOJ, which last raised rates in July, has signaled its readiness to tighten further if wage growth and prices align with its projections. In a recent media interview, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda suggested another rate hike is "nearing in the sense that economic data are on track," but he also noted risks, including wage trends next year and potential changes in U.S. economic policy.
Japanese interest rates are the lowest among developed countries due to the BOJ's longstanding policy of supporting the country's moribund economy. The policy has kept the yen weak against most major currencies, boosting exports and tourism and spurring the so-called "carry trade" when investors borrow yen to bet on higher-yielding assets. These trends could reverse as Japanese interest rates rise while central banks elsewhere begin to lower rates.
Many economists told CNBC they believe that recent data indicates Japan's economy is broadly on track to achieve the central bank's 2% inflation target, driven by wage growth. However, they noted the BOJ might prefer to wait another month to evaluate wage-driven inflation dynamics, focusing on momentum from next year's spring wage negotiations and Trump's trade and tariff policies.
The BOJ has yet to gain confidence in its outlook, according to Akira Otani of Goldman Sachs Japan. He noted the central bank lacks sufficient clarity on whether small and medium-sized enterprises can sustain wage increases, a risk flagged by the BOJ as crucial to achieving its inflation target. Japanese unions typically negotiate wage increases in the first three months of the calendar year ahead of the financial year that begins in April.
Money Report
The view that the central bank is likely to hold rates this week also gained traction after recent media reports suggested policymakers wanted more time to monitor overseas risks and gather additional clues on Japan's wage outlook.
"The BOJ's confusing communications" now suggests a likely outcome of the central bank leaving rates unchanged to await additional information from the spring wage negotiations and U.S. policy developments, Shigeto Nagai, head of Japan Economics at Oxford Economics, said in a note last week.
Regular wages in Japan have been growing annually at a rate of 2.5% to 3%, with inflation staying above the BOJ's 2% target for 30 consecutive months. While authorities are keen to normalize monetary policy, they are also wary of raising rates too quickly following more than two decades of deflation. Indeed, Japanese household spending has declined for three straight months as of October, while factory output has been volatile.
Teppei Ino, head of Tokyo Global Markets Research at MUFG Bank, also highlighted shifting market expectations due to media reports. Overnight swap markets have significantly reduced bets on a December rate hike, assigning a 77% probability of no change as of Monday morning – much higher than the about 35% likelihood of standing pat priced in at the end of November.
"Judging from the (media) reports so far, it seems the likelihood of a rate hike being postponed has increased," Ino told CNBC on Friday.
"However, considering the current trend of yen depreciation and the upcoming FOMC meeting just before the BOJ meeting, we should keep in mind that there remains a possibility of an abrupt decision to raise rates if the USD/JPY reaches levels like 155," Ino said, referring to the Federal Open Markets Committee meeting scheduled this week.
The yen was trading around 154 to the dollar on Monday morning.
To be sure, some economists still expect the BOJ to tighten policy this week.
Nomura expects the BOJ to raise its policy rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, citing fundamentals such as the economy and prices being on track. However, it also acknowledged that a hike might be delayed due to uncertainties surrounding U.S. policy.
"We think the BOJ could also decide to put off any rate hike if it decides to place greater emphasis on uncertainties, including U.S. policy conduct and market trends (in the forex market in particular) during the Christmas season, when markets tend to be quiet," research analyst Kyohei Morita said in a Dec. 11 note.
The brokerage also pointed to uncertainty around the government's fiscal support for households as a potential factor that might prompt the BOJ to hold off its rate increase. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose government lacks a parliamentary majority, is currently in negotiations with opposition parties over the size of a proposed increase to the minimum annual taxable income threshold.
Currency Risks
Many analysts highlighted the Japanese yen as a key factor influencing their outlook on the BOJ's decisions.
"The most important and likely driver that could change my outlook is the yen," said Kazuo Momma, executive economist at Mizuho Research, who said the BOJ is likely to stand pat this week and raise the benchmark rate by 25 basis points in January. "Accelerated yen depreciation would upset the public and the federal government, forcing the BOJ to adopt a more aggressive stance on hiking," he said.
Jun Takazawa, Asia Economist at HSBC, emphasized risks from both directions.
"On one hand, a stronger U.S. dollar driven by fiscal, monetary, and trade policies in the U.S. could weigh on the yen and accelerate the BOJ's policy normalization process. On the other hand, a weaker yen — within limits — supports Japan's reflation efforts, so excessive yen strength could delay rate hikes."
According to CNBC's survey of 24 analysts, the yen is forecast to average 147.4 against the U.S. dollar by the end of 2025. The dollar rose 2.4% against the yen last week as traders scaled back bets on a BOJ rate hike this month.
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https://www.necn.com/news/business/money-report/bank-of-japan-expected-to-keep-rates-on-hold-this-week-cnbc-survey/3415851/
| 2024-12-16T06:21:37Z
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MPESB Van Vibhag and Jail Vibhag recruitment test result released; check details here
Candidates can check their final result through the official website esb.mp.gov.in.
The Madhya Pradesh Employees Selection Board (MPESB) has released the final result Van Vibhag and Jail Vibhag Combined Recruitment Test- 2023. Eligible candidates can check their final results through the official website esb.mp.gov.in.
The recruitment drive aims to fill a total of 2112 vacancies, including 1772 Forest Guards (Van Rakshak), 140 Field Guards (Kshetra Rakshak) and 200 Jail Praharis.
How to download the Van Vibhag and Jail Vibhag result
- Visit the official website esb.mp.gov.in
- On the homepage, click on the ‘Van Vibhag and Jail Vibhag Combined Recruitment Test- 2023 Final Result’
- Key in your required details
- Check your result
- Download the result and take a print out for future reference
Direct link to download the Van Vibhag and Jail Vibhag result.
For more details, candidates are advised to visit the official website here.
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https://scroll.in/announcements/1076847/mpesb-van-vibhag-and-jail-vibhag-recruitment-test-result-released-check-details-here
| 2024-12-16T06:21:39Z
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Queen Elizabeth Invites Malala to Palace
Impressed by the bravery of Pakistani girls' education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, Queen Elizabeth II has invited her to the Buckingham Palace.
LONDON: Impressed by the bravery of Pakistani girls' education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, Queen Elizabeth II has invited her to the Buckingham Palace.
The news of the invitation has increased speculation that the 16-year-old may be named as the youngest winner of the Nobel peace prize later this week.
The Queen has been very impressed by her bravery and also asked Pakistan's high commissioner to the UK, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, about her recovery, the 'Sunday Times' reported on Sunday.
Malala had been airlifted to Birmingham for life-saving surgery after being shot in the head and neck by Taliban gunmen for speaking out in favour of girls' education.
Malala has given her first detailed account to the British newspaper of what happened when she was shot on the way home from school in Pakistan a year ago.
The teenage activist revealed her terror at coming out of a coma at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham six days later with no idea where she was.
"I was terrified. Where were my parents? Who had brought me there?" she said, in reference to her four operations in Britain and crediting the surgeons for giving her "a second life".
Malala, who now lives and goes to school in Birmingham, will be in the US this week to launch her memoirs, 'I Am Malala', of her journey from schoolgirl to educational activist taking on the Taliban. Her message that all children be allowed to go to school have made her a favourite to win the Nobel prize, to be announced on Friday.
Her memoirs are published worldwide on Tuesday, in which she has also chosen to name and thank Fiona Reynolds, an intensive care specialist at Birmingham Children's Hospital who was visiting Pakistan when the young campaigner was critically wounded last year.
Reynolds had her moved to an army cardiology hospital with better intensive care and stayed with her alongside a team of nurses from Birmingham. The 47-year-old also had the tough task of informing Malala about what had happened to her when she came around in the Birmingham hospital.
"I didn't know what had happened. The nurses weren't telling me anything. Even my name. Was I still Malala? No one told me what was going on or who had brought me to the hospital," recalled Malala.
She then became so worried about the cost of her treatment that she thought of sneaking out of hospital to get a job. "I thought, 'I need to go out and start working to earn money,'" she said.
The attack on her also wounded two other girls but to Malala's frustration the only person in custody is the school bus driver, who is being held in case he needs to identify a suspect. "Why do they arrest him and not the Taliban leader," she asked.
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/europe/queen-elizabeth-ii-invites-malala-to-buckingham-palace-105390.html
| 2024-12-16T06:21:43Z
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This is CNBC's live blog covering European markets.
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday, as traders gear up for the final Federal Reserve meeting of the year.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG.
The Fed's decision on Dec. 18 stateside is front and center for global markets this week, with the CME Fedwatch tool forecasting a 96% chance of a 25-basis-point cut by the central bank. Traders will be paying close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about the trajectory for interest rates.
In Europe Monday, investors will be keeping an eye on Berlin where a vote of confidence will take place in parliament Monday. Chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to call on the German parliament today to declare it has no confidence in him in order for snap polls to take place in February. The move comes after his governing coalition collapsed last month.
Data releases include flash services and manufacturing purchasing managers' index data from France and Germany.
Traders expect Fed to cut this week, pause in January
Money Report
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut rates by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, but traders will be paying close attention to the updated policy statement and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference for clues about what comes next.
As of Sunday night, pricing in the Fed funds futures market pointed to a 95.3% likelihood of a rate cut this week, according to the CME FedWatch tool. However, traders are also betting that the Fed will pause its rate cutting cycle in January.
That could be a welcome move for investors who are still uneasy with the path of inflation.
Logan Moulton, portfolio manager at Intelligent Wealth Solutions, said inflation appears to be "stickier" than Fed officials previously thought and that there are risks to upward pressure on inflation when the Trump administration takes office.
"Heading into 2025, I think they should at least pause," Moulton said.
— Jesse Pound
CNBC Pro: Morgan Stanley names 7 beneficiaries of Amazon AWS’ new Trainium 2 AI chip
Morgan Stanley has identified the companies that are set to benefit from Amazon's launch of its new artificial intelligence chip.
The Big Tech giant's cloud computing division Amazon Web Services launched its Trainium 2 AI chip earlier this month. AWS hopes these chips will help it diversify away from Nvidia, its primary AI chip supplier.
The investment bank said seven Taiwanese companies are set to benefit from AWS's new Trainium 2 AI chip.
CNBC Pro subscribers can read more here.
— Ganesh Rao
European markets: Here are the opening calls
European markets are expected to open in mixed territory Monday.
The U.K.'s FTSE 100 index is expected to open 4 points lower at 8,292, Germany's DAX up 36 points at 20,443, France's CAC down 1 point at 7,401 and Italy's FTSE MIB up 16 points at 34,876, according to data from IG.
Data releases include flash services and manufacturing purchasing managers' index data from France and Germany.
— Holly Ellyatt
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https://www.necn.com/news/business/money-report/european-markets-head-for-mixed-open-as-traders-focus-on-fed-meeting-this-week/3415854/
| 2024-12-16T06:21:43Z
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SSC GD final result released at ssc.gov.in; here’s direct link
Candidates can check their SSC GD final result through the official website ssc.gov.in.
The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has released the final result for the recruitment of Constable (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in the Assam Rifles Examination, 2024. Eligible candidates can check their SSC GD final result through the official website ssc.gov.in.
As per the official notification, a total of 4891 female candidates and 39375 male candidates have been selected by the commission for the posts of Constable (GD) in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination, 2024.
Vacancy Details
This recruitment drive aims to hire for 46617 posts.
- Border Security Force (BSF): 15,654
- Central Industrial Security Force (CISF): 7,145
- Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): 11,541
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB): 819
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP): 3,017
- Assam Rifles (AR): 1,248
- Special Security Force (SSF): 35
- Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): 22
How to check the SSC GD final result
- Visit the official website ssc.gov.in
- On the homepage, go to the result link
- Check the result
- Download the official result
- Take a print out for future reference
Direct link to download the SSC GD final result.
Selection Process
The recruitment process involves four stages: Computer-Based Testing (CBT), Physical Tests (PET/PMT), Document Verification, and Medical Examination.
For more details, candidates are advised to visit the official website here.
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https://scroll.in/announcements/1076848/ssc-gd-final-result-released-at-ssc-gov-in-heres-direct-link
| 2024-12-16T06:21:45Z
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The indiatimes.com privacy policy has been updated to align with the new data regulations in European Union. Please review and accept these changes below to continue using the website. We use cookies to ensure the best experience for you on our website.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/air-force-glider-lands-in-delhi-park-105247.html
| 2024-12-16T06:21:49Z
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CRPF Constable final result released at rect.crpf.gov.in; check details here
The recruitment drive aims to hire for 9212 posts.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has released the final results for the Constable (Technical & Tradesmen, Pioneer Wing, and Min. Staff in CRPF Examination 2023. Eligible candidates can check their results through the official website rect.crpf.gov.in.
Here’s the official notification.
The CRPF Constable Tradesman recruitment drive aims to fill up a total of 9212 posts, of which 9105 vacancies are for male candidates and 107 posts are for Female candidates. The pay scale is level 3 (Rs 21,700 - 69,100). The posts include Bugler, Cook, Safai Karmachari, Driver, Barber, Washerman, and Carpenter, among others.
How to check the final result
- Visit the official website rect.crpf.gov.in
- On the homepage, go to the result
- Click on the result PDF
- Final result PDF will appear on the screen
- Download the result and take a print out for future reference
Direct link to the CRPF Examination result (Appendix A).
Direct link to the CRPF Examination result (Appendix B).
Direct link to the CRPF Examination result (Appendix C).
Selection Process
The applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of CBT, PST/PET, Trade Test, Documents verification and Medical Examination (DME/RME).
For more details, candidates are advised to visit the official website here.
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https://scroll.in/announcements/1076850/crpf-constable-final-result-released-at-rect-crpf-gov-in-check-details-here
| 2024-12-16T06:21:53Z
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New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to the soldiers on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
In a post on X, the Union Minister outlined that the country will never forget the sacrifice and service of the Indian armed forces and saluted the 'bravery' and 'sacrifice' of the forces for their unwavering courage and patriotism.
"Today, on the special occasion of Vijay Diwas, the nation salutes the bravery and sacrifice of India's armed forces. Their unwavering courage and patriotism ensured that our country remained safe. India will never forget their sacrifice and service," the post read.
Vijay Diwas for the 1971 Liberation War is celebrated nationwide on December 16 to commemorate India's victory against Pakistan in the 13-day war, which ended with Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender in Dhaka and the subsequent liberation of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan).
The Indian Air Force, in a post on X, highlighted its role in the India-Pakistan war that concluded on December 16.
"The Indo-Pak War of 1971 concluded on 16 December 1971 with the unconditional surrender by Lt Gen AAK Niazi, marking the birth of an independent Bangladesh. This historic moment was achieved through a coordinated military effort, wherein the Indian Air Force (IAF) played a pivotal role in ensuring quick and decisive results in the 13-day conflict, aptly termed a "Lightning War," the IAF's post read.
The IAF during the 13-day war conducted 'intense' and lethal air campaigns, ensuring control over the Western sector and Eastern theatre.
"The IAF executed an intense and lethal air campaign, undertaking over 2400 offensive missions in the Western sector and more than 2000 sorties in the Eastern theatre. These operations ensured control of the air in both sectors, crippling the adversary's ability to counterattack effectively. The strategic strikes in the East, combined with close air support for ground forces, accelerated the collapse of Pakistani defences, facilitating the swift liberation of Bangladesh," it mentioned further.
Recalling the events during the war, the post said, "The IAF's dominance in the skies was so impactful that, when questioned about his surrender despite having a largely intact army, Gen. Niazi pointed to the IAF insignia on an officer's uniform and remarked, "Because of this--you, the Indian Air Force."
IAF further termed the 1971 War a landmark in Indian military history, showcasing the IAF's precision, strength, and capability to shape outcomes on the battlefield.
Highlighting its role, the IAF, in the post said, "Its role in achieving this unparalleled victory remains a testament to the importance of air superiority in modern warfare."
India and Bangladesh jointly commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Vijay Diwas of the 1971 India-Pakistan war today, with the annual exchange of war veterans and serving officers.
Eight Indian war veterans and two serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces have arrived in Dhaka to commemorate Bangladesh's Victory Day celebrations.
Eight distinguished Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) and two serving officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces also reached India to participate in the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata today, the Indian Army said on Sunday. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/india/defence-minister-rajnath-singh-pays-tribute-to-soldiers-on-vijay-diwas-2024
| 2024-12-16T06:21:53Z
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PICS: IAF Glider Lands in Delhi Park
An IAF microlite aircraft with two persons on board made an emergency precautionary landing in a park near a metro station in east Delhi after the pilot suspected a problem in the plane.
An IAF microlite aircraft with two persons on board made an emergency precautionary landing in a park near a metro station in east Delhi after the pilot suspected a problem in the plane.
An IAF microlite aircraft with two persons on board made an emergency precautionary landing today in a park near a metro station in east Delhi after the pilot suspected a problem in the plane.
The two persons on board are safe and the aircraft has not suffered any damage, Air Force and local police officials said after the two-seater aircraft landed at around 11am at the DDA Park near Shastri Park metro station, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.
The aircraft belonging to the National Cadet Corps wing of the Indian Air Force had taken off from Hindon air base for checking bird activity around the base where the IAF was carrying out the full dress rehearsal of its 81st IAF Day parade.
The aircraft is now being brought back to the Hindon air base after a thorough check.
Bystanders watch as a damaged Indian Air Force's two-seater Microlight aircraft is being transported after making an emergency landing in a park at New Delhi October 6, 2013.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/air-force-glider-lands-in-park-in-east-delhi-105274.html
| 2024-12-16T06:21:55Z
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Within decades of the establishment of Portuguese rule in India, missionaries who shadowed them realised – despite immense support and firepower from Goa – that this country was going to prove a challenge. Typically, when white men in robes set out for the East, it was with a degree of professional optimism. As Francis Xavier (1506–52) of the founding class of the Society of Jesus, wrote in 1540, two years before reaching India, the prevailing sense was that “native tribes are very well disposed to accept the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ”. All that was lacking was competent preaching, so that an ambition to “convert two or three kingdoms of idolaters” in a few years was not unreasonable.
When he actually arrived, however, he found the situation dire. To start with, most missionary activity was limited to the coast (where Portuguese ships offered protection) and its non-elite classes. In Tamil country, thus, there were thirty villages of Paravar converted a decade before via another man’s labours. But this was not because Jesus appealed to this low-ranking group of fishermen, and boat- and salt-makers. Facing competition from rivals in the pearl-fishing sector, the Paravar had sought Portuguese security and were claimed wholesale in a quid pro quo – a commercial rather than a spiritual transaction. When Xavier asked: “What more they believed now than when they were Infidels,” beyond the appellation of being Christian, they had not a clue. Journeying with a translator from village to village, the father launched a valiant effort to impart knowledge to his less-than-sterling flock, but apprehensions lingered. And far from converting whole kingdoms, even communicating to the interested minority was trying, given linguistic and other limitations.
It is not surprising, then, that shortcuts were employed. On the one hand, there was fear that converts might relapse into idolatry (bans on drinking and polygamy were disincentives against sustained faith), but equally, there was also a need to shore up numbers. In a 1545 letter, Xavier announced how in “the space of one month I made Christians of more than ten thousand”. His method was necessarily dubious. “As soon as I arrived in any heathen village where they had sent for me to give baptism, I gave orders for all, men, women, and children, to be collected in one place. Then, beginning with the first elements of the Christian faith, I taught them there is one God.”
This elementary lesson having been imparted, he would communicate the sign of the cross and recite a prayer in the local language (which he would have “learned…by heart”). Thereafter, he gave them “articles of the Creed and the Ten Commandments”. When it seemed like the mass of people were “sufficiently instructed to receive baptism”, he proceeded with the ceremony and wrote “each [convert’s new] name on a ticket”. After a round of destroying idols and bringing in the converts’ families, he bid them goodbye and set off for his next station. “In this way,” concluded Xavier, “I go all round the country”. Indeed, at times he was unable to use his hands or voice “from the fatigue of baptising”, for “in a single day I have baptised whole villages”. But shallow successes notwithstanding, the father encountered an obstacle: the hold of a “perverse and wicked set” of “embracing the religion of Jesus Christ”.
As it happened, Brahmins were a tantalising, incomprehensible entity for Europeans. One early Portuguese writer, despite all the cultural and racial differences between Hindus and them, had observed that this specific group among the former shared ideas in common with Christians.
For, as the Portuguese writer Duarte Barbosa added in 1516, at their core, Hindus offered prayers not to diverse gods (or devils) in idols but to one “God, whom they confess and adore as the true God, Creator and maker of all things”. This was not simple polytheism – if there was a variety of gods in shrines, these were all “under” a formless great being. Even van Linschoten, after talking of the usual “devilish superstitions”, added how Brahmins believed “their [sic] is a supreme God above, which ruleth all things”. This now created a quandary: The assumption that Hindus were a photocopy of Europe’s polytheists could not hold. Like former idol-worshippers in the West, brown people had a list of deities, yes; and yet they also acknowledged a single power.
Without irony, their paganism was tethered to a monotheism. Idolatry itself, in fact, was represented differently by Brahmins. There were no feared forces inside, the images only representing god (singular) in various manifestations (as gods, plural). Or as a text explains: “Even if the cow’s entire body were filled with milk, it could secrete it only through the teat”; images were that divine teat. Nobody important believed idols were gods; they only symbolised divine power. For missionaries, this more sophisticated glimpse of Hindu ideas generated a problem, for they could no longer simply traffic in stereotypes. They would, instead, have to apply themselves to gathering real knowledge before they could debunk the Hindu system. Land was easier to conquer; a conquest of souls warranted more meticulous efforts. And in the process, Brahmins would become key to missionary imagination – and the principal defendants for Hinduism.
While this class was met with even in areas under Portuguese control – so much so that the Goa government too relied on Brahmins for administrative support – it was in Hindu-ruled territories that Jesuits clashed with them on more equal terms. The fathers were welcome in coastal courts, which entertained them partly from curiosity but also out of fear of Portuguese terror.
Thus, in about 1600, a Jesuit called Giacomo Fenicio not only debated Brahmins in Calicut but also prepared a guidebook on Hindu mythology and its gods. His language, to be clear, was violent, given how the text was intended for European priests, but it is patent that the author spent much time cataloguing and digesting the Puranic tradition – something Xavier neglected, using vitriol to compensate for ignorance, until giving up on India three years into his stay. Fenicio and his peers, on the other hand, recognised that the age of blanket dismissal was over; attacking local gods as devils confirmed European biases but did not unsettle Hindus or bolster conversion. Knowledge, therefore, was imperative to spiritual dominance.
So, as Akbar’s ulema were baffled when Jesuits cited the Quran and used it to challenge them on their own turf, the father in Calicut combined missionary zeal with a command (even if at times garbled) of Hindu mythology. His objective was transparent. “I have,” Fenicio explained, “occupied myself with studying [the Hindus’] religion”, and not mere superficialities like deities with “six faces and twelve hands”. He had ventured deeper to identify material of more intellectual value, to help “in refuting these Hindus”. In other words, while the goal of winning converts and smashing idols remained, experience dictated that mapping the local position, on its own terms, was a critical first step.
Interestingly, as with Acquaviva and his friends at Akbar’s court, Fenicio also had the freedom to argue his case in Calicut. But as with the Mughals, its Hindu ruler too was not convinced. For instance, told about Christianity’s superiority, the rajah asked how Jesus could be divine when he was “gibbeted on a cross and killed by the Jews?” And if idolatry were bad, how come Christians adored images of the Virgin? Was that not idolatry? This being precisely one of the charges Protestants tossed at Catholics, the father “flung into a passion” and a “vehement peroration”. Lacking a direct answer, he attacked the deity Krishna instead, a god to whom even Akbar’s Jesuit friends took exception.
According to Puranic mythology, Krishna was full of mischief. Jesus suffered in his mortal aspect to atone for mankind’s sins, but what, asked Fenicio, did Krishna do? Flaunting his research, he dished out a caustic account of the deity’s exploits: He broke pots and pans, was thrashed by his mother “with a churn-staff”, hid the clothes of bathing women and acted in ways unbecoming of any god. The Hindus’ personalised deity – who could be loved and chided – was an undignified rogue in Jesuit eyes. Others like Ganapati defied logic: He had an elephant’s head, a prodigious belly, but somehow managed to commute on a rat. Even allowing for annoyance, one imagines the king and his court would have been impressed with Fenicio’s homework.
For the father in turn, while missionary success was slight, he was able to aid Portuguese strategic interests. He converted the rajah’s nephew, for instance, concealing the fact so the prince could spy on his uncle. And as an appalled authority wrote, Goa’s religious leadership, “instead of condemning” the Jesuits for “this scandalous dissimulation, actually confirmed it.”
This overlap between Portuguese political concerns and the missionaries was a continuation of a culture where there was no “distinction between religion, economics, and politics”. Thus, when the Dutch sailed into Calicut, it was Fenicio who represented Goa with the rajah, aiming to thwart Portugal’s rivals. With the Mughals, it was bluntly stated that Jesuit presence at court was a source of intelligence. This could even embarrass missionaries: In the 1540s, Goa contemplated an ambitious voyage to loot the Tirupati temple, which was under the protection of the Vijayanagara emperor. Though ships sailed out, inclement weather aborted the operation; so instead, they attacked a temple south of the Calicut rajah’s territories. This, ironically, was done even as Xavier received support from the province’s Hindu ruler. It did not end double-dealing: in 1615, there was another Jesuit encouraging the Portuguese in their programme of intimidation. In his blandly titled Historia do Malavar, Diogo Goncalves lists the locations of temples in southern Kerala, estimates of their treasure, resources of the surrounding countryside and offers ideas on how the Portuguese might attack these places – shrines (and the occasional mosque) by the beach were close enough to be blown up from ships, for example, while others would require disembarking. Happily, the father surveyed the terrain in advance and supplied ideal landing spots.
It really did look, then, as far as the Portuguese were concerned, as if god and the gun went hand in hand. And Hindu powers noticed this; while Nasrani churches were acceptable, European ones sometimes found themselves unde attack in Kerala. For they represented not merely faith but also white men’s imperial presumptions.
As Jesuits moved into the interior, however, further away from Portuguese arms, these overt connections with politics backfired. In 1598, a mission went to the new capital of Vijayanagara at Chandragiri. It was welcomed with an elephant parade and Venkata II, the reigning raya (emperor), gave permission to “build a Church, erect Crosses, and convert men”. Of course, he had his motives: A predecessor had tried and failed to hammer out a deal for the exclusive supply of warhorses with the Portuguese. Nor were the fathers innocent of worldly causes – scuttling overtures from the Dutch would soon become one of their mandates. So the court flattered the Jesuits, while the latter reciprocated: A European artist they introduced not only painted Hindu gods but also, apparently, an erotic picture of Venkata in a pool with women (for which he promptly got into trouble).
As with Akbar and the Calicut rajah, this potentate also listened to the Jesuits with an open mind: They could assert the falseness of idol worship without fear, angry Brahmins being silenced. That is, till Portuguese political excesses tested royal tolerance: Venkata’s warmth dissipated in 1606 when news arrived of a skirmish between the state’s authorities and white soldiers on the east coast. Though peace was restored, the Jesuits were dropped, and in 1610, the emperor transferred his favour to the Dutch, challenging the Portuguese monopoly of the seas. Shortly after, the fathers departed. By too openly mixing religion with politics, they had failed in their mission. Fresh lessons would need to be learnt – though old mistakes would in time recur under the British, with painful consequences again.
Excerpted with permission from Gods, Guns, and Missionaries: The Making Of The Modern Hindu Identity, Manu S Pillai, Penguin India.
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https://scroll.in/article/1076814/from-manu-s-pillais-new-book-how-the-portuguese-responded-to-the-complexities-of-hinduism
| 2024-12-16T06:21:59Z
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New Delhi: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher appealed to the people of the state of Punjab to participate in the 'Rail Roko' agitation scheduled on December 18.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Pandher said, "I want to appeal to the people of Punjab to participate in the 'Rail Roko' agitating on December 18. We request all the people of all the 13,000 villages in Punjab who live near railway tracks to block their nearest railway crossings and railway stations from 12 to 3 pm."
Pandher announced that a tractor march would be organised outside Punjab on December 16, followed by a 'Rail Roko' in Punjab on December 18. The announcement came hours after a 'Jathha' of 101 farmers, blocked by the police at the Shambhu border due to security concerns, was withdrawn for the day.
Pandher claimed that 17 farmers were injured after the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters at the Shambhu Border. He further alleged that several farmers are in serious condition and accused the authorities of negligence in providing treatment at the hospital.
"The Indian government, the fifth-largest economy in the world, used force against 101 farmers. Chemical water was thrown at us using cannons, bombs were hurled, and tear gas shells were fired. Seventeen farmers have been injured, many of whom are in serious condition, and they are not being given proper treatment in the hospital. We urge the Punjab government to ensure adequate treatment," he said earlier.
"On December 16, a tractor march will be organised outside Punjab, and on December 18, we have called for a 'Rail Roko' in Punjab. We appeal to all Punjabis to participate in large numbers," he added.
Pandher criticised the opposition for not effectively addressing farmers' concerns in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. He specifically accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of failing to fulfil his promises to the farmers.
The 'Jathha' of 101 farmers was stopped from entering the national capital at the Shambhu border point in Haryana on Saturday afternoon. Tensions arose at the protest site as the farmers attempted to move forward, but police cited security concerns and the need to regulate the movement of protesters into Delhi.
Police presence at the border was significantly increased after the farmers announced their fresh attempt to march towards Delhi. As the protest gains momentum, farmers are intensifying their demonstrations to press the government into addressing their demands. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/india/farmer-leader-pandher-urges-punjab-to-join-rail-roko-protest-on-dec-18
| 2024-12-16T06:22:00Z
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It Happened in India!
What happened this past week in India, told through some stunning images.
What happened this past week in India, told through some stunning images.
Indian transgenders perform at a seminar for the transgender community in Mumbai on October 3, 2013.... Read More
Indian transgenders perform at a seminar for the transgender community in Mumbai on October 3, 2013. For India's gay community, the joy that greeted year 2009 court ruling legalising gay sex is tempered by the fact that, although the law now accepts them, society still does not. For all the celebrations and talk of an historic milestone, many believe it will take more than a court decision to change public attitudes toward homosexuality, which is largely taboo in India and considered by many to be a mental illness.
Read LessParatroopers from the Indian Air Force perform during the full-dress rehearsal for Indian Air Force ... Read More
Paratroopers from the Indian Air Force perform during the full-dress rehearsal for Indian Air Force Day at the Hindon air force station on the outskirts of New Delhi October 6, 2013. The Indian Air Force will celebrate its 81st anniversary on October 8. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee (INDIA - Tags: MILITARY)
Read LessAn Indian artist gives finishing touches to a Durga Puja pandal, or a temporary place of worship, in... Read More
An Indian artist gives finishing touches to a Durga Puja pandal, or a temporary place of worship, in the preparation for the Durga Puja festival, in Agartala, India, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. Seen as the mother of the universe, Durga is worshipped for her graciousness as well as her fearsome power. The five-day Durga Puja festival begins on Oct. 10. (AP Photo/Abhik Deb)
Read LessIndian Hindu men dressed up like God Hanuman, or monkey god, run to participate in a religious proce... Read More
Indian Hindu men dressed up like God Hanuman, or monkey god, run to participate in a religious procession of Navratri festival in Amritsar, India, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. Feasting and fasting takes over normal life for millions of Hindus during Navratri, the festival of nine nights. (AP Photo/Sanjeev Syal)
Read LessMuslims walk on a pathway leading to the shrine of Makhdoom Ali Mahiam, an ancient Muslim scholar, along the shore of the the Arabian Sea, in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian laborers rest in between transporting idols of Hindu goddess Durga to various venues of worship, in Kolkata, India, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013. The five day Hindu festival Durga Puja is scheduled to start on Oct. 10 and end with the immersion of idols on Oct. 14. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Hindu devotees perform prayers on the steps of a holy pond on the auspicious day of "Mahalaya" in Mu... Read More
Hindu devotees perform prayers on the steps of a holy pond on the auspicious day of "Mahalaya" in Mumbai October 4 , 2013. Hindus offer prayers with holy water after taking a dip in the river to honour the souls of their departed ancestors during Mahalaya, which is also called 'Shraadh' or Pitra Paksha. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION)
Read LessThe Bandra-Worli sea link bridge, also called the Rajiv Gandhi Sethu, is illuminated pink as part of the Estee Lauder's Breast Cancer Awareness campaign in Mumbai October 4, 2013. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: TRANSPORT HEALTH SOCIETY CITYSCAPE)
An Indian Hindu man dressed up like God Hanuman, or monkey god, waits to participate in a religious ... Read More
An Indian Hindu man dressed up like God Hanuman, or monkey god, waits to participate in a religious procession of Navratri festival in Amritsar, India, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. Feasting and fasting takes over normal life for millions of Hindus during Navratri, the festival of nine nights. (AP Photo/Sanjeev Syal)
Read LessIndian children dressed like Mahatma Gandhi assemble at an event during Gandhi Jayanti in Ajmer, India, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. Gandhi Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Gandhi, the father of the nation. (AP Photo/Deepak Sharma)
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/it-happened-in-india-105365.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:02Z
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On November 20, in a court filing, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission said Gautam Adani had “paid or promised a bribe” to Andhra Pradesh government officials “at or in connection with” a meeting in August 2021 between Adani and “the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh”. In return, the SEC said, it had been agreed that Andhra Pradesh would buy expensive power from Adani’s upcoming solar power project.
Two days later, the YSR Congress Party, which was in power in Andhra Pradesh between 2019 and 2024 under Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, responded by arguing that its government had not entered into any agreement with Adani Group. Instead, it said, its power purchase contract was with the Solar Energy Corporation of India, an enterprise owned by the government of India.
But this defence did not hold.
SECI is an intermediary between solar developers and state-owned electricity distribution companies, known as discoms. It invites bids from solar developers and then approaches discoms to purchase the capacity it has bidded out. In other words, although power purchase agreements or PPAs are signed between SECI and discoms, the eventual suppliers and beneficiaries are the developers.
On November 25, the YSRCP came out with a longer rebuttal in response to an article in the Eenadu newspaper, in which it made three key claims:
- As a special incentive, SECI had waived inter-state transmission charges for this project, which would net Rs 3,750 crore in annual savings over 25 years for Andhra despite the Rs 2.49 per unit price.
- At the time SECI held its tender, global solar panel prices were at an all-time low. Thereafter, subsequent tenders have netted higher solar tariffs.
- Telugu Desam Party, its main political rival, the party currently in power in the state, had signed PPAs at yet higher tariffs.
In the days since, further defences have emerged. A report said the YSRCP wanted to give all 7 gigawatts as “free power” to rural areas. Nor is the party the only one rejecting the SEC’s chargesheet. Gautam Adani, Adani Group chief financial officer Jugeshinder Singh, and Adani Green have denied wrongdoing as well.
Scroll’s reporting, however, shows that the PPAs did result in Andhra Pradesh being saddled with higher electricity costs. Bribery, as alleged by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, is not the only possible malfeasance here.
Apart from the YSRCP government, questions also surround the decisions taken by SECI and the Ministry of Power. Scroll sent queries to all three. Only YSRCP replied – its answers have been incorporated into this report.
Why did SECI club manufacturing and solar generation together?
As IIT professor Rohit Chandra wrote in Scroll, SECI is “largely a Central government response to investor perceptions that state distribution companies were too financially unstable and risky as counterparties in power contracts”.
Accordingly, SECI floats tenders for solar power – and then tries to place the successful bids with discoms.
As we know, this particular SECI tender clubbed manufacturing and solar generation. It wanted developers to produce solar equipment (cells, modules) in India. In return, it would buy a multiple of the plants’ manufacturing capacity as solar power. Which is how, by producing solar components worth 1 GW, Azure could sell 4 GW of solar power. And, with 2 GW manufacturing capacity, Adani had 8 GW of power to sell.
At 12 GW, this was the biggest solar energy tender India had seen till date but the insistence on manufacturing kept most developers out of the race. As things stood, just three firms participated in the November 2019 bid – Adani Green, Azure Power and Andhra’s Navayuga Group.
Why were manufacturing and generation clubbed together? SECI didn’t respond to our question. However, in 2021, replying to a letter by TDP MLA Payyavula Keshav, then chairperson of the public accounts committee of the Andhra Pradesh assembly, and the current finance minister of the state, SECI said that its mandate allowed it to push solar manufacturing as well.
This is not much of an answer. In 2020, India would begin work on its production-linked incentive scheme for solar manufacturing. Did SECI need to step in? What were the tariff implications of bundling manufacturing and solar generation together? Why did it think a bid with a ceiling tariff of Rs 2.93 per unit would find buyers when previous manufacturing-linked tenders, priced at Rs 2.75 per unit and Rs 2.85 per unit, had failed?
Scroll wrote to SECI asking it to comment on these questions. This article will be updated when it responds.
Why wasn’t the bid cancelled given disinterest from discoms?
Of the three bidders, Navayuga was a surprise.
Not only was the Hyderabad-based group new to solar manufacturing, it was also snared in political and economic trouble at the time of bidding. Between August 2019 and January 2020, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government had taken away some of its prime assets, like the ports at Krishnapatnam and Machilipatnam, the group’s land bank outside Krishnapatnam, and the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract to build Andhra’s Polavaram dam. It had handed over the ports to Adani and the EPC contract to Megha Engineering.
As things emerged, Navayuga’s Rs 2.93 per unit bid was higher than the Rs 2.92 per unit that both Adani and Azure bid. Its bid failed. The other two firms bagged the contract. We will return to this point of price discovery later.
The project carried the potential to dramatically boost both firms’ operating scale and financial health. Azure Power, as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission noted, expected $2 billion in after tax profits over the next 20 years. Adani Green, which was yet to post a profit, too was “projected to earn billions of dollars of revenue and more than a billion dollars in profit”.
We know what happened next. The Rs 2.92 per unit made discoms blanch. This wasn’t a surprise. Two previous manufacturing-linked tenders, with tariffs capped at Rs 2.75 per unit and Rs 2.85 per unit, had already failed. It isn’t clear why SECI floated a third tender at an even higher tariff.
The Letters of Award to Adani and Azure had been signed in June 2020. With discoms finding Rs 2.92 per unit price too high, power supply agreements had not been signed even a year later.
Despite this delay, SECI didn’t cancel the tender.
Instead, the US indictment says, Adani started reaching out to state governments. It wasn’t, however, the only entity trying to get discoms to bite.
Why did SECI and the power ministry accord preferential treatment to this project?
The electricity generated from the project would flow through state transmission lines to the central transmission utility and then enter Andhra.
In India’s electricity grid, both the central transmission authority and state governments charge for the use of their power lines. Of these, the inter-state transmission system charges were waived for the Adani solar project.
YSRCP’s rebuttal to Eenadu alludes to this, saying: “The ISTS waiver is a very key feature that is not there with respect to any other project.” Without it, the party claims, Andhra would have had to pay an additional Rs 1.99-Rs 2 per unit.
This needs to be understood. From February 2016, India has been waiving ISTS charges for solar and wind projects selling power to discoms. Initially exempted only for projects commissioned before March 2022, this deadline has repeatedly been extended. It now exempts all projects commissioned by 2025.
And so, why does YSRCP say ISTS waiver was unique to this tender?
One answer lies in the current state finance minister’s letter to SECI. At the time of the bid, the power ministry had granted the waiver only to projects coming up by March 2022. The SECI tender, however, extended that benefit to the manufacturing-linked tender even if it came up after March 2022. As we know, tranche-II, III, and IV of the tender are supposed to start generating from September 2024, September 2025, and September 2026.
According to the YSRCP, future solar projects – ones commissioned after 2025 – may or may not get the inter-state transmission system charges waiver. The manufacturing-linked tender, however, would. “This project is the only project that possesses waiver of ISTS charges in the most unambiguous manner and in a manner not contingent on any future events.”
This, however, raises further questions for SECI and the power ministry. Why was an exception made only for this project? As the current state finance minister had noted in his 2021 letter, SECI extended the ISTS waiver beyond 2022 well before the power ministry did. Did SECI overstep its bounds?
Further relaxations followed. The inter-state transmission system charges have been waived for projects supplying power to discoms for their renewable power obligation. In November 2021, however, the power ministry waived ISTS for this tender irrespective of whether this power is within renewable purchase obligation or not.
“With that, even power being sold privately from the solar plant was exempted from transmission charges,” said a retired Indian Administrative Service officer with power sector expertise, on the condition of anonymity.
Did Andhra even need 7 GW of additional power?
In its response to Scroll, YSRCP submitted two reasons why the PPA was in the state’s interest.
First, it said, Andhra was facing a shortage of electricity. Second, given the ISTS waiver, the 7 GW PPA was the cheapest available electricity on hand.
On the first of these, the party cited an Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission order which estimated the state’s power deficit at 59,229 million units (or 6.7 GW) in 2028-’29. It also cited Central Electricity Authority numbers pegging Andhra’s power demand at 121,156 million units (13.83 GW) by 2029.
“Going by the above assessments, the scenario of power deficit was apparent and taking this into consideration, the arrangement with SECI was accepted by the then Government of Andhra Pradesh and was approved by the APERC,” the YSRCP told Scroll.
Do these numbers hold up? In 2023, going by its State Electricity Plan, Andhra Pradesh needed 8.2 GW of power, while its installed generation capacity was 19.83 GW. Its plant load factor, which measures power capacity utilisation, was 67%, lower than Tamil Nadu’s 73%, and Maharashtra’s 70%.
By 2030, Andhra’s power requirement is estimated to be 13.27 GW and the generation capacity is expected to rise to 23 GW of power. By then, the State Electricity Plan says the plant load factor is projected to fall further to 63.75%.
Does Andhra even need this 7 GW solar project?
By 2021, concerns were already being raised about the state having more renewable projects than it needed. That February, the state had held auctions for a 6.4 GW solar project which would come up in 10 solar parks within the state. “These projects, if implemented, would pose serious grid management problems given Andhra’s total power requirement is only around 9 GW but the state already has total operational renewable capacity of 7.9 GW,” wrote Bridge To India, a portal tracking India’s renewable energy sector.
Renewable power comes with intermittency risks. As their generation rises and falls, they can disrupt grid frequency, resulting in power outages or the grid tripping. Which is why discoms need to parallelly invest in energy storage like batteries or pumped storage.
And so, the question: Why did SECI offer Andhra 9 GW? The current state finance minister had raised this concern in the 2021 letter he wrote while in the Opposition. He asked SECI: “Did you conduct any load flow study or any demand study to check if the state needs the proposed 9 GW power?”
Even assuming Andhra needed this power, was this the cheapest power available?
In its rebuttal to Eenadu, YSRCP justified Adani’s revised price offer of Rs 2.49 per unit saying other solar projects outside the state would have been costlier.
In its response to Scroll, the party wrote: “The average cost of procuring power at the time when the arrangement with SECI was concluded was Rs 5.10 per kWh of power.” It claimed the decision to procure power from SECI translated to “annual savings of Rs 4,400 crore”.
First and foremost, the cost comparison between coal-based power and solar power is misleading. The former doesn’t get subsidies like transmission charge waivers or transmission loss waivers.
The question is whether Andhra Pradesh would have gained more from buying power from a standalone solar generation project.
Around the time SECI bidded out the manufacturing-linked tender, India also saw such tenders. A 500 MW tender by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam issued in September 2020 landed a tariff of Rs 1.99 per unit. A tender for 6.4 GW of power by Andhra Pradesh itself netted prices below the manufacturing-linked tender. This power, generated within Andhra, would have been exempted from inter-state transmission system charges as well.
As things evolved, this 6.4 GW tender faced flak for breaching bidding norms and ended up in court. What happened next is striking. Adani dropped its tariff for the SECI project Rs 2.92 per unit to Rs 2.49 per unit. Thereafter, Andhra Pradesh decided to not fight for the tender in court – and signed up with SECI-Adani instead.
This decision, as the Economic Times reported, was opposed by the state’s Andhra Pradesh Power Coordination Committee. Given the solar project was sited outside Andhra, the committee wanted its tariff to include basic customs duty and SECI’s trading margin. It also wanted SECI to renegotiate tariffs for the September 2025 and 2026 tranches per the prevailing tariffs of that time. “These suggestions were rejected by the state government,” the paper said.
This raises several questions. Reverse auctions are considered an effective instrument for price discovery. However, when one of the winners unilaterally slashes its tariff by almost 15%, was the SECI bid competitive enough?
Given solar tariffs are going up, isn’t Rs 2.49 a good deal as well?
In its response to Scroll, YSRCP claimed that global solar panel prices were at an all-time low when the SECI tender was held. Thereafter, subsequent tenders have netted higher solar tariffs. “At the time of the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, it was assumed that the drop in panel prices would not only sustain but would also continue steadily,” it wrote. “However, the panel prices have not reduced as what was anticipated and this resulted in all tenders issued after 2021 leading to price discovery of tariffs way above Rs 2.00 per kWh, even for generation in states with very high PLFs.”
The first of these points – about global solar panel prices – is not correct. Over the last 15 years, solar cell prices, led by China, have dramatically fallen across the world. Back in 2019, when SECI held its tender, module prices were heading towards 20 cents per watt. Since then, they have fallen further, touching 13.7 cents per watt in 2024. Solar tariffs, world over, have fallen in tandem.
The party’s second statement – about domestic tariffs – is incorrect as well. Solar tariffs have climbed in India due to the country’s decision to impose import barriers on Chinese modules and push for domestic module manufacturing instead. One fallout of this protectionism? Domestic module prices have risen 90% over the last year even as the price of Chinese solar cells, which most Indian manufacturers assemble into solar panels, has fallen. With that, solar tariffs have risen as well.
Scroll asked YSRCP to comment on the role of import tariffs in panel price hikes. The party didn’t respond.
The party’s third contention to Eenadu – that TDP signed PPAs at yet higher tariffs – is partially true. Solar module costs were higher between 2014 and 2019 – when TDP was in power – and so were, naturally, solar tariffs.
At the same time, as this report by Prayas, a Pune-based energy sector watchdog, says, under the TDP, the state did sign PPAs at higher costs.
What this shows, essentially, is that manufacturers and developers have profited off the state.
The costs need to be understood.
What are the costs of buying this power?
As things stand, Andhra Pradesh won’t just pay Rs 2.49 per unit for 25 years.
The manufacturing-linked tender also passes basic customs duty and GST onto discoms – as opposed to letting developers split it between investors and discoms. As YSRCP told Scroll, this is a standard clause in most solar tenders.
As a result, by buying this power, the state would incur an additional annual burden of Rs 850 crore, said the Economic Times, citing data from a 2021 report by the Andhra Pradesh Power Coordination Committee. Over 25 years, this comes to Rs 21,250 crore.
The overall power purchase bill, reported the Business Standard, might be as high as Rs 1,61,000 crore over 25 years.
That is not all. Unlike coal-based power, solar power is intermittent. To protect the grid, state discoms need to keep thermal power plants on standby during the day – and pay them for doing so.
Alternately, the state would have to push all 7 GW to farmers – as YSRCP said was the plan and the APERC subsequently approved. In this scenario, the state government absorbs the costs.
But here again, questions about demand come in. In 2021, Srikant Nagulapalli, who was state energy secretary at the time, said Andhra’s nearly 6,000 agricultural feeders consume roughly 24% of the state’s total energy demand. Following these numbers, if Andhra’s power demand was 8.2 GW in 2023, farm demand would be 2.1 GW.
This was also flagged by state finance minister Keshav in his 2021 letter. “All the parameters submitted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to APERC... indicate that the growth of the agriculture sector is very minimal... and hence, contracting such huge capacities doesn’t make any sense.”
Larger lessons
In essence, allegedly in return for a payoff, a state government agreed to buy power its people might not even need.
A few months ago, while working on another report about India’s solar sector, this reporter met a former additional secretary who had served in the Ministry of Power. “It’s a myth that India’s discoms are cash-strapped due to theft of power,” said the former official. “That problem has been more or less fixed. India’s discoms are in trouble nowadays because of injudicious expenditure.”
Much of that applies here. At lower rates, Andhra could have bought more units of power. As it is, its people are already seeing power cuts.
This article is part of a collaborative series reporting on the US charges against Adani.
M Rajshekhar is an independent reporter writing on energy, climate and kleptocracy. He is also the author of Despite The State: Why India Lets Its People Down and How They Cope, published by Westland Books in 2020.
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https://scroll.in/article/1076837/seven-questions-about-adanis-andhra-solar-deal-and-why-jagan-reddys-defences-dont-hold
| 2024-12-16T06:22:06Z
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New Delhi: The fiscal deficit of the central government is projected to be 4.8 per cent of GDP for FY25, slightly below the budgeted estimate of 4.9 per cent, according to a report by CareEdge Ratings. The marginal improvement is attributed to healthy tax collections, despite certain shortfalls.
It said "Overall, we project the fiscal deficit at 4.8 per cent of GDP, marginally lower than the budgeted 4.9 per cent".
The report also noted that the Gross tax revenue has seen strong performance in goods and services tax (GST) and income tax collections. These gains have helped cushion the impact of weaker collections in corporate tax and union excise duties.
However, the Centre's capital expenditure (capex) is expected to fall short of its target by Rs 1.5 trillion, which could impact long-term infrastructure growth. At the same time, revenue expenditure might exceed budget estimates due to additional allocations under the first supplementary grant.
It said "Gross tax revenue supported by healthy performance in GST and income tax collection. This has helped partially offset the weakness in corporate tax and union excise duty collections".
The report noted that the nominal GDP growth is estimated to be lower at 9.9 per cent, compared to the budgeted 10.5 per cent for FY25. Despite this moderation, India's real GDP growth is expected to remain healthy at 6.5 per cent in FY25. The report also predicts moderation in consumer price index (CPI) inflation, as food prices stabilize.
The central government is anticipated to maintain its fiscal consolidation efforts, keeping the fiscal deficit trajectory on track.
On the external front, India's export performance is expected to be mixed. Merchandise exports are projected to grow modestly by 2.5 per cent in FY25, as global uncertainties weigh on demand.
However, services exports are forecast to grow robustly by 13 per cent, supported by sectors like IT and professional services. Additionally, remittances are likely to remain strong, further aiding the current account balance.
India's current account deficit (CAD) is projected to remain manageable at 0.9 per cent of GDP for FY25, reflecting resilience in the external sector.
Overall, the report paints a balanced picture of the economy, with positive tax revenue trends and services exports offsetting some challenges in capex and merchandise trade. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/india/indias-fiscal-deficit-forecasted-at-48-in-fy25-beating-budget-estimate-careedge-ratings
| 2024-12-16T06:22:08Z
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Senior Congress leader and parliamentary affairs minister, while addressing a political rally in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh, Was caught on camera warning the bureaucrats saying that they are on Congress’s radar and will have to pay for their deeds.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/on-cam-kamal-nath-warns-bureaucrats-in-mp-105276.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:08Z
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In the final week of the hearings at the International Court of Justice by vulnerable countries demanding climate justice, a poignant testimony came from the man who directed global responses to tame the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, recalled a conversation with a boy named Falour during a visit in 2019 to the Polynesian island-nation of Tuvalu.
Falou told Ghebreyesus about the discussions he and his friends were having about their uncertain future as rising ocean levels threaten to sink Tuvalu. Some of Falou’s friends contemplated leaving the island to seek refuge in Fiji. Others expressed their willingness to stay back.
“Falou’s words touched my heart, serving as a clear and poignant reminder of the challenges faced by children in the Pacific,” Ghebreyesus said. “Children should be children. I would have loved if Falou was laughing and playing and being a child, but he was not. They worry about the survival of their island homes due to the emissions produced by distant nations.”
Ghebreyesus emphasised that for the WHO, climate change is among the most significant health challenges facing humanity. Evidence collected by the WHO about the health impacts of climate change for over 25 years shows that the transmission of diseases such as malaria, dengue and cholera could significantly increase as weather becomes more extreme.
In addition, non-communicable diseases, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, are associated with climate change and air pollution.
Starting from December 2, the court had heard the testimonies of the hundreds of people from all over the world as it considered two questions: what obligations do states have under international law to protect the climate system and what legal consequences should they face if they cause significant harm through their actions or inactions.
As the hearings concluded on Friday, a note of hope for intergenerational equity was struck by youth leaders who drove the campaign to bring the matter to the International Court of Justice.
The campaign “was born out of frustration with the inability” of the United Nations’ Conference of Parties processes “to deliver urgent climate action”, Vishal Prasad, the director of a group called Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, told the court.
He contended that “pursuit for climate justice requires determining the obligations of states but is incomplete without the requisite legal consequences. For young people, the demand for reparations is crucial for justice – we have inherited a planet in decline and face the grim prospect of passing on an even more degraded world to future generations.”
But there was some acrimony over the position of the United Kingdom that existing treaties on climate change adequately lay out states’ obligations to mitigate climate change. Despite overwhelming evidence from the WHO, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change and other scientific sources about the problems that climate change is causing, the United Kingdom had made a “contemptuous intervention” directed at escaping “accountability and responsibilities for decades of climate harms”, noted the non-profit Centre for International Environmental Law.
The centre said that the United Kingdom had effectively asked the court to ignore both science and history on the overwhelming evidence about the effects of decades of fossil-fuel emissions.
By contrast, the European Union favoured the inclusion of other international legal provisions, not only the 2016 Paris Agreement to pursue efforts to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°.
It said that “all states parties, not merely those with the greatest capabilities, are required to work diligently together to curb anthropogenic emissions to the greatest extent possible…This collective effort, it said underscores the shared duty to address the global climate crisis”.
Other than the strong push for climate accountability and inter-generational equity, nations such as Palestine urged the court to take into account the impact of armed conflict and occupation. It noted that Palestine was a current and concrete example of “how these activities translate into dangerous increases in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions that affect not only Palestine, but the whole world.
It said that “climate scientists have determined that the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip was responsible for emission of between 420,000 and 650,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in just the first 120 days, which is the period for which there is published data.”
This is equivalent to the total annual emissions of 26 of the lowest-emitting states. One of the principal contributors of emissions is the jet fuel used by fighter planes, as well as by the delivery of arms and munitions.
The hearings highlighted the clear divide between the main greenhouse gas polluters and the victims of climate change and the universal demand for accountability from countries that are devastated by the warming climate. The testimonies endorsed the need for global laws and treaties to be included in the ambit of climate accountability and not just the Paris Agreement or the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change framework.
Arnold Kiel Loughman, the attorney general of Vanuatu, the country which spearheaded the campaign for the International Court for Justice hearing, said the oral hearings had “ highlighted a compelling legal case, led by the Global South”.
International obligations
The main arguments were focused on the applicability of international environmental laws and fundamental human rights to be included as international legal obligations of United Nations member states in the context of climate change. He added that one common threads of statements over the fortnight had been the importance of the right of self-determination and how climate change has impaired efforts to assert that right.
Fifteen judges of the International Court of Justice had heard testimonies from more than 100 nations and international nongovernmental organisations in its largest-ever case. Vanuatu and a large majority of other states and intergovernmental organisations argued before the court that existing legal obligations apply under several international treaties, as also the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights among other pacts.
Developed countries are mostly resisting the inclusion of their responsibilities under these laws. That is where the advisory that the court will issue on the matter has been asked to deliver will be crucial.
“The court has a solemn responsibility to hear the call of the most climate-vulnerable to keep the right to survival, the right to self-determination, at the very centre of its critical advisory opinion,” said senior attorney Joie Chowdhury of the Center for International Environmental Law.
The court’s advisory is expected to be announced in 2025.
Meena Menon is an independent journalist, author and visiting fellow at the Leeds Arts and Humanities Research Institute (LAHRI), University of Leeds, UK.
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https://scroll.in/article/1076838/will-the-icj-hold-major-polluters-responsible-for-contributing-to-climate-change
| 2024-12-16T06:22:12Z
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Is Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi promoting the UPA Government's ideology? That is the question asked by the Shiv Sena, a key ally of the BJP in the NDA, following Modi's comment on giving priority to toilets over temples.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/sena-criticizes-modis-toilet-remark-105295.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:15Z
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Imphal (Manipur): Two youths from Bihar, who were working as migrant workers in Manipur were shot dead in the state's Kakching district on Sunday.
The deceased — Dasharat Kumar (17) and Sunalal Kumar (18) were residents of Rajwahi village of Bihar's Gopalganj district.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the "act of terrorism" and expressed condolences to the grieving family. He also announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to the families of the deceased.
"I strongly condemn the brutal killing of young brothers, Sunalal Kumar (18) and Dasharat Kumar (17), from Bihar in Kakching district, Manipur. This act of terrorism is a direct assault on our values, and my deepest condolences go out to their grieving families," said the CM in a post on X.
He further mentioned the "possibility" of the act being a "larger conspiracy to destabilise the state."
"In this crucial juncture, we cannot ignore the possibility that this horrific crime is part of a larger conspiracy to destabilize our state and push it further towards chaos. We must stand together against these destructive forces and ensure that they do not succeed in creating fear and insecurity," he added.
The Chief Minister said that the case could be transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) if needed.
"An ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to each bereaved family, and every possible effort is underway to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible. If required, the case will be transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ensure a fair and thorough inquiry," CM Biren Singh further stated.
Meanwhile, CM Nitish Kumar directed officials to provide benefits as per rules to the family of the deceased and also to make necessary arrangements to have the two people transported to their native village.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also condemned the killing of the people on Sunday, and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the families.
"I am deeply saddened by the killing of Laxman Kumar Ji and Dashrath Kumar Ji, residents of Gopalganj district of Bihar, in the riotous violence in Manipur. This incident is very sad. Deep condolences to the families of the deceased," he said in a post.
"I have directed to give Rs. 2 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the families of the deceased late Laxman Kumar Ji and late Dashrath Kumar Ji. Along with this, I have directed to provide other benefits as per rules from the schemes run by the Labor Resources Department and Social Welfare Department. I have directed the Resident Commissioner of Bihar in Delhi to take information about the situation and provide all possible assistance and also make necessary arrangements to send the bodies of the deceased to their native village," he further stated.
Earlier, the Gopalganj district office had informed that the post-mortem of the two deceased was done in a hospital in Imphal, and their families were also contacted immediately.
"The district administration is in constant touch with the concerned officials of Manipur to bring the bodies of the deceased and provide other assistance," the statement read.
"The district administration is providing all possible assistance to the family members of the deceased as per the provisions," it added. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/india/manipur-violence-two-bihar-youths-killed-in-kakching-cm-biren-singh-condemns-as-terrorism
| 2024-12-16T06:22:15Z
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Rape Case: Asaram Bapu's Son on the Run
A lookout notice was issued against Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai, a day after fresh sexual abuse complaints were lodged against the father-son duo by two sisters here.
A lookout notice was today issued against self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's son Narayan Sai, a day after fresh sexual abuse complaints were lodged against the father-son duo by two sisters here.
"We have issued a lookout notice against Narayan Sai, son of Asaram," Surat Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said.
"We have informed immigration authorities that a grave offence has been registered against him. This (lookout notice) is a precautionary step so that he cannot leave the country," Asthana said.
Police teams have started investigation in the case and Sai is being traced, he said, adding that they have identified a few locations where he could be.
Yesterday, Asthana had said that they will interrogate Sai regarding the complaint.
Fresh sexual assault complaints were registered here yesterday against controversial Asaram and his son Narayan Sai here after two sisters accused the duo of abusing them.
Asaram, 75, was arrested in August on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl and has been in prison at Jodhpur in Rajasthan since then.
Police registered two complaints - one against Asaram and another against Narayan Sai - of rape, sexual assault, illegal confinement and other charges.
The complaint against Narayan Sai was registered at Jhangirpura Police Station in Surat, while the one against his father Asaram was transferred to Ahmedabad as the alleged incident happened there.
The elder sister in her complaint accused Asaram of repeated sexual assault between 1997 and 2006, during the time she had been living in his ashram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad city.
The younger sister filed a complaint against Asaram's son, accusing him of repeated sexual assault between 2002 and 2005 when she was living in their Surat ashram.
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/news/more-from-india/sexual-assault-case-lookout-notice-issued-against-narayan-sai-105433.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:16Z
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Nasreen Munni Kabir: Zakir, thanks for making time for our book. Can we start today by talking about musical instruments? How long does it take to get accustomed to, say, a new tabla?
Zakir Hussain: In the world of music, and especially when it comes to traditional music, haste is not a good idea. You need time to build a relationship with your instrument. The instrument’s spirit has to react and then things happen. You don’t just buy a new sitar today, get on to the stage tomorrow and start playing it. The sitar must come into its own. You have to play it for some months before you feel comfortable – ok, now I can play it on stage.
What do I bring to the tabla? I think it is openness and clarity, and that is what we bring to the audience. What I present must make sense, whether that involves a heart-to-heart interaction between musical instrument and musician, or zero hesitancy in the thought process, or not worrying about the parameters – your musical statement must be created with as much clarity as possible.
I am reminded of a lovely incident. Kishan Maharajji was about to go on stage when someone said: ‘Maharajji, have a great concert.’ He replied: ‘Dekhenge bhaiya, aaj tabla kya kehta hai’ [Let’s see, brother, what the tabla wants to say today].
It’s the same with all instruments – the guitar, piano, bass, or violin. You need to have a relationship with the instrument, because you want it to do your bidding. It has to accept you, and show you that it is ready to take that leap of faith with you.
For example, I need the tabla skin to have a certain amount of give – so when I hit it, it must respond and resonate in a certain way. The tone should have a certain amount of bass, treble and mid-range. The pressure of my hand is different from the pressure of someone else’s hand, therefore that impacts the thickness of the skin – how much extra skin must there be, so that it can bend in the way I want it to.
For those who don’t already know, the word ‘tabla’ comes from the Arabic ‘tabl’ which means drum, but there are, in fact, two tabla drums – the smaller one is made of wood and called the dayan (the right drum) and the larger deeper-pitched drum is made of metal and called the bayan (the left drum). Making the tabla must be a very skilled job. Are tabla makers greatly appreciated?
I personally feel tabla makers in India don’t get their proper due, nor do they get the kind of monetary return they should. If somebody in America makes a guitar by hand for a famous guitar player, they charge between $12,000 and $20,000. Béla Fleck is a master of the banjo, and some of his banjos are worth $120,000. All musical instrument makers in India are not really compensated enough or given the kind of respect and status they deserve.
In my case, Haridas Vhatkar has been making my instruments and repairing them for the past eighteen years. He used to live in Miraj, near Kolhapur, and as a young man he came to Bombay because he heard me play. He decided to learn how to make the tabla, so he could make them for me. Sometimes the parts are made in machines and then assembled together by someone who has the ear and knowledge, while Haridasji does everything from scratch – he gets the buffalo hide straps, polishes and cleans the goat skin to get the rough edges out, etc. It’s all done by hand. The whole process can take weeks. The buffalo straps have to be soaked in oil to make them soft enough so that they can be pushed through the little grooves on the edges of the tabla and then tightened. All tabla makers sit on the floor and work – so all this pulling makes their backs go and it is murder on the hands. You can of course buy a standard tabla, which will not have even 10 per cent of the quality of Haridasji’s work. He has become the Steinway of the tabla!
I have put Haridasji on a stipend. So, if I’m gone for eight months, he does not have to worry, he will still have some money coming in. He came to America in July 2016 during my retreat, and repaired the tabla of forty of my students. He made a bundle and came back to India. [laughs]
Good for him! When I think about the different Indian instruments, the sitar sounds less melodic than the flute or the violin to me. Sorry if it’s stating the obvious.
One of the reasons why the sitar may not feel as melodious to you is because the flute is an out-and-out melodic instrument, and the violin is similar whilst the sitar is both melodic and percussive. Because it has this rhythmic ability, the sitar can very easily feel overbearing. When Ravi Shankarji played, there was great emphasis on rhythm, but that’s not what I noticed in Vilayat Khansahib’s playing. He was more into exploring the sitar’s melodic element. The rhythmic element came into his playing, but did not appear to dominate.
In the old days, there were no microphones and the instruments were not as finely made, so their resonance was very limited, therefore a more rhythmic style was played on the sitar. Listen to the old recordings, you’ll find the sitar playing was somewhat based on the way the Afghani rabab is played.
In instrumental music one style or school is called ‘rababi’ and the other is ‘beenkaar’. The ‘been’ is an ancient instrument from which the surbahar and the sitar were created. The rabab is a lute-like instrument, more prominent in Afghanistan, and from there came this style of rhythmic playing. If you Google a rabab recording, you’ll hear how rhythmic it is. They say that the sarod emerged from the rabab, but I’m not sure. I can’t trace that lineage, but a lot of the rababis eventually became sarod players, like Amjad Ali Khansahib, his father Hafiz Ali Khansahib, and Hafiz Ali Khansahib’s guru. On the other hand, Vilayat Khansahib and Ustad Allauddin Khansahib were from the beenkaar gharana.
It’s strange, but when I was a young tabla player and I heard Ravi Shankarji and Ali Akbar Khansahib play a duet, the sitar sounded very pleasant to me and the sarod sounded very aggressive. I don’t know why. Later, when I started accompanying Khansahib and got to hear the sarod a lot more, the depth of that instrument emerged and I realized it had a much better balance of melody and rhythm. I became a fan of the sarod, but that happened only when I was about twenty-one years old. Before that, and maybe because my father was playing with Ravi Shankarji, I was a happy fan of the sitar.
What about the sound of the shehnai?
The shehnai is a very difficult instrument to play and can sound terrible if it is played badly. There was an in-joke among us musicians about a line in the song ‘Aap ke nazron ne samjha’. The line goes like this: ‘Har taraf bajne lagin saikdon shehnaiyan.’ [A thousand shehnais started to play all around us.] And we musicians would laugh and say: ‘Saikdon shehnaiyan bajne lagengi toh sar phat jaayega!’ [If a thousand shehnais start playing, we’ll get a crushing headache.] [both laugh]
Is it all about the instrument?
That would mean taking the artist out of the equation. To me this chain of thought has limitations. It over-conforms to the rules of tradition and does not allow for interaction between musician and instrument. There was magic when you heard Vilayat Khansahib or Bismillah Khansahib play. There are other shehnai players but has anyone heard of them before or after Bismillah Khansahib? So, is it the instrument or the musician? I have heard many fine sarod players, but their hands do not grab my heart and squeeze it like the music of Ali Akbar Khansahib.
The masters say that your relationship with your instrument should be such that the instrument will get down on its knees and ask you to do what you will of it, extract what you want – have control, command and mastery over the instrument. Then there is another chain of thought that believes that the instrument is just a modem for presenting the music.
That reminds me of a lovely incident. Ali Akbar Khansahib and Sultan Khansahib and I were once sitting in his classroom in California and he said: ‘Sultan, did you bring your sarangi? Will you play something?’ Sultan Bhai replied: ‘Khansahib, I’m sorry, but I have left it at the hotel. I just came by to say hello.’ Ali Akbar Khansahib insisted: ‘We have a sarangi in our music store, let’s bring it out.’
So, they brought out the sarangi and put it down. Sultan Bhai looked at it and said: ‘Khansahib, this sarangi is broken. It’s in a bad state. I don’t think I can play it.’ Ali Akbar Khansahib smiled and said in Urdu: ‘Sarangi agar theek nahin hai toh kya hua? Haath toh tumhara hai’ [So what if the sarangi is in poor condition? The hand is yours]. Sultan Bhai said, ‘Oh, my God,’ and rushed into a corner of the room, tuned the sarangi as best as he could and started playing.
My friend Mickey Hart, who is also a musicologist, happened to be there with his Nagra tape recorder and so he recorded Sultan Khansahib playing. Two years later we released the album and since then, Sultan Bhai and now his family have received close to $12,000 in royalties. My conclusion is it has to be the musician, not the instrument. [both smile]
In the mid-1970s you were involved with Shakti. The impact of Shakti was huge and certainly helped to further the sounds of world music. It not only had musical influences of the East and the West, but also of north and south India. I remember hearing the album A Handful of Beauty (1976), and its title so aptly described the music. Shakti is a real milestone.
The reason Shakti is a milestone, and of personal importance to me, comes from the fact that it opened the doors to the concept of world music. It was doubly sweet because the foundation of Shakti was laid at the same time as Planet Drum.
Shakti is unique and unparalleled in the universe of music and it was probably the first group of its kind to have explored, without limit, the one salient feature that is common in Indian music and jazz – and that is improvisation. There were earlier attempts that combined the two systems, but as far as I know, besides the LP Karuna Supreme, which released in 1975 and which Ali Akbar Khansahib, John Handy and I did, all other attempts involved composed solos that were written without spontaneous improvisation.
Shakti explored the idea of spontaneous improvisation. The advantage we had was that John McLaughlin, apart from being the most versatile guitarist of his time, was also someone who had studied the Indian system of improvising. He had learned how to play the veena, and our other team member, the violinist L. Shankar, had learned about jazz harmonies and had worked with that form. As we’ve discussed, working extensively as a teenager with Hindi film musicians, who played all kinds of Indian and non-Indian instruments, helped me. I was also given an insight into the jazz and rock world by my father who brought from his travels many records of bands like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and the Doors. I remember Abba had me take some piano lessons as well.
The most important fact was that we, the Shakti team, were young enough to allow for musical ‘sacrilege’, and so we could ignore the restrictions imposed on us by our respective traditions in the interest of finding a road towards oneness. Similarly, the connoisseurs at that time frowned upon interactions between south and north Indian musicians, but the advantage for TH Vinayakram, fondly known as Vikku, and me was that rhythms are universal. In addition, I had the good fortune of occasionally working with the great maestro Palghat Raghuji, and had also come across south Indian musicians working in Indian film music. I gleaned information that would help to overcome any barrier between Vikkuji and me. We were young and game enough, and fortunately away from India and critics or so-called well-wishers who would have been happy to give us negative advice – and so we were totally comfortable running amok on the taal road. [smiles]
There we were – four musicians from varied backgrounds sitting on a stage platform in Indian style, and with complete conviction, playing music that was never heard before – it was a totally positive offering. The energy of four as one was strong. We were confident that our musical statement would become valid and accepted as a road to traverse and that would eventually lead to what is now known as world music.
Excerpted with permission from Zakir Hussain: A Life in Music, In Conversation With Nasreen Munni Kabir, HarperCollins.
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https://scroll.in/article/1076839/archives-zakir-hussain-interview-what-do-i-bring-to-the-tabla-openness-and-clarity
| 2024-12-16T06:22:19Z
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Defence Had to Get Better For Miami Heat
Playing defence better from the start of the season has emerged as a top priority for the Heat, who left the Bahamas on Friday after wrapping up six practices of training camp that were devoted almost entirely to that end of the floor.
Playing defence better from the start of the season has emerged as a top priority for the Heat, who left the Bahamas on Friday after wrapping up six practices of training camp that were devoted almost entirely to that end of the floor.
"We knew we didn't start off the season like we wanted to defensively," said Heat forward LeBron James, the league's two-time reigning MVP and a four-time winner of the award overall. "But we knew. I think when you have a problem and you face it, it's very correctable, and we knew that. So one thing we talked about was defending and finishing."
Training camp officially ended just before 1 p.m. Friday, though the way James sees it, camp actually lasts until Oct. 28, the day before Miami hoists its second straight championship banner and opens a new season against the Chicago Bulls.
There's a ton of things for the team to do in the next 3{ weeks, including play eight preseason games, but continuing to hone that defence-first approach will remain paramount. They remember how frustrating it was to have an almost porous-looking defence for the first few weeks of last season, a year where the Heat wound up winning 66 regular-season games, 27 straight in one stretch.
"Sharpen. Sharpen the sword," Heat forward Shane Battier said. "We won games early last year and didn't look good. We dropped a few that, looking back at it, we should have won. We know the Eastern Conference is highly competitive. Not that we can't afford to get off to a slow start ... but we can't afford to get off to a slow start."
Chicago will be better, with Derrick Rose healthy again. Indiana figures to be better. Brooklyn has eyes on a title. It's clear that Miami will not have an easy time in the East, and the Heat remember how vital getting that No. 1 seed was a year ago. It gave them the right to play Game 7 in the conference finals against Indiana at home, along with Game 7 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio.
"We know the competition got better," Battier said. "We scraped by to get out of the Eastern Conference last year. Obviously, we want to play our best basketball at the end. That doesn't mean we can't start at a higher level and build toward that."
Even though the background was paradise -- sun, sand, tropical music and water slides -- the ballroom where the Heat did the bulk of their work on this trip was hardly a vacation destination.
James posted a photo of himself, grimacing in a chest-deep ice bath, to his social media accounts. Ray Allen said he dealt with some mild foot soreness while waking up muscles that had not been used since last June. Michael Beasley described camp as exhausting. Udonis Haslem said he was originally excited to spend some free time in the casino, then quickly realized that he would better serve himself by getting off his feet.
Point guard Mario Chalmers said this was a camp unlike any of his first five with the Heat, mainly because he didn't recall a camp where everyone arrived in such good shape.
"Last year I think we had a little hangover coming off that first championship," Chalmers said. "Maybe we celebrated a little bit too much. We didn't come into camp as focused and ready as we did last year. You can tell right now, everybody's hungry for that threepeat."
Which, the Heat know, will start at the defensive end.
"I would probably say 70 percent of our camp was defence, other than player development," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "That makes me a little bit uneasy. While we have corporate knowledge of our offence, we will need to spend a lot more time on it next week. And we will. We'll address that."
AP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/basketball/defence-had-to-get-better-for-miami-heat-105165.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:23Z
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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to soldiers who contributed to India's victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan on Vijay Diwas.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi stated that the selfless dedication and unwavering resolve of soldiers safeguarded our nation and brought glory to India in the war.
"Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India's historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us. This day is a tribute to their extraordinary valour and their unshakeable spirit. Their sacrifices will forever inspire generations and remain deeply embedded in our nation's history," PM Modi's post reads.
Vijay Diwas for the 1971 Liberation War is celebrated nationwide on December 16 to commemorate India's victory against Pakistan in the 13-day war, which ended with Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender in Dhaka and the subsequent liberation of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his wishes on this occasion, calling it a symbol of the culmination of courage, unwavering dedication, and valour of the country's soldiers.
"'Vijay Diwas' is a symbol of the culmination of the courage, unwavering dedication, and valour of the brave soldiers of the army. On this day in 1971, the brave soldiers of the army not only defeated the morale of the enemies and hoisted the tricolour with pride but also brought about a historic change on the world map while protecting human values," Amit Shah said in a post on X.
"The country will remain proud of the bravery of its warriors till eternity," he added.
Meanwhile, on this occasion, officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force, along with officers of the Bangladesh Army, laid a wreath at Vijay Smarak, Fort William, Army HQ Eastern Command in West Bengal's Kolkata.
As per the Indian Army, eight distinguished Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) and two serving officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces have reached India to participate in the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/india/pm-modi-pays-tribute-to-1971-war-heroes-on-vijay-diwas-honours-their-sacrifices
| 2024-12-16T06:22:22Z
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Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain dies at 73
In a career spanning six decades, Hussain became the most recognisable exponent of the instrument.
Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, one of India’s most accomplished Hindustani musicians, died on Sunday in a hospital in San Francisco in the United States, his family confirmed, reported PTI. He was 73.
Hussain died of complications from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to his family.
He had been hospitalised for two weeks and was moved to the intensive care unit as his condition worsened.
Hussain, widely considered the greatest tabla player of his generation, was born in Mumbai in 1951. He was the eldest son of legendary tabla player Alla Rakha.
In a career spanning six decades, Hussain became perhaps the most recognisable exponent of the tabla in India and was also credited with popularising the percussion instrument around the world.
Hussain was also known for his collaborations with Indian classical musicians such as Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma. Through collaborations with guitar player John McLaughlin, saxophonist Charles Lloyd, banjo player Béla Fleck, bassist Edgar Meyer and drummer, Mickey Hart, he showed how the tabla could organically become part of a variety of musical idioms and contexts.
Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002 and Padma Vibhushan in 2023. He won four Grammy Awards, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year.
Hussain is survived by his wife Antonia Minnecola, daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi, brothers Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi, and sister Khurshid Aulia.
Also read: The Zakir Hussain interview: ‘What do I bring to the tabla? I think it is openness and clarity’
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https://scroll.in/latest/1076840/tabla-maestro-zakir-hussain-passes-away-at-73-family-confirms
| 2024-12-16T06:22:26Z
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Joakim Noah Bullish on NBA Rio Rumble
Joakim Noah says he's looking forward to the first ever NBA match in Brazil, with his Chicago Bulls slated to face Washington Wizards on October 12.
Joakim Noah says he's looking forward to the first ever NBA match in Brazil, with his Chicago Bulls slated to face Washington Wizards on October 12.
Noah, 28, and son of former French Open tennis champion Yannick Noah, and Cecilia Rodhe, a former Miss Sweden, said it was high time Brazil got to see NBA in the flesh.
And he is likewise itching to see Rio host the 2016 Olympic Games. "In Rio I want to go to Ipanema beach -- I like the Girl from Ipanema," joked Bulls centre Noah of Antonio Carlos Jobim's iconic song.
"I want to get to know the beach -- the girl too!," O Globo daily quoted Noah as saying.
The fixture is scheduled for Rio's 18,000-capacity HSBC Arena. The NBA has previously held pre-season warm-ups abroad, including in Britain, China and Mexico.
Wizards guard Bradley Beal said in a teleconference interview that the match ought to be a great occasion between two well-matched teams.
"It will be very competitive," said Beal. Also going up against Noah will be Wizards' former Denver Nuggets power forward Nene, a Brazilian international who will be bent on impressing his home crowd.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/basketball/joakim-noah-bullish-on-nba-rio-rumble-105427.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:29Z
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San Francisco (USA): Renowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away on Sunday, December 15. The legendary musician had been receiving treatment for heart-related complications in the ICU of a San Francisco hospital for the past two weeks.
The cause of death was confirmed to be idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease. The news was confirmed by Jon Bleicher of Prospect PR, representing the family.
The demise of Padma Vibhushan awardee has left the music world and his countless admirers in profound grief, with tributes and condolences pouring in from across the globe.
The three-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Ricky Kej was 'shocked' and 'deeply saddened' by the demise of the legend Ustad Zakir Hussain. He called him one of the greatest musicians which India has ever produced.
While sharing a monochrome portrait of the singer on Instagram, Ricky Kej wrote,
"Shocked, deeply saddened and devastated by the passing-on of the legend Ustad Zakir Hussain @zakirhq9. One of the greatest musicians and personalities India has ever produced. Along with being the best himself, Zakirji was known for his immense humility, approachable nature, and for being responsible for the careers of numerous musicians, who are now forces to reckon with themselves. He was a treasure trove of skill and knowledge and always shared and encouraged the entire music community through collaborations and his actions. His legacy will live on forever, and his influence will be felt for generations. He left us too soon."
As the news of the demise took over the Internet, it left everyone in a state of grief and shock. Condolences have started pouring in from his admirers and music stalwarts. Singer Anup Jalota called it 'shocking news' and while mourning the loss of the Tabla maestro, the 'Aisi Lagi Lagan' singer said that the legacy of this tabla player will live on forever.
Taking to his X handle, he shared a video and wrote,
"Can't wrap my head around the news. I'm in pain. Sending love and strength to all his admirers during this difficult time. May we find comfort in his legacy and the joy he brought to our lives."
Music composer Thaman S also expressed his condolences. Taking to his X handle, he wrote, "REST IN PEACE MAESTRO. We lost the Legend Today. #UstadZakirHussain Saab"
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, India, Zakir Hussain was the son of the iconic tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. From a young age, he displayed a remarkable affinity for the tabla, quickly gaining recognition for his exceptional talent. By the time he was a teenager, Zakir was already performing alongside some of the greatest Indian classical musicians.
Throughout his career, Ustad Zakir Hussain collaborated with some of the most iconic names in both traditional Indian and global music scenes. He worked with legends such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan and was a key figure in creating international fusion bands like Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin and Planet Drum with Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart.
His collaboration on the Planet Drum album also earned him a Grammy Award.
Zakir Hussain's contributions to music were recognized by numerous prestigious awards over the years, including the Padma Shri (1988) and Padma Bhushan (2002) from the Indian government, as well as four Grammy Awards. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/showbiz/music/legendary-tabla-maestro-ustad-zakir-hussain-passes-away-tributes-pour-in-from-music-icons
| 2024-12-16T06:22:31Z
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Two labourers from Bihar shot dead in Manipur, Biren Singh calls it act of terrorism
The two men were killed by unknown assailants when they were cycling back from work in the Kakching district.
Two workers from Bihar were found dead with bullet wounds in Manipur’s Kakching district on Saturday, reported The Indian Express.
The police said that Dashrat Kumar (18) and Sunalal Kumar (17) – construction labourers from Bihar’s Gopalganj district – were shot by unknown assailants when they were cycling back from work in the Wabagai Keithel area around 5 pm on National Highway 137(A).
The police took both of them to a private hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.
The police have registered a case and are investigating the motive behind the attack.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the killings constituted an act of terrorism that was “a direct assault on our values”.
He said in a post on X: “In this crucial juncture, we cannot ignore the possibility that this horrific crime is part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise our state and push it further towards chaos.”
Singh announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to each bereaved family. He said that every possible effort was underway to identify and apprehend those responsible, and that the case would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency if required.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of the men. He also directed officials from the state social welfare and labour departments to provide other benefits to the family as per the rules.
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https://scroll.in/latest/1076844/two-labourers-from-bihar-shot-dead-in-manipur-biren-singh-calls-it-act-of-terrorism
| 2024-12-16T06:22:34Z
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CLT20: 5 Rockstars for Mumbai Indians
Five men who ensured Mumbai Indians' emphatic 33-run win over Rajasthan Royals in the Champions League Twenty20 final.
1. Kieron Pollard
Five men who ensured Mumbai Indians' emphatic 33-run win over Rajasthan Royals in the Champions League Twenty20 final.
Known more for his destructive batting, Pollard snapped 3 wickets conceding 31 runs in 3.5 overs.
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2. Harbhajan Singh
The Turbanator was the wrecker-in-chief of the Rajasthan Royals innings with a haul of 4 wickets conceding 32 runs in 4 overs.
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3. Glenn Maxwell
The million dollar baby of Mumbai Indians showed his class with a 14-ball 37 (2 sixes and 4 fours).
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4. Rohit Sharma
The skipper played a hurricane innings of 33 runs (2 sixes and 3 fours) off just 14 balls.
__PAGEBREAK__
5. Dwayne Smith
The Mumbai Indians opener blasted a 39-ball 44 (1 six and 5 fours).
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/clt20-5-rockstars-for-mumbai-indians-105314.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:35Z
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India-Aus Series Meaningless: Chappell
Coming down heavily on Cricket Australia for agreeing to the upcoming ODI series against India, former captain Ian Chappell said the "badly timed" matches will dent the team's morale by exposing its "glaring" batting frailties on spin-friendly tracks
NEW DELHI: Coming down heavily on Cricket Australia for agreeing to the upcoming ODI series against India, former captain Ian Chappell said the "badly timed" matches will dent the team's morale by exposing its "glaring" batting frailties on spin-friendly tracks.
India and Australia will clash in a Twenty20 and seven ODIs starting October 10 in Rajkot. Chappell said the entire series has been planned just for money.
"Agreeing to this meaningless ODI tour of India so close to an Ashes series is evidence that Cricket Australia is more concerned with dollars than sense," Chappell wrote in 'ESPN Cricinfo'.
"Australia's mounting Test losses not only hurt in the record book but have also shredded the team's aura... Australia's weakness in this bleak period has been batting in general, and coping with good spin bowling in particular," he explained.
"The flaws have become so glaring that at a Lord's Taverners function I attended recently in London, the comments from former players were pointed. 'What's happened to Australian batsmanship?' was the welcome from past opponents before I received the obligatory 'Oh, and by the way, how are you?'," he added.
In the absence of injured skipper Michael Clarke, Chappell said Australia would be all the more vulnerable against an Indian team, which dominates on home turf.
"The glaring batting weakness will be exacerbated in India by the absence of Michael Clarke, easily the best player of spin in the Australian side. Without Clarke to guide them and be a steady source of runs, Australia are at risk of again losing in India," he said.
"While few from the ODI team will be in contention for the Test side, a demoralising loss on the eve of an Ashes series won't help Australian morale, while it will boost England's outlook," he added.
Chappell said the series will also make it more challenging for the Australian selectors to pick the right squad for the Ashes next month.
"Not only is the scheduling of this tour badly timed for the players, it also hasn't done the Australian selectors any favours," he said.
"Normally at this time they would be gauging batting candidates for the No. 6 position in the Test side based on their domestic first-class form. Now they'll feel obliged to take into account any contenders who put up good performances on the tour of India.
"This could lead to some selection blunders. Runs scored in the relative serenity of a 50-over game are a far cry from those that need to be earned in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of an Ashes Test against a good attack," he opined.
Chappell said the Aussie weakness against spin bowling would be thoroughly exploited by the Indians and that would hit the confidence of young or unestablished batsmen.
"I don't see a potential No. 6 Test batsman in the ODI squad. Worse still, there are a few batsmen in that squad who are vulnerable against spin bowling, a weakness the Indians are sure to exploit. This means potential contenders could return to Australia's firmer pitches with their confidence undermined," he said.
"It has been obvious for some time that the No. 1 priority among cricket administrators is the bottom line, and the timing of this ODI tour is further proof. What wasn't so obvious was that Cricket Australia isn't superstitious and nor does it believe in bad omens," he concluded.
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/indiaaus-series-meaningless-chappell-105264.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:37Z
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New Delhi: The music world mourns the loss of Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla virtuoso, who passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024, in San Francisco, USA. He was 73.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest percussionists of all time, Ustad Zakir Hussain was not only a master of his craft but also a cultural bridge-builder who elevated Indian classical music to international acclaim.
His contributions to both traditional and contemporary music have left an indelible mark on the global music landscape.
Born on March 9, 1951, in Mumbai, Zakir Hussain inherited his talent and passion for tabla from his father, the iconic Ustad Alla Rakha.
Demonstrating exceptional promise from a young age, Zakir Hussain began performing by the time he was a teenager. His unmatched skill and innate rhythm soon catapulted him to prominence in the Indian classical music world.
Zakir Hussain redefined the role of the tabla, transforming it from a mere supporting instrument to a central figure in performances.
His mastery of intricate rhythms and his ability to convey profound emotion through his music made him an iconic figure in the world of classical music.
Zakir Hussain was a trailblazer in blending Indian classical music with global genres, creating groundbreaking collaborations that expanded the reach of his art.
He partnered with legends like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan in traditional settings, while his groundbreaking collaborations with international musicians such as John McLaughlin in 'Shakti' and Mickey Hart in 'Planet Drum' pushed boundaries.
The 'Planet Drum' album earned him a Grammy Award and showcased his extraordinary ability to merge cultural rhythms into a harmonious global sound.
Over a career spanning almost six decades, Zakir Hussain received numerous prestigious awards, including:
Padma Shri (1988) and Padma Bhushan (2002) from the Indian government, 4 Grammy Awards for his contribution to world music, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, recognising his excellence in Indian classical music, the National Heritage Fellowship, the highest award for traditional artists in the US.
Despite these accolades, Zakir Hussain remained grounded. In several media interviews and winning speeches, he expressed viewing himself as a lifelong student of music.
Beyond the stage, Ustad Zakir Hussain dedicated much of his time to nurturing future generations of musicians.
He taught extensively at institutions like the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Francisco and conducted workshops around the world.
The news of his demise has triggered an outpouring of tributes from leaders, artists, and fans worldwide.
Musicians and admirers have shared stories of his profound impact on their lives, celebrating his remarkable journey and mourning his loss.
Zakir Hussain's passing leaves a void in the world of music that cannot be filled. His artistry not only transcended borders but also brought people together from all corners of the world.
Survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, and daughters, Anisa and Isabella, his music will continue to inspire countless musicians and listeners.
The beats of his tabla will echo in the hearts of millions for generations to come. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/showbiz/music/ustad-zakir-hussain-a-global-music-icons-legacy-lives-on-1951-2024
| 2024-12-16T06:22:38Z
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Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid - will be up against each other for the last time as both the batsmen will quit the shortest format after the Champions League Twenty20 final at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Sunday.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/its-sachin-vs-dravid-for-the-last-time-105285.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:43Z
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CHINA: A Chinese mistress recently faced a courtroom setback after she attempted to reclaim a substantial “divorce fee” of 1.2 million yuan (US$165,000) from the legal wife of her married lover.
According to the South China Morning Post, the wife accepted the payment but refused to divorce, which frustrated the mistress even more when the court denied her refund request.
A complicated love triangle in Fujian
The story began in December 2013, when a man named Han from Shishi, Fujian province, married his wife, Yang. Together, they have two daughters.
However, Han’s marriage was not without complications—he began an affair with his colleague, Shi, and the two even formed a business partnership. In November 2022, Shi gave birth to a son, further entangling the situation.
In a bid to “replace” Yang, Shi made a bold offer. She proposed to pay Yang 2 million yuan (US$280,000) if the wife agreed to divorce Han.
To kickstart the deal, Shi transferred 1.2 million yuan to Yang by the end of 2022. However, despite the payment, Yang refused to proceed with the divorce, leaving Shi in limbo for over a year.
Court rules against mistress
As time passed, Shi grew increasingly frustrated and demanded a refund of the money. After Yang refused to return the 1.2 million yuan, Shi filed a lawsuit seeking to reclaim the funds.
Shi argued that there had been a “verbal agreement” that the payment was conditional on Yang’s divorce and sought legal action to recover the sum plus interest.
However, on February 7, the Shishi People’s Court ruled against Shi’s claim. The court determined that the payment violated societal moral standards and public order, as it was designed to interfere with an existing marriage.
Moreover, it was noted that Han and Yang were in a “cooling-off” period after submitting their divorce application, meaning the payment did not meet the legal criteria for a refund.
The cooling-off period, introduced in 2021, requires couples to wait 30 days before their divorce is finalized.
Legal implications and social media reactions
The case also highlighted Han’s financial actions during his affair. It was revealed that Han spent over 6 million yuan (US$825,000) on Shi without his wife’s knowledge, raising questions about potential legal repercussions for bigamy.
Legal experts weighed in, with lawyer Yue Zengchao explaining that assets acquired by a married man during an affair without his wife’s consent are considered jointly owned by the couple.
This means that the wife could legally demand the return of her share from the third party. The case has stirred widespread conversation on Chinese social media, with many people calling the court’s decision a win for justice.
One commenter stated, “Taking the money and refusing to divorce – this is the perfect way to make her lose both the man and the money!” Another humorously questioned, “What kind of man is worth 1.2 million yuan?”
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https://theindependent.sg/chinese-mistress-pays-165k-divorce-fee-but-her-lovers-wife-keeps-the-money-and-wont-divorce-court-denies-refund-as-well/
| 2024-12-16T06:22:45Z
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The Cleveland Browns believed that wide receiver Jerry Jeudy could become a special player in the NFL.
After four years in Denver where he experienced varying degrees of success, the Broncos shipped Jeudy to Cleveland for a pair of Day 3 picks in 2024’s NFL Draft.
While he started slowly this season, Jeudy found his stride once now-injured starter Deshaun Watson was replaced by Jameis Winston.
On Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the fifth-year wide receiver set new career highs in both receiving yards and catches for a season.
After exceeding the 1,000-yard mark in 2024 with his 11-catch, 108-yard performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jeudy spoke about what hitting that milestone meant to him.
“Reaching 1,000, I’m extremely thankful..but unfortunately that 1,000 don’t mean nothing without going to the playoffs, without winning games,” Jeudy said.
What does #Browns WR Jerry Jeudy's first career 1,000-yard season mean to him?
"Right now, at this moment, it don't mean nothing."
"Reaching 1,000, I'm extremely thankful..but unfortunately that 1,000 don't mean nothing without going to the playoffs, without winning games." pic.twitter.com/IrCtu5JrKV
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) December 16, 2024
For the season, Jeudy has now caught 70 passes for 1,052 yards and four touchdowns.
Those stats put him among the league’s best with much of Week 15 already in the books.
His 1,052 receiving yards this year rank as the fifth-best total in the league according to NFL.com.
Currently, Jeudy ranks behind four perennial Pro Bowlers as Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, and Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown have more receiving yards through their first 14 games.
Before this year’s production, Jeudy’s previous best season was 2022 when he caught 67 passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns.
Cleveland signed Jeudy to a three-year deal after completing the trade for him this March that will keep him with the Browns through the 2026 season.
NEXT: Analyst Believes Kevin Stefanski Should Be Fired
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https://www.brownsnation.com/jerry-jeudy-had-notable-career-milestone-on-sunday/
| 2024-12-16T06:22:45Z
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This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.
In the summer of 2024, Caroline Davis and her partner were doing a DIY home project that required 1,500 pounds of gravel. So Davis headed to a home improvement store, and started filling up her Toyota Corolla with 50-pound bags.
"I'm loading, loading. And this older man comes over," she recalled. "And he says, 'Do you know that your car has a weight limit?'"
Davis did not know that. It had never even occurred to her that she could damage her car with a heavy load.
"That feels to me like something your dad would tell you," Davis said. Her dad had died of a heart attack in 2017, at the age of 57.
"So I'm doing DIY later in life," she said. "I didn't [learn] that from him."
Davis started to feel overwhelmed; how was she going to unload the gravel from her car and bring it back to the store? And then how would she transport all the gravel she needed back home for her project? That's when the man made an offer of unusual generosity.
"He says, 'I can load you up in my truck. Do you live nearby?' And I say, 'Yes,'" Davis said.
The man helped her unload all the gravel from her car, and then loaded it into his truck. They exchanged numbers, and she shared her address. When she pulled onto the highway, the kindness of what he had done began to hit her.
"I just start to cry in my car because I was so grateful for the goodness of strangers, of this person helping me," Davis said.
"The whole interaction just reminded me of my dad, of knowing that that's something that he would do."
When they arrived at her house, the man helped her unload all 1,500 pounds of gravel onto her driveway. She thanked him, again and again, and he insisted that she not worry about it.
Davis didn't want him to leave empty-handed. She tried to offer him money, then wine, but he wouldn't accept them. Then she thought of something he might like.
"I have a garden. And it's the end of the season. And I just say, 'Do you like cucumbers?'" Davis recalled.
"He's been pretty serious up until now," she said. "And his face just lights up and he says, 'I love cucumbers.'"
She offered him a tour of the garden; it turned out he, too, had been a gardener, before his work got in the way. Davis twisted a handful of big, prickly cucumbers off the vine, and gave them to the man. He seemed thrilled.
"He tucks them under his arm, and he just marches off back to his truck," she said. "And I watched him drive off, leaving behind my 1,500 pounds of gravel."
Today, inspired by her unsung hero, Davis tries to be on the lookout for others who might need a hand.
"I just am so grateful for people like that, who teach me the things I don't know I don't know."
My Unsung Hero is also a podcast — new episodes are released every Tuesday. To share the story of your unsung hero with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice memo on your phone and send it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-14/thats-something-that-he-would-do-a-strangers-generosity-reminded-her-of-her-dad
| 2024-12-16T06:22:45Z
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Morocco is on track to set new tourism records in 2024, with the country poised to become Africa's most visited destination, surpassing Egypt. French nationals remain the largest group of foreign tourists, followed by British visitors.
By November 2024, Morocco had already welcomed nearly 16 million tourists, marking a 20 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
With these numbers continuing to climb, Moroccan authorities are optimistic about reaching a new milestone next year, aiming for 17.5 million visitors.
One of the most popular destinations within Morocco remains Marrakech, known as the "Red City."
The city enjoys excellent connectivity, particularly with low-cost airlines, making it a top choice for both foreign visitors and Moroccan expatriates.
The remarkable rise in tourism can be attributed to Morocco's extensive efforts to promote its diverse destinations.
France, Morocco sign deals worth €10bn on energy, infrastructure
Additionally, geopolitical factors have played a role, with some travelers opting for Morocco over other regional destinations.
For instance, a French tourist in Marrakech told RFI that they had initially planned to visit Lebanon but chose Morocco instead due to the worsening security situation in the Middle East.
Tourism contributes significantly to Morocco's economy, accounting for 7 percent of its GDP.
In 2024, the sector has already generated 9.2 billion euros in revenue, and experts predict this figure will rise further, breaking records by the end of the year.
Strong ties to France
Marrakech's popularity is reflected in its strong connections with France, with 34 direct flights between the two countries.
French nationals remain the largest group of foreign tourists, though British visitors are also increasing, with a 47 percent rise in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Other popular destinations include Agadir and Tangier, while Casablanca continues to draw business travellers.
CAF announce new dates for 2025 AFCON in Morocco
Africa Cup of Nations
As Morocco sets its sights on new tourism records, the country remains a key player in the global travel landscape, with expectations for continued growth and success.
The country's tourism sector is set to become even more crucial in the coming years.
Morocco will host the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in 2025, expected to attract around 500,000 visitors.
Additionally, Morocco's bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup has been confirmed, which is anticipated to bring even more international attention to the country.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160028.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:45Z
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- Tennis Star Genie Bouchard suffers An Eye Injury Playing Pickleball
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Stringlet: Serving Up Tennis Inspiration With A Twist
- Updated: December 14, 2024
Tennis enthusiasts looking to showcase their love for the game, Stringlet is a game-changer. This innovative bracelet, made from real tennis racquet strings, is the ultimate tennis accessory, engaging both players and fans alike. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a casual observer, Stringlet is more than just a fashion statement—it’s a representation of your connection to the sport.
Stringlet is a symbol of passion and commitment to tennis.
For players, it serves as a daily reminder of their love for the game. For fans, it’s a way to show their support and connect with others in the tennis community.
Unlike typical fan merchandise like key chains, t-shirts, or jumbo tennis balls, Stringlet is lightweight, stylish, and wearable both on and off the court. Starting at $9, the Stringlet is also an affordable accessory that leaves no fan out.
It’s the perfect way to carry a piece of tennis with you every day.
- Made from braided tennis racquet strings
- Available in many colors and combinations
- Feather-light
- Secured with a stainless steel magnetic clasp
- Available in adult and children’s/petite sizes
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https://www.10sballs.com/2024/12/14/stringlet-serving-up-tennis-inspiration-with-a-twist/
| 2024-12-16T06:22:45Z
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Kingstown [St Vincent]: After three consecutive ODI defeats, Bangladesh finally returned to winning ways with a narrow 7-run victory over the West Indies in the 1st T20I at Arnos Vale Ground.
The West Indies managed to make it out a nail-biting affair, courtesy of skipper Rovman Powell's blitzkrieg, But in reality, the hosts never really recovered from the damage caused by Mahedi Hasan in the powerplay.
While chasing a modest 148-run total, the Caribbean side faced problems as Mahedi made early inroads through their batting lineup.
The West Indies had already lost Brandon King before Mahedi was introduced to bowl in the powerplay. In his second delivery of the match, Mahedi caught the big fish, Nicholas Pooran. He invited him to step out of the crease to have a go at him. Pooran shimmered down the crease, went for a swing and missed the ball, which held a straight trajectory. The explosive batter was well short of the crease as Litton gathered the ball and dislodged the bails in a jiffy.
West Indies found reprieve in the next over with Johnson Charles going berserk against Tanzim Hasan Sakib. He tonked two sixes and followed it up with a crisp four to accumulate 25 runs from the over.
But the impending end from Mahedi ended Charles' deal with the boundaries. The opener took the aerial route, but the desired elevation was something that was missed dearly. The ball landed in Hasan Mahmud's hands at mid-off.
With the West Indies tottering at run-a-ball 36 and three wickets down after the first six overs, Mahedi dealt a massive blow to make their chase a lost cause.
He delivered a match-defining over to remove Andre Fletcher for a four-ball duck and then Roston Chase for 7(13). With the West Indies looking down and out at 39/5, Powell knew his side needed something special from him.
Powell kept the hopes alive with Romario Shepherd playing the second fiddle to his skipper. The duo paced their knocks according to the situation and brought down the equation to 20 needed in 18 balls.
With victory once again in sight, Bangladesh pacers held their nerves to see off the game. Taskin Ahmed removed Shepherd (22), but Powell's threat continued to loom in the atmosphere.
In the final over, Hasan Mahmud had 10 runs to defend while facing Powell. Mahmud bowled it wide, and Powell went for a flashy drive. He only found an outside edge, which was taken by the wicketkeeper. Mahmud castled Alzarri Joseph to seal a 7-run victory for Bangladesh.
Earlier in the match, after being put to bat by the hosts, Bangladesh needed moments of individual brilliance to find their way to 147/6. Soumya Sarkar played a blistering knock of 43(32), while Jaker Ali (27), Mahedi (26*) and Shamim Hossain (27) made invaluable contributions towards the end, which took the visitors to a fighting total. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/sports/cricket/1st-t20i-bangladesh-defeats-west-indies-by-7-runs-as-mahedi-hasan-shines
| 2024-12-16T06:22:45Z
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Mumbai Indians Win Champions League T20
Mumbai Indians beat the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs to lift the Champions League Twenty20 title.
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians beat the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs at the Ferozeshah Kotla here Sunday to lift the Champions League Twenty20 title.
Chasing 203, the Royals were bowled out for 169 in 18.5 overs by the 2011 edition champions.
Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowler as he led Mumbai's fightback with his four-wicket haul. Bhajji dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny and Kevon Cooper in 17th over to turn the match in Mumbai's way.
Mumbai completed the double as they also won the IPL 2013 earlier this year.
Pragyan Ojha gave Mumbai Indians huge sigh of relief by removing Sanju Samson. Samson led from the front as he notched up 23-ball fifty to keep Royals on track. Samson smashed four fours and as many sixes during his swashbuckling knock.
Ajinkya Rahane continued his red hot form smashing yet another fifty to lead Royals after the dismissal of Samson.
Samson smacked three fours and four sixes during the course of his flamboyant knock. Samson also added 109-run stand with Rahane for the second wicket to put Mumbai on backfoot.
Samson and Ajinkya Rahane hammered Mumbai Indians bowlers all over the park to keep Rajasthan Royals on track.
Rajasthan Royals got off to poor start in their pursuit of 203 against Mumbai. Kushal Perera hit back-to-back boundaries in the first over before he got mixed up with Ajinkya Rahane that sent the former back to the pavilion.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians batsmen fired in unison to post a massive 202 for six against a hapless Rajasthan Royals.
After a solid start by opener Dwayne Smith (44) and a valuable 33 off 14 balls by skipper Rohit Sharma in the middle, Glenn Maxwell's 14-ball 37 cameo in the end took the IPL champions past 200-run mark.
This is the highest total for the Mumbai Indians, who scored 142 runs in their last 10 overs, in the Champions League Twenty20.
It was a team effort with Maxwell adding 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Dinesh Kartik (15 not out) in 2.2 overs towards the fag end.
For the Royals, Pravin Tambe was the only impressive bowler with figures of 4-0-19-2.
Put in to bat by Rajasthan Royals, the in-form opener Smith gave Mumbai Indians a perfect start, hitting a six over deep mid-wicket in the third ball of the very first over to set the tone.
The other opener, Tendulkar, who is playing his final Twenty20 match, took an over to get settled down before he opened up. He started off with a four in James Faulkner's over, a perfectly timed cover drive.
The 40-year-old right handed batsman then followed it up with two successive boundaries in the first two deliveries off Shane Watson's over before the ball crashed into his off-stump to cut short his innings that saw him score a 13-ball 15, including three hits to the fence.
Even as the senior batsman walked back into the pavilion in coloured cloths for one last time, his teammates and the full house crowd at the Ferozeshah Kotla here gave him a standing ovation.
Tendulkar's departure slowed down the rhythm a bit with Ambati Rayudu adopting a cautious approach, relying mostly on singles and twos. Despite that Mumbai Indians managed to bring up their fifty in 6.5 overs, maintaining a decent run rate.
The 41-year-old leg-spinner Tambe, who has emerged as the surprise package of Champion League T20, managed to put breaks in the MI scoring.
The boundaries suddenly dried up and Mumbai crawled to 60 at the half-way stage. After hitting a boundary in the fifth over, they failed to score any more four in the next five overs. They scored just nine runs from three overs.
But once Shane Watson came back for his second spell, Smith chose to launch his attack again, smashing three boundaries all around the park in his first three balls of the over to steal 15 runs.
Tambe, however, bowled Watson out in the very next over for a well-made 44 off 39 balls with the help of five fours and a six.
Rayudu continued in the able company of skipper Rohit Sharma, who continued to display his fine form after joining his partner in the middle. Both the batsmen picked up the momentum yet again.
In Stuart Binny's over, the duo snatched 16 runs, hitting two fours and a six to release the pressure. Mumbai's 100 came in 13.1 overs when Rayudu hit a four off Tambe, lofting it over the bowler's head.
But Tambe, who is having a dream run in this competition, saw him off with the third ball of the same over. Rayudu scored a 24-ball 29, studded with four hits to the fence.
Hard-hitting Kieron Pollard, who joined Rohit, wasted no time and the two batsmen straightaway got down to business.
Firing on all cylinders, the duo scored 15 runs in Rahul Shukla's over before punishing Cooper for 20 runs, as both Pollard and Rohit hit a six each in his over.
It was Faulkner, who got the leg stumps of dangerman Pollard to get him out.
Glenn Maxwell, who replaced Mitchell Johnson in this game, began with a four and a six and then topped it up with 20 runs in Shukla's over.
Despite Rohit departing in the first ball of Shukla's over, Maxwell hit him for two sixes and a four. He, along with Kartik, then kept on punishing the bowlers to take MI past 200-run mark.
TNN & IANS
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/mumbai-indians-win-champions-league-t20-105306.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:49Z
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Windhoek, Namibia — Two Namibian political parties scored a legal victory Friday when three judges on the country's Electoral Court ruled they can examine Electoral Commission materials from last month's presidential and legislative elections. The parties have rejected election results, which showed the long-ruling SWAPO party retaining control of parliament, although with a reduced majority.
The two parties -- the Independent Patriots for Change, or IPC, and the Landless People's Movement, or LPM -- appear to be looking for evidence of irregularities in the elections that returned the SWAPO party to power.
Opposition parties say voter turnout was suppressed in some areas due to a lack of ballot papers.
But critics argue that even though there were widespread irregularities, they were of a logistical nature and cannot be seen as having affected the final election results.
John Nakuta is a human rights lawyer and lecturer at Namibia's national university.
Speaking to VOA at the courthouse Friday, Nakuta outlined what he believed the IPC and LKM are trying to accomplish.
"So, it is as if they want to inspect whether or not there indeed was irregularities, as they seem to be unofficially saying there were irregularities," said Nakuta. "They want to investigate as to establish evidence whether there was irregularities and then after they would then, I suppose, come back to ask the court to nullify based on the evidence they would produce."
A spokesperson for the IPC, Imms Nashinge, said Friday's ruling is just a first step in a legal challenge that the party intends to bring to court in about a week.
"We made it clear that we are not accepting anything from this sham of an election from day one and our colleagues, other political parties such as PDM, UDF and others are in support with us. That's why you have seen on the day of the announcement we did not attend," said Nashinge. "We made it clear even before the results were announced that even if it come out on our favor, we were not going to accept anything because it violates the principles and values of our democracy."
At the courthouse, Elections Commissioner Pius Iikwambi said the commission had already reached an agreement with the aggrieved parties where they offered them the opportunity to inspect election materials and this court process was just an affirmation of what they had already decided.
Electoral commission spokesperson De Wet Siluka told VOA the political parties that object to the outcome of the elections are themselves to blame for failing to send representatives to various polling stations to inspect the election process as it was being carried out.
"We even allocated them tables, chairs and computers where they could verify, as we verify also, to say, 'OK, this is what we have received from the collation center, these are the documents we have received from the polling station themselves and here is what...' Because here we only verify to see what we received from the collation center and what they received from the polling station are they adding up, then we proceed," said Siluka.
Twenty-two political parties contested the just-ended presidential and National Assembly elections in Namibia.
Of those, 13 managed to obtain seats in the 104-member National Assembly where SWAPO holds a majority of 51 seats.
The ruling Friday by the electoral court says the opposition parties can inspect the forms showing results from various polling stations. Critics say it's unclear what, if anything, the parties will be able to prove once they are done inspecting the documents.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160040.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:51Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
For weeks now, residents in New Jersey and across the Northeast have looked up to the night sky and seen drones, dozens of car-sized drones flying above critical infrastructure like reservoirs and military bases.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: ...One low looks pretty close, right?
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: So I - this one's going to fly over us right now.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: You think so?
DETROW: That is footage captured by one New Jersey resident, U.S. Senator Andy Kim, who spent his Thursday night drone hunting with local police in a rural part of the state and posting about it on social media. Naturally, these mysterious drones have raised some questions. Where are they coming from? Who's flying them? Why? Federal officials say they don't have answers to those questions but say they see no evidence so far of a national security threat. Here's Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaking on ABC earlier today.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS: There's no question that people are seeing drones, and I want to assure the American public that we in the federal government have deployed additional resources, personnel, technology to assist the New Jersey state police in addressing the drone sightings.
DETROW: So in the era of see-something-say-something, the Feds seem to be assuring the public that there is nothing to see here. Local firefighters do say do not approach any drones that have crashed into the ground.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/drones-in-new-jersey-skies-something-or-nothing
| 2024-12-16T06:22:51Z
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Happy Holidays from 10sBalls Team: Our Wish For You and Yours!
- Updated: December 15, 2024
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https://www.10sballs.com/2024/12/15/happy-holidays-from-10sballs-team-our-wish-for-you-and-yours/
| 2024-12-16T06:22:52Z
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Brisbane [Australia]: Australia's pace blitz left Indian batters exposed in a session utterly dominated by the hosts, with rain constantly making its presence felt at irregular intervals on Day 3 of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Monday.
As the rain came down from the sky covered with dark clouds, both sides had to take Lunch, with India reduced to 22/3, trailing by 423 runs, with KL Rahul unbeaten with a score of 13(24).
In a start-stop session utterly dominated by Australia, Indian players were once again asked to reflect on their flaws as the impending doom of defeat started to linger in Brisbane.
It was A-Lister Jasprit Bumrah who paved the way for India by removing Mitchell Starc in the opening hour. Starc looked deadly the moment he smoked the ball into the stand with a picture-perfect slog-sweep off Ravindra Jadeja.
Bumrah sensed the threat radiating from the Starc and forced out an edge from the southpaw in the next over. Starc's feet were stuck on the ground as he made an attempt to push the ball away.
A loose waft from the Australian was enough to pick up a nick as the ball travelled into the safe gloves of Rishabh Pant.
With Alex Carey on the field, Nathan Lyon resisted the temptation to go after the Indian attack, as rain made its presence felt at irregular intervals.
With the tempo of the day set, Mohammed Siraj broke the shackles and managed to breach past Lyon's defence to hit the middle stump.
With just a wicket left, Carey decided to charge at Akash Deep but ended up mistiming his shot, forcing Australia to wrap up its inning on 445.
In reply, Indian batters continued to live through the nightmares inflicted in Adelaide, with Starc being the driving force of the Australian pace attack.
His first victim of the day was Yashasvi Jaiswal, a player he has developed a rivalry with since the Perth Test. The young Indian southpaw managed to avoid a golden duck by edging the ball to the boundary, but Starc retaliated by swinging the ball and using the scrambled seam delivery to its effective use.
He picked up Jaiswal's wicket on his second ball of the match after the Indian chipped it away straight into Mitchell Marsh's hands. Shubman Gill (1) was next to return cheaply after he edged it away to Marsh, who took a flight and snaffled it with both hands.
Virat Kohli (3) soon joined the company of the duo after being tempted by Hazlewood to chase the outside off delivery and edge it away towards the wicketkeeper.
This marked the final action of the session as KL Rahul, who looked the most settled out there, returned to the dressing room.
Brief Score: Australia 445 (Travis Head 152, Steven Smith 151; Jasprit Bumrah 6-76) vs India 22/3 (KL Rahul 13*; Mitchell Starc 2-11) (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/sports/cricket/bgt-3rd-test-rain-disrupts-as-australia-dominates-india-on-day-3-in-brisbane
| 2024-12-16T06:22:53Z
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FAREWELL PICS: Tendulkar & Dravid
Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar played their last Twenty20 match in Delhi.
Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar played their last Twenty20 match in Delhi.
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid ahead of the Champions League Twenty20 final in Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: BCCL)
Sachin Tendulkar celebrates with teammates after winning final of the CLT20 against Rajasthan Royals at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Sachin Tendulkar being given a warm send-off during the CLT20 final in Delhi. (Photo: BCCL)
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid shake hands during the CLT20 final at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Sachin Tendulkar pats Rahul Dravid as he leaves the pitch after his dismissal during the CLT20 final at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/pics-farewell-to-tendulkar-and-dravid-105382.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:56Z
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PICS: Mumbai Indians Rejoice CLT20 Win
Mumbai Indians celebrated the terrific win at the Champions League Twenty20 in Delhi.
Mumbai Indians celebrated the terrific win at the Champions League Twenty20 in Delhi.
Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma holds winning trophy after beating Rajasthan Royals in the final of CLT20 at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Mumbai Indians players celebrate with trophy after winning final of the CLT20 against Rajasthan Royals at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Mumbai Indians players celebrate after winning the CLT20 final against Rajasthan Royals at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Mumbai Indians players celebrate after winning the CLT20 final against Rajasthan Royals at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
Mumbai Indians players celebrate with trophy after winning final of the CLT20 against Rajasthan Royals at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. (Photo: PTI)
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/pics-mumbai-indians-rejoice-clt20-win-105378.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:57Z
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“How do you deal with a toxic boss?” is a question we’ve all had to ask at least once in our lives. No matter how hard we try to steer clear of these kinds of leaders, they always seem to pop up everywhere.
Whether it’s micromanaging, playing favourites, or creating a toxic work culture, dealing with a boss like this can be exhausting and demoralizing.
So, how do you deal with their behaviour?
While previous reports have shown that there are direct strategies for managing this type of behaviour—such as establishing boundaries, providing feedback, or reporting their harassment to higher-ups—a new study found that there are two ‘low-cost, high-impact remedies’ that can help with this problem: social media and flexible work arrangements.
This study, published in August 2024 in the academic journal Industrial Marketing Management, is based on a survey conducted with 237 business-to-business salespeople across multiple industries.
Social media as a distraction and outlet
Although cyberloafing—a term that refers to employees engaging in non-work-related activities like browsing social media or checking personal messages during work hours—is often seen negatively by most organizations, this study has demonstrated that it can actually serve a beneficial purpose.
The findings indicate that social media platforms such as Teams, Slack, and Instagram provide a refuge or distraction for employees experiencing immense pressure from a toxic supervisor.
These platforms also give employees a space to connect and share their frustrations about the toxic work environment without dealing with formalities.
Flexible work options make employees feel more valued
The research also underscored the value of flexible work options, showing that employees with control over their schedules or work locations tend to feel more valued and experience less stress.
Having the freedom to work when or where they’re most comfortable creates a sense of autonomy that can ease the emotional toll of dealing with a difficult boss.
Unsurprisingly, flexibility is catching on in many workplaces.
According to a McKinsey poll, about 58% of American workers can now access remote or hybrid roles. Additionally, 87% of employees say they would readily accept a job offer that includes remote work options.
Singapore is also not far behind because, as of December 2024, employees who have completed their probation can officially request flexible work arrangements (FWAs) from their employers.
The options open to employees include flexi-place (working from different locations like home), flexi-time (adjusting work hours), and flexi-load (reducing workloads with fair pay adjustments).
Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
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https://theindependent.sg/how-to-deal-with-toxic-bosses-new-research-says-social-media-and-flexible-work-can-help/
| 2024-12-16T06:22:57Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Some things are easier to learn when you're a kid, like an instrument or a sport. NPR's Avery Keatley visited a gymnastics class outside of Washington, D.C., to find out why it's important to keep learning new things, no matter your age.
AVERY KEATLEY, BYLINE: On a dark, rainy Tuesday night, the Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center in Arlington, Virginia, is brightly lit and absolutely buzzing. The gymnastics floor is mobbed with kids wearing bright leotards, taking turns on the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor. It is loud as the kids tumble across the floor and parents wait in the bleachers overlooking the gymnasium. But as the kids' classes begin winding down, a different group files in.
GAELEN WOOD: (Inaudible) forward rolls, so arms up.
ERIN WEISENBERGER: This is the worst one because it really hurts your head. When I was a kid, this didn't hurt, but it really gives me a headache doing it. I don't know why.
KEATLEY: That's 32-year-old Erin Weisenberger. She's warming up doing somersaults across the gymnastics floor along with the rest of her class. It's a group of nearly all women ranging in age from their late 20s to their early 40s, and they're all here trying something a little different.
WOOD: So we're going to learn something new today.
KEATLEY: They're part of an adult beginner gymnastics class. It's a bit of a rarity in the gymnastics world, where most classes are geared towards kids and teens.
WOOD: And if you're lefty, you're going to jump, land on your right foot, extend your left foot into your lunge.
KEATLEY: That's Coach Gaelen Wood. Tonight, they're learning how to power hurdle. It's a move that helps generate momentum for tumbling, and the footwork is a little complicated.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: So think about jumping off of two feet and just land on your right foot.
WEISENBERGER: Just land on my right foot. Just land on my right foot.
(LAUGHTER)
KEATLEY: While Erin tries to master the power hurdle, classmate Shateela Winters has a simpler goal in mind.
SHATEELA WINTERS: So my goal is to not injure myself. I have a bad back amongst other things. But if I could pick the dream thing that I had learned to do, if I could just do one back handspring, I'd be incredibly happy.
WOOD: Awesome.
KEATLEY: After warming up on the floor, the class files over to a trampoline that stretches almost halfway across the gym.
WOOD: All right, we're going to straddle jumps. So remember, either straddle jumps can go out to the side or straddle jumps can come up in front of you, OK?
KEATLEY: Gymnastics program supervisor Alex Asante-Dean says that for adult beginners, breaking out of their normal patterns of movement, like jumping really high in the air on a trampoline, can be uncomfortable.
ALEX ASANTE-DEAN: When we start, some of the things are really jarring 'cause you're moving your body in ways that hasn't been done before.
KEATLEY: And it's not just physical movements.
ASANTE-DEAN: When we get older and we have, you know, routines that we're used to, gets hard to break those habits.
KEATLEY: That's an observation backed up by research.
RACHEL WU: Adults might have a more fixed mindset in terms of thinking, if I'm not good at something now, I'm never going to be good at it.
KEATLEY: Rachel Wu is an associate professor of psychology at University of California, Riverside. She studies the way children learn and how those patterns might help adults learn too. She says that in some ways, learning is easier as an adult. Adults generally grasp concepts more quickly. They're less distracted, and they have better motor control than kids. But learning as an adult requires time, money and quality teachers, which can all be harder to find. She also says adults are often convinced they simply lack a talent for something.
WU: I've never been good at languages, or I've never been good at art, or I don't have a musical ear or something like that - that kind of, like, very fixed mindset. So you're either born with some talent or you're not.
KEATLEY: But continuing to learn as an adult has serious brain benefits.
WU: You will increase a lot of different types of cognitive abilities - your attention, memory. You have existing neurons that can be strengthened and existing pathways between neurons that can be strengthened as well.
KEATLEY: She says physical activities can be especially helpful in growing new neurons, which help the brain remain healthy and flexible later in life. Community can also play a big role in supporting adult learning.
WU: Learning new stuff is really hard, and if you're doing it with other people, it may be less depressing (laughter) in some ways because those people can help hold you accountable. You can see through how other people are struggling that you're not the only one struggling.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: There you go. Yes. Pull, pull, pull, pull, pull. Good.
KEATLEY: Back in the gym, the class is practicing on the uneven bars.
WEISENBERGER: The Olympians make it look so smooth and so easy and just like a walk in the park. But it is not (laughter).
KEATLEY: Erin Weisenberger says that even though class is challenging, she gets a lot out of it.
WEISENBERGER: Just proud of myself for trying something that I thought I would be really bad at.
KEATLEY: Coach Gaelen Wood says that for him, seeing adult students achieve something new is one of the best parts of the class.
WOOD: I love when people are nervous of something, and they finally take that step forward, and they're like, I can do this.
KEATLEY: As class winds down, one of those moments unfolds as Erin successfully pulls herself all the way over the uneven bar for the first time.
WEISENBERGER: I did it.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: There you go. Yay.
KEATLEY: Avery Keatley, NPR News.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/learning-as-an-adult-can-be-hard-its-even-harder-on-a-balance-beam
| 2024-12-16T06:22:57Z
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Swapo vice president and president-elect of Namibia Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says she plans to implement the 2025-2030 election manifesto that contains commitments Swapo has made to the people of Namibia.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, during the official opening of the Swapo retreat held in Windhoek on Saturday, said the election manifesto is a contract or legal document Swapo has entered into with the people of Namibia.
The president-elect said manifesto is a blueprint from which they will derive a strategic implementation plan that will enable them to monitor and evaluate their progress efficiently and effectively.
She said Namibians have delivered their part in giving Swapo a mandate to govern them and it is now their part to deliver as they have promised.
"Today, we have gathered here as Swapo party members to return to the drawing board in order for us to plan the next five years," Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
"It is not going to be business as usual and that is why it is important to invest our time, energy and resources in ensuring that we deliver the best possible results for the Namibian people over the next five years," said Nandi-Ndaitwah.
She said their guiding mantra for 2025-2030 is unity in diversity, natural resources beneficiation and youth empowerment for sustainable development.
Nandi-Ndaitwah also congratulated the 51 Swapo members of the new National Assembly to be constituted next year March and urged them to have the noble responsibility to see to it that the House is run in a manner that will give meaning to the lives of Namibians.
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202412160049.html
| 2024-12-16T06:22:58Z
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- Tennis Star Genie Bouchard suffers An Eye Injury Playing Pickleball
- Happy Holidays from 10sBalls Team: Our Wish For You and Yours!
- Stringlet: Serving Up Tennis Inspiration With A Twist
- Michael Russell Makes History as 2024 ATP Coach of the Year
- 2024 Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award winner: Grigor Dimitrov
- BNP Paribas Open Voted ATP and WTA 1000 Tournament Of The Year For 10th Consecutive Time
- Holger Rune Commits to ABN AMRO Open, Director Richard Krajicek Announces
- Mpetshi Perricard, Berrettini, Mensik among ATP award winners
- Emma Raducanu Adds Veteran to Her Coaching Team
- US Open Tournament Director Stacey Allaster To Step Down After 2025 Open
- Jannik Sinner Wins ATP Fan Favorite Award for Second Straight Year
- Aryna Sabalenka Voted 2024 WTA Player of the Year
- Etcheverry, Tabilo Join Paul in Houston Field
- Belinda Bencic, Nick Kyrgios Will Play Australian Open on Protected Rankings
- Garden Cup Stars Alcaraz, Shelton, Navarro and Pegula Sell Out Madison Square Garden
Tennis Star Genie Bouchard suffers An Eye Injury Playing Pickleball
- Updated: December 15, 2024
Pickleball is proving to be a health hazard for tennis stars.
Former Wimbledon finalist Genie Bouchard suffered a scratched left cornea when a mis-hit pickleball struck her left eye.
TC analyst Bouchard shared images of her injury and the eye patch she’s wearing in recovery.
We have been saying for at least 5 years now: Pickleball players please wear glasses. Maybe Clear lenses inside. Maybe Sunglasses outside.
Eye injuries like a detached retina or in this case a scratched cornea are no joke. They can be very serious injuries.
Sure we’ve seen a ball strike some in the eye in tennis… But it’s really rare.
In pickle you are closer to your opponents across the net. As well as deflecting balls.
Hope Eugenie fully heals quickly. And we wish a speedy recovery for Sam Querrey, another former tennis star injured playing pickleball.
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https://www.10sballs.com/2024/12/15/tennis-star-genie-bouchard-suffers-an-eye-injury-playing-pickleball/
| 2024-12-16T06:22:58Z
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New Delhi: As Delhi grapples with a cold wave, the air quality has worsened, with levels once again breaching the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The temperature in Delhi has also dropped compared to the previous day. On Monday at 5:30 AM, the temperature was recorded at 5°C, down from 6°C on Sunday at the same time.
The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi reached 345 at 7 AM on Monday, significantly higher than the 246 AQI recorded on Sunday. Areas like Alipur, Anand Vihar, Bawana, and Burari Crossing saw AQI levels ranging from 350 to 397, indicating hazardous air quality.
Other parts of Delhi, including Dwarka Sec 8, Nehru Nagar, and Rohini, recorded AQI levels above 370, far exceeding the "very poor" category and pushing the air into "severe" territory.
The CPCB categorizes an AQI between 0-50 as "good," 51-100 as "satisfactory," 101-200 as "moderate," 201-300 as "poor," 301-400 as "very poor," and 401-500 as "severe."
As the cold wave continues, many people are seeking refuge in shelter homes across Delhi. In places like Sarai Kale Khan, visuals show people gathered in night shelters, bundled in thick blankets, and attempting to sleep in the harsh cold.
Vicky Kanojia, the caretaker of a shelter, explained that they accommodate destitute individuals, including those recovering from hospital stays.
He said, "We usually take in destitute patients who have nowhere to go, or are admitted in the hospital for their recovery. "
Kanojia added that several amenities are provided to these people including medicines. He said, "We provide, ambulances, their medicines, and meals which include both lunch and dinner."
The shelter also provides essential amenities such as meals, medicines, and even ambulances. Shyam, a patient suffering from a foot fracture after an accident, shared his experience: "I was involved in an accident and now have been provided with all the amenities including meals and medicines"
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, people in Moradabad have resorted to sitting by bonfires to stay warm as the mercury continues to dip.
Fog has enveloped the city this morning, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that Moradabad is experiencing a 'Cold Wave,' with the minimum temperature recorded at 8°C today. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/delhi/delhi-faces-double-trouble-cold-wave-intensifies-aqi-worsens-to-very-poor
| 2024-12-16T06:23:00Z
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Luis Suarez Introduces 10-day Old Son
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez introduced his 10-day old son and young daughter to Anfield before the kick-off in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Dublin: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez introduced his 10-day old son and young daughter to Anfield before the kick-off in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
According to TheScore.ie, Suarez introduced his young daughter Delfina and baby son Benjamin, born last Thursday, to the crowd at the stadium and the special moment set the tone for the Uruguayan's day.
The striker scored Liverpool's first goal as the Reds raced into a 3-0 lead by half time in the match, the report said.
The picture was good enough to find a place in the striker's family album, the report added.
ANI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/football/luis-suarez-introduces-10day-old-son-105319.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:03Z
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KOREA: According to Allkpop, actress Han Ye Seul has expressed a strong desire to return to acting, but her personal life has sparked significant public scrutiny, impacting her professional image.
Despite her efforts to communicate openly with fans, her decisions have received mixed reactions from the public and industry insiders. Han Ye Seul went public with her relationship in Sept 2020, revealing her partner, Ryu Sung Jae, who is 10 years younger than her.
Controversy arose due to allegations about Ryu’s past, including claims of working in questionable establishments. Han Ye Seul addressed the rumours, clarifying that Ryu had worked as a theatre actor and at a karaoke bar, firmly denying any illegal activities.
She defended her choice, stating, “I trust my feelings and choose to be with him,” but her stance was met with criticism.
Maintaining public perception
In May, Han Ye Seul announced her marriage to Ryu Sung Jae, surprising many. While some supported her decision, lingering rumours led to mixed reactions and concerns about her professional image.
Once celebrated for her elegance and charm, Han Ye Seul has faced challenges maintaining her public perception.
Debuting in 2003 through Nonstop 4, she rose to stardom with the 2006 drama Couple or Trouble.
However, her abrupt departure during Spy Myung Wol in 2011 led to a backlash, and subsequent roles failed to achieve similar success. Her most recent project, A Queen Lives in Seoul, was shelved, extending her acting hiatus.
Reclaiming her career
Currently, Han Ye Seul has shifted focus to YouTube and commercials.
While her candid nature resonates with some fans, others argue that her openness may limit future casting opportunities. Balancing personal and professional choices remains a challenge, but strategic decisions may help her reconnect with audiences and reclaim her career.
Han Ye Seul is a talented South Korean actress known for her captivating performances and stunning beauty. Her presence has graced both the small and big screens, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
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https://theindependent.sg/in-the-face-of-shifting-public-opinion-han-ye-seul-concentrates-on-reviving-her-career/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:03Z
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Street vendor activists who were arrested last year for violent actions at protests have been sentenced and released from jail in San Bernardino County. But Edin Enamorado, one of the 'Justice 8,' continues to plead his innocence from jail.
The group faced charges of conspiracy, assault and false imprisonment stemming from three incidents in Sep. 2023. They assaulted a security guard outside of a grocery store in Pomona on Sep. 3, proceeded to allegedly intimidate and humiliate another man outside of his Pomona home earlier that day and then a man outside of a car wash in Victorville on Sep. 23.
Under a June plea deal agreement, six of the eight defendants — Stephanie Amesquita, Vanessa Carrasco, David Chavez, Fernando Lopez, Wendy Lujan and Edwin Peña — were all convicted of a single felony assault charge. The rest of their charges were dropped.
The women defendants were sentenced to probation, while the male defendants (Chavez, Pena and Lopez) received two-year state prison terms, but were released on parole with credit for time served.
Enamorado earlier this year refused a plea deal because he’s undocumented. Damon Alimouri, who is Enamorado’s attorney, says he’ll attempt to work out an “immigration safe” deal with the District Attorney’s office. If that doesn’t work, he says his client is willing to go to trial.
“It’s absolutely paramount that we resolve this case in such a way that we avoid a potential for deportation,” said Alimouri.
Alimouri unsuccessfully assisted Enamorado in filing several legal motions, including a Brady motion challenging the prosecution's evidence and a writ of habeas corpus contesting his no-bail hold order. They also appealed to the California Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear the case.
Despite the setbacks, Alimouri says Enamorado remains strong and optimistic, even after being incarcerated for over a year.
“A lot of folks have been commenting that he has faced many no's,” said Alimouri. “Despite that, he's going to go all the way.”
The District Attorney’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment in time for broadcast and publication.
Meanwhile, Enamorado’s partner and co-defendant, Wendy Lujan, says the experience of being incarcerated was horrible and eye opening. She says she lost her bus driving job and was forced to move back to LA.
“When we were incarcerated, we had to make the decision of letting go of our apartment, because we didn't know how long we're going to be in there,” said Lujan.
Despite her conviction, Lujan thinks she did nothing wrong and is now committed to carrying out Enamorado’s activism.
“I hear people saying…’Oh, well, you know, we should do things differently, or we should have been doing things differently,’” said Lujan. “We were always helping the vendors. We were always helping those in need…So I'm not going to sit there and say our approach should be different.”
L.A. Taco reporter Janette Villafana contributed to this story
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/most-of-justice-8-defendants-sentenced-but-edin-enamorado-continues-to-plead-his-case
| 2024-12-16T06:23:04Z
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Surat (Gujarat): Surat Police arrested three individuals on Saturday after seizing fake currency notes worth Rs1,06,400 during a routine vehicle check.
Speaking to ANI, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Prakash Patel stated that a police team caught three people with fake currency enveloped in the real currency of Rs 500 and Rs 200 denomination.
"During vehicle checking, a police team caught three people with fake currency enveloped in real currency of Rs 500 and Rs 200 denomination--worth Rs 1,06,400," he said.
ACP Prakash Patel further mentioned that the accused revealed that they target people in Surat's markets and other crowded places.
During the investigation, the accused told us that they target people in the Surat market and other crowded places... All three accused have been arrested under the charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating... They have come with the currency from Mumbai... Further investigation is going on," ACP added.
According to the police, the three individuals were apprehended as part of regular vehicle-checking operations.
The suspects are alleged to have used fake notes to deceive people by mixing them with genuine currency during transactions.
Meanwhile, charges of criminal conspiracy and cheating have been filed against the accused by the authorities, and a search for other potential leads is also in progress.
Further investigations are underway. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/gujarat/surat-police-seize-rs-106-lakh-fake-currency-three-arrested-in-routine-check
| 2024-12-16T06:23:07Z
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KOREA: As reported by Soompi, MBC’s highly anticipated drama “Motel California” has unveiled the first stills of Choi Hee Jin as Yoon Nan Woo!
Lee Seo Yoon wrote the romance drama “Motel California,” directed by Kim Hyung Min and Jang Joon Ho.
The tale, based on Shim Yoon Seo’s 2019 book “Home, Bitter Home,” revolves around Ji Kang Hee (Lee Se Young), raised in Motel California, a remote hotel.
After leaving her hometown, Kang Hee returns 12 years later to reconnect with her first love and childhood friend, Cheon Yeon Soo (Na In Woo), while facing new trials.
Choi Hee Jin portrays Cheon Yeon Soo’s junior, Yoon Nan Woo, a compassionate veterinarian.
Nan Woo’s love for animals led her to veterinary school, but her career hit roadblocks after she opposed illegal animal experiments. Facing pressure for an arranged marriage, she finds a lifeline when Yeon Soo scouts her for his animal hospital.
Unexpected twists
However, Nan Woo begins to question Yeon Soo’s intentions. Is his kindness romantic or simply platonic? This uncertainty escalates when she gets caught in a marriage scandal with Yeon Soo, bringing unexpected twists to the story.
In her veterinary attire, Yoon Nan Woo exudes an innocent and sincere charm in the recently released stills. Her pure and soft demeanour starkly contrasts Kang Hee’s bold and provocative nature, hinting at potential conflicts between the two women over Yeon Soo.
Unique performance
The production team commented, “Choi Hee Jin’s bright smile and pure charm will resonate with viewers of all generations. Look forward to seeing her unique performance and the contrast she brings alongside Lee Se Young.”
The premiere of “Motel California” is scheduled for Jan 10 at 9:50 p.m. KST. Stay tuned for this captivating drama!
Choi Hee Jin has appeared in popular dramas like “Strong Girl Nam-soon,” “Behind Your Touch,” “Hide and Seek,” “Snowdrop,” and “The Impossible Heir.”
In addition, she has acted in other films, including “The Whispering,” “The Girl on a Bulldozer,” “Good Deal,” and “I Want to Know Your Parents.”
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https://theindependent.sg/na-in-woos-animal-hospital-in-motel-california-employs-choi-hee-jin-as-rookie-veterinarian/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:09Z
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Updated December 15, 2024 at 19:06 PM ET
OMAHA, Neb. — A tornado near a mall in central California swept up cars, uprooted trees and sent several people to the hospital. In San Francisco, authorities issued the first-ever tornado warning.
Elsewhere, inclement weather plagued areas of the U.S., with dangerous conditions including heavy snow in upstate New York, a major ice storm in Midwest states and severe weather warnings around Lake Tahoe.
The ice storm beginning Friday evening created treacherous driving conditions across Iowa and eastern Nebraska on Friday and into Saturday and prompted temporary closures of Interstate 80 after numerous cars and trucks slid off the road. In upstate New York, more than 33 inches (84 centimeters) was reported near Orchard Park, which is often a landing point for lake-effect snow.
On Saturday, a tornado touched down around 1:40 p.m. near a shopping mall in Scotts Valley, California, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Francisco. The tornado overturned cars and toppled trees and utility poles, the National Weather Service said. The Scotts Valley Police Department said several people were injured and taken to hospitals.
In San Francisco, some trees toppled onto cars and streets and damaged roofs. The damage was due to 80-mph (130-kph) straight-line winds, not a tornado, weather service meteorologist Dalton Behringer said Sunday.
Roger Gass, a meteorologist in the weather service's office in Monterey, California, said the warning of a possible tornado in San Francisco was a first for the city, noting an advanced alert did not go out before the last tornado struck nearly 20 years ago.
"I would guess there wasn't a clear signature on radar for a warning in 2005," said Gass, who was not there at the time.
The fast-moving storm prompted warnings for residents to take shelter, but few people have basements in the area.
Heavy snow fell at some Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and a 112-mph (181-kph) gust of wind was recorded at the Mammoth Mountain resort south of Yosemite National Park, according to the weather service's office in Reno, Nevada. Up to 3 feet (91 centimeters) of snow was forecast for Sierra Nevada mountaintops.
The weekend Tahoe Live music festival at Palisades Tahoe ski resort in California went ahead as planned in spite of a snowstorm Saturday. Lil Wayne and Diplo were scheduled to perform Sunday, the festival's website said. The resort said it has received 3.5 feet (1 meter) of snow since Friday. An avalanche warning was in effect at least until Monday morning in the area.
Interstate 80 was closed along an 80-mile (130-kilometer) stretch from Applegate, California, to the Nevada line just west of Reno on Saturday. The California Highway Patrol reopened the road in the afternoon for passenger vehicles with chains or four-wheel drive and snow tires.
The severe weather in the Midwest resulted in at least one death. The Washington County Sheriff's office in Nebraska said a 57-year-old woman died after she lost control of her pickup on Highway 30 near Arlington and hit an oncoming truck. The other driver sustained minor injuries.
Businesses announced plans to open late Saturday as temperatures rose high enough in the afternoon to melt the ice in most places.
"Luckily some warmer air is moving in behind this to make it temporary," said Dave Cousins, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's office in Davenport, Iowa.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/storms-across-u-s-bring-heavy-snow-dangerous-ice-and-a-tornado-in-california
| 2024-12-16T06:23:10Z
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Star is Born as Adnan Helps United Win
Two goals from 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj inspired a second-half comeback as Man United snatched a 2-1 win at Sunderland in Premier League on Saturday.
Two goals from 18-year-old Adnan Januzaj inspired a second-half comeback as Manchester United snatched a 2-1 win at Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.
Trailing for 50 minutes to Craig Gardner's early goal, United were facing a third consecutive league defeat, something they have not experienced since 2001, until the young Belgian struck twice in the second half.
His telling contribution spared United manager David Moyes from further scrutiny, in the wake of consecutive defeats by Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion, and lifted the defending champions into the top half of the table.
Sunderland had opted for an extra man in midfield and that, and another change of central defensive partnership for United, proved decisive in the first goal.
Ondrej Celustka beat Januzaj in a 50-50 challenge just inside United's half and when Emanuele Giaccherini crossed, Phil Jones hit his clearance at Nemanja Vidic, who miscontrolled.
Gardner, playing as the extra man in midfield thanks to Celustka's inclusion at right-back, pounced, steering a good finish inside the far post to give the home side a fifth-minute lead.
Jones and Vidic were the fifth central defensive partnership that Moyes had tried in as many games.
Jones made a nervy start, caught in possession by Gardner in the ninth minute, only to make an excellent recovering slide tackle in the penalty area. Vidic looked unsettled throughout by Jozy Altidore's strength.
Januzaj's selection was the most eye-catching of the visitors' four changes. The teenager, who also qualifies to represent Albania, had been spared the long mid-week trip to play Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine because he is not registered in the Champions League.
A natural number 10, he started on the left, with Nani on the right, but the fact that both players shot narrowly wide from inside the D within the first 20 minutes showed they were quite happy to come inside.
Januzaj spent more time infield than along the touchline, leaving Patrice Evra to provide the width.
Nani ought to have equalised when Evra's deep cross cleared Valentin Roberge's head, but he steered his volley wide.
Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland were the equal of the away side in the first half, though, and Giaccherini their best player.
David de Gea made a terrific right-handed save when the 5ft 4in (163cm) wide man found himself in a generous amount of space from Adam Johnson's cross and the Italian also shot over in the 44th minute after Johnson spread panic in the United defence.
Keiren Westwood saved Rafael da Silva's powerful shot well in the 41st minute, but it was a rare moment of first-half action for the Sunderland goalkeeper.
Januzaj blotted his copybook in the 48th minute when he flopped over the merest hint of an outstretched leg from John O'Shea. Instead of getting a penalty, he was shown a yellow card.
But he soon made it up to the away fans. Ten minutes into the second half, he played a one-two with Evra and finished calmly just inside the left-hand post. His goal gave the visitors confidence and seemed to drain it from their hosts.
Four minutes later, Westwood had to make a good save after Robin Van Persie got on the end of a cross from Evra.
When Nani crossed from the right with the outside of his boot, O'Shea's clearing header was weak and Januzaj volleyed it expertly into the net. With 29 minutes left, the game had been transformed.
Rafael's slightly weak left-footed shot and Van Persie's tame finish when played through by Antonio Valencia apart, United offered little threat thereafter, but Januzaj had broken Sunderland's spirit.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/football/star-is-born-as-adnan-helps-united-win-105265.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:09Z
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The Golden State Warriors’ season has started to derail as they have now lost eight of their last 10 games. Tonight, they lost to the Dallas Mavericks at home as Luka Doncic went on an onslaught to defeat the Warriors 143-133.
Advertisement
At the post-game presser, Dubs head coach Steve Kerr was asked about his team’s main issue after losing a high-scoring game. Coach Kerr praised Luka and stated that he was single-handedly responsible for taking the game away from the Warriors.
Kerr said, “The issue was Luka Doncic. That was the issue. I think they made their first nine shots, I think he made three of them and had three more assists. So, he was incredible and [I] give him credit, give Dallas credit. They’ve got one hell of a team, made the Finals last year.”
Luka had a 45-point triple-double against the Warriors at Chase Center, with 11 rebounds, 13 assists, three steals and two blocks. He shot 16 of 23 from the field and 6 of 11 from the three-point line. Although there were some other good performances from the Mavs camp, Luka’s performance was good enough to demoralise the Warriors.
“The issue was Luka Doncic.”
Steve Kerr after being asked about one of their worst defensive games of the year pic.twitter.com/EJdp2s9RRy
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 16, 2024
Heading into this game, the Warriors had a lot of issues with their scoring. It doesn’t sound good for a team that boasts the greatest shooter of all time. However, they vouched to work on it and implement some new techniques in their game. Their efforts were showing results out there, but the Mavs were just a better team.
Coach Kerr also praised his team for the same. He said that he is very impressed by the way they have worked on improving their games and despite losing eight out of the last 10 games, the Warriors camp is not showing any signs of quitting.
The Warriors have recently acquired Dennis Schröder from the Brooklyn Nets. With him stepping on the floor for them, they can expect a better overall output from the team. So far in the season, the 31-year-old has averaged 18.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field.
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https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-the-issue-was-luka-doncic-steve-kerr-highlighted-key-problem-as-warriors-fell-143-133-to-the-mavericks/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:12Z
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Ranking Super League play-off records by club with Wigan Warriors on top
Close to 150 top-flight play-off games have taken place in the summer era, with 17 different clubs involved in at least one of those. But which of those clubs has the best play-off win percentage?
Super League of course kicked off in 1996, but we didn’t see a play-off game until 1998.
The first two years of the competition saw the champions decided by whoever ended the year top of the table: that achievement now yields only the League Leaders’ Shield.
In both of those first two seasons, play-offs came in the shape of the Premiership, though that was a different competition altogether, so doesn’t count for anything where Super League play-offs are concerned.
The very first Super League play-off game saw St Helens thump Bradford Bulls 46-24 at Knowsley Road on October 2, 1998 on a night which saw both Paul Newlove and Graeme Bradley sent off.
Super League’s most recent play-off game came back in October 2024, when Wigan Warriors won their second successive title with a 9-2 victory against Hull KR in the Grand Final at Old Trafford. Bevan French grabbed the only try of the game.
Below is a full ranking of all 17 clubs’ play-off record to date, with every one of the games they’ve been involved in listed for good measure.
The clubs are listed from the lowest win percentage to the highest…
LRL RECOMMENDS: Ranking every 2025 Super League home kit from worst to best with one clear winner…
17. Crusaders – 0%
Played: 1, Won: 0, Lost: 1
- Elimination PO 2010: Huddersfield 18-12 Crusaders (L)
= Halifax – 0%
Played: 2, Won: 0, Lost: 2
- Qualifying PO 1998: Leeds 13-6 Halifax (L)
- Elimination SF 1998: Halifax 30-37 St Helens (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: 2025 Championship kits – Every shirt released so far
= London Broncos – 0%
Played: 2, Won: 0, Lost: 2
- Elimination PO 2003: St Helens 24-6 London (L)
- Elimination PO 2005: Bradford 44-22 London (L)
= Widnes Vikings – 0%
Played: 1, Won: 0, Lost: 1
- Qualifying PO 2014: Warrington 22-19 Widnes (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: 1895 Cup – Preliminary Round draw for 2025 as newly-revamped tournament schedule revealed
13. Huddersfield Giants – 18.75%
Played: 16, Won: 3, Lost: 13
- Elimination PO 2007: Hull FC 22-16 Huddersfield (L)
- Qualifying PO 2009: St Helens 15-2 Huddersfield (L)
- Preliminary SF 2009: Huddersfield 6-16 Catalans (L)
- Elimination PO 2010: Huddersfield 18-12 Crusaders (W)
- Preliminary SF 2010: Warrington 22-34 Huddersfield (W)
- Qualifying SF 2010: St Helens 42-22 Huddersfield (L)
- Qualifying PO 2011: Warrington 47-0 Huddersfield (L)
- Preliminary SF 2011: Huddersfield 28-34 Leeds (L)
- Elimination PO 2012: Hull FC 46-10 Huddersfield (L)
- Qualifying PO 2013: Huddersfield 8-22 Wigan (L)
- Preliminary SF 2013: Huddersfield 76-18 Hull FC (W)
- Qualifying SF 2013: Warrington 30-22 Huddersfield (L)
- Qualifying PO 2014: Wigan 57-4 Huddersfield (L)
- Preliminary SF 2014: Huddersfield 16-18 Catalans (L)
- SF 2015: Wigan 32-8 Huddersfield (L)
- Eliminator 2022: Huddersfield 0-28 Salford (L)
12. Wakefield Trinity – 25%
Played: 4, Won: 1, Lost: 3
- Elimination PO 2004: Hull FC 18-28 Wakefield (W)
- Elimination SF 2004: Wigan 18-14 Wakefield (L)
- Elimination PO 2009: Wakefield 16-25 Catalans (L)
- Elimination PO 2012: Leeds 42-20 Wakefield (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: Wakefield Trinity’s top 10 Super League scorers, including FIVE England internationals
11. Hull FC – 28.57%
Played: 21, Won: 6, Lost: 15
- Qualifying PO 2001: Wigan 27-24 Hull FC (L)
- Elimination SF 2001: Hull FC 20-24 St Helens (L)
- Elimination PO 2002: Leeds 36-22 Hull FC (L)
- Elimination PO 2004: Hull FC 18-28 Wakefield (L)
- Elimination PO 2005: Warrington 6-40 Hull FC (W)
- Elimination SF 2005: Bradford 71 -0 Hull FC (L)
- Qualifying SF 2006: St Helens 12-8 Hull FC (L)
- Final Eliminator 2006: Hull FC 19-12 Bradford (W)
- Grand Final 2006: St Helens 26-4 Hull FC (L)
- Elimination PO 2007: Hull FC 22-16 Huddersfield (W)
- Elimination SF 2007: Hull FC 18-21 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2010: Hull FC 4-21 Hull KR (L)
- Elimination PO 2011: Leeds 42-10 Hull FC (L)
- Elimination PO 2012: Hull FC 46-10 Huddersfield (W)
- Preliminary SF 2012: Warrington 24-12 Hull FC (L)
- Elimination PO 2013: Hull FC 14-4 Catalans (W)
- Preliminary SF 2013: Huddersfield 76-18 Hull FC (L)
- SF 2016: Wigan 28-18 Hull FC (L)
- SF 2017: Leeds 18-16 Hull FC (L)
- SF 2020: Warrington 14-27 Hull FC (W)
- Preliminary Final 2020: Wigan 29-2 Hull FC (L)
10. Castleford Tigers – 30.76%
Played: 13, Won: 4, Lost: 9
- Qualifying PO 1999: Wigan 10-14 Castleford (W)
- Elimination SF 1999: Leeds 16-23 Castleford (W)
- Preliminary Final 1999: St Helens 36-6 Castleford (L)
- Qualifying PO 2000: Leeds 22-14 Castleford (L)
- Elimination PO 2002: Wigan 26-14 Castleford (L)
- Elimination PO 2009: Wigan 18-12 Castleford (L)
- Qualifying PO 2014: St Helens 41-0 Castleford (L)
- Preliminary SF 2014: Castleford 14-30 Warrington (L)
- SF 2017: Castleford 23-22 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds (L)
- SF 2018: Wigan 14-0 Castleford (L)
- QF 2019: Warrington 12-14 Castleford (W)
- SF 2019: Salford 22-0 Castleford (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: Castleford Tigers’ leadership group confirmed as new head coach Danny McGuire makes surprise captaincy call
9. Hull KR – 33.33%
Played: 12, Won: 4, Lost: 8
- Qualifying PO 2009: Leeds 44-8 Hull KR (L)
- Preliminary SF 2009: Hull KR 16-30 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2010: Hull FC 4-21 Hull KR (W)
- Preliminary SF 2010: Wigan 42-18 Hull KR (L)
- Elimination PO 2011: Catalans 56-6 Hull KR (L)
- Elimination PO 2013: St Helens 46-10 Hull KR (L)
- Preliminary Final 2021: Warrington 0-19 Hull KR (W)
- SF 2021: Catalans 28-10 Hull KR (L)
- Eliminator 2023: Hull KR 20-6 Leigh (W)
- SF 2023: Wigan 42-12 Hull KR (L)
- SF 2024: Hull KR 10-8 Warrington (W)
- Grand Final 2024: Wigan 9-2 Hull KR (L)
= Leigh Leopards – 33.33%
Played: 3, Won: 1, Lost: 2
- Eliminator 2023: Hull KR 20-6 Leigh (L)
- Eliminator 2024: Salford 6-14 Leigh (W)
- SF 2024: Wigan 38-0 Leigh (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: Leigh Leopards secure ‘direct Tom Amone replacement’ in shape of NRL young gun
7. Salford Red Devils – 37.5%
Played: 8, Won: 3, Lost: 5
- Elimination PO 2006: Bradford 52-6 Salford (L)
- QF 2019: Wigan 18-12 Salford (L)
- SF 2019: Salford 22-0 Castleford (W)
- Preliminary Final 2019: Wigan 4-28 Salford (W)
- Grand Final 2019: St Helens 23-6 Salford (L)
- Eliminator 2022: Huddersfield 0-28 Salford (W)
- SF 2022: St Helens 19-12 Salford (L)
- Eliminator 2024: Salford 6-14 Leigh (L)
6. Warrington Wolves – 37.93%
Played: 29, Won: 11, Lost: 18
- Elimination PO 2003: Wigan 25-12 Warrington (L)
- Elimination PO 2005: Warrington 6-40 Hull FC (L)
- Elimination PO 2006: Leeds 17-18 Warrington (W)
- Elimination SF 2006: Bradford 40-24 Warrington (L)
- Elimination PO 2008: Catalans 46-8 Warrington (L)
- Qualifying PO 2010: St Helens 28-12 Warrington (L)
- Preliminary SF 2010: Warrington 22-34 Huddersfield (L)
- Qualifying PO 2011: Warrington 47-0 Huddersfield (W)
- Qualifying SF 2011: Warrington 24-26 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 2012: Warrington 6-28 St Helens (L)
- Preliminary SF 2012: Warrington 24-12 Hull FC (W)
- Qualifying SF 2012: St Helens 18-36 Warrington (W)
- Grand Final 2012: Warrington 18-26 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 2013: Warrington 40-20 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 2013: Warrington 30-22 Huddersfield (W)
- Grand Final 2013: Warrington 16-30 Wigan (L)
- Qualifying PO 2014: Warrington 22-19 Widnes (W)
- Preliminary SF 2014: Castleford 14-30 Warrington (W)
- Qualifying SF 2014: Wigan 16-12 Warrington (L)
- SF 2016: Warrington 18-10 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 2016: Wigan 12-6 Warrington (L)
- SF 2018: St Helens 13-18 Warrington (W)
- Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington (L)
- QF 2019: Warrington 12-14 Castleford (L)
- SF 2020: Warrington 14-27 Hull FC (L)
- Preliminary Final 2021: Warrington 0-19 Hull KR (L)
- Eliminator 2023: St Helens 16-8 Warrington (L)
- Eliminator 2024: Warrington 23-22 St Helens (W)
- SF 2024: Hull KR 10-8 Warrington (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: Warrington Wolves coach Sam Burgess makes Matty Nicholson prediction following NRL move
5. Catalans Dragons – 45%
Played: 20, Won: 9, Lost: 11
- Elimination PO 2008: Catalans 46-8 Warrington (W)
- Elimination SF 2008: Catalans 26-50 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2009: Wakefield 16-25 Catalans (W)
- Preliminary SF 2009: Huddersfield 6-16 Catalans (W)
- Qualifying SF 2009: Leeds 27-20 Catalans (L)
- Elimination PO 2011: Catalans 56-6 Hull KR (W)
- Preliminary SF 2011: Wigan 44-0 Catalans (L)
- Qualifying PO 2012: Wigan 46-6 Catalans (L)
- Preliminary SF 2012: Catalans 20-27 Leeds (L)
- Elimination PO 2013: Hull FC 14-4 Catalans (L)
- Qualifying PO 2014: Leeds 20-24 Catalans (W)
- Preliminary SF 2014: Huddersfield 16-18 Catalans (W)
- Qualifying SF 2014: St Helens 30-12 Catalans (L)
- Elimination PO 2020: Catalans 26-14 Leeds (W)
- Preliminary Final 2020: St Helens 48-2 Catalans (L)
- SF 2021: Catalans 28-10 Hull KR (W)
- Grand Final 2021: Catalans 10-12 St Helens (L)
- Eliminator 2022: Catalans 10-20 Leeds (L)
- SF 2023: Catalans 12-6 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 2023: Wigan 10-2 Catalans (L)
4. Leeds Rhinos – 59.61%
Played: 52, Won: 31, Lost: 21
- Qualifying PO 1998: Leeds 13-6 Halifax (W)
- Qualifying SF 1998: Wigan 17-4 Leeds (L)
- Preliminary Final 1998: Leeds 44-16 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 1998: Wigan 10-4 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 1999: St Helens 38-14 Leeds (L)
- Elimination SF 1999: Leeds 16-23 Castleford (L)
- Qualifying PO 2000: Leeds 22-14 Castleford (W)
- Elimination SF 2000: Bradford 46-12 Leeds (L)
- Elimination PO 2001: St Helens 38-30 Leeds (L)
- Elimination PO 2002: Leeds 36-22 Hull FC (W)
- Elimination SF 2002: Wigan 41-18 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying SF 2003: Bradford 30-14 Leeds (L)
- Final Eliminator 2003: Leeds 22-23 Wigan (L)
- Qualifying SF 2004: Leeds 12-26 Bradford (L)
- Final Eliminator 2004: Leeds 40-12 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2004: Bradford 8-16 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 2005: St Helens 16-19 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2005: Leeds 6-15 Bradford (L)
- Elimination PO 2006: Leeds 17-18 Warrington (L)
- Qualifying SF 2007: St Helens 10-8 Leeds (L)
- Final Eliminator 2007: Leeds 36-6 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2007: St Helens 6-33 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 2008: St Helens 38-10 Leeds (L)
- Final Eliminator 2008: Leeds 18-14 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2008: St Helens 16-24 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying PO 2009: Leeds 44-8 Hull KR (W)
- Qualifying SF 2009: Leeds 27-20 Catalans (W)
- Grand Final 2009: Leeds 18-10 St Helens (W)
- Qualifying PO 2010: Wigan 26-27 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 2010: Leeds 6-26 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2011: Leeds 42-10 Hull FC (W)
- Preliminary SF 2011: Huddersfield 28-34 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 2011: Warrington 24-26 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2011: St Helens 16-32 Leeds (W)
- Elimination PO 2012: Leeds 42-20 Wakefield (W)
- Preliminary SF 2012: Catalans 20-27 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 2012: Wigan 12-13 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2012: Warrington 18-26 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying PO 2013: Warrington 40-20 Leeds (L)
- Preliminary SF 2013: Leeds 11-10 St Helens (W)
- Qualifying SF 2013: Wigan 22-12 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 2014: Leeds 20-24 Catalans (L)
- SF 2015: Leeds 20-13 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 2015: Leeds 22-20 Wigan (W)
- SF 2017: Leeds 18-16 Hull FC (W)
- Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds (W)
- Elimination PO 2020: Catalans 26-14 Leeds (L)
- Preliminary Final 2021: Wigan 0-8 Leeds (W)
- SF 2021: St Helens 36-8 Leeds (L)
- Eliminator 2022: Catalans 10-20 Leeds (W)
- SF 2022: Wigan 8-20 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2022: St Helens 24-12 Leeds (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: Leeds Rhinos’ ICONIC greatest Super League team would take some stopping
3. Bradford Bulls – 60.86%
Played: 23, Won: 14, Lost: 9
- Qualifying PO 1998: St Helens 46-24 Bradford (L)
- Qualifying SF 1999: Bradford 40-4 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 1999: Bradford 6-8 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying PO 2000: St Helens 16-11 Bradford (L)
- Elimination SF 2000: Bradford 46-12 Leeds (W)
- Preliminary Final 2000: Wigan 40-12 Bradford (L)
- Qualifying SF 2001: Bradford 24-18 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2001: Bradford 37-6 Wigan (W)
- Qualifying SF 2002: St Helens 26-28 Bradford (W)
- Grand Final 2002: Bradford 18-19 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying SF 2003: Bradford 30-14 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2003: Bradford 25-12 Wigan (W)
- Qualifying SF 2004: Leeds 12-26 Bradford (W)
- Grand Final 2004: Bradford 8-16 Leeds (L)
- Elimination PO 2005: Bradford 44-22 London (W)
- Elimination SF 2005: Bradford 71 -0 Hull FC (W)
- Final Eliminator 2005: St Helens 18-23 Bradford (W)
- Grand Final 2005: Leeds 6-15 Bradford (W)
- Elimination PO 2006: Bradford 52-6 Salford (W)
- Elimination SF 2006: Bradford 40-24 Warrington (W)
- Final Eliminator 2006: Hull FC 19-12 Bradford (L)
- Elimination PO 2007: Bradford 30-31 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2008: Wigan 30-14 Bradford (L)
2. St Helens – 63.79%
Played: 58, Won: 37, Lost: 21
- Qualifying PO 1998: St Helens 46-24 Bradford (W)
- Elimination SF 1998: Halifax 30-37 St Helens (W)
- Preliminary Final 1998: Leeds 44-16 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying PO 1999: St Helens 38-14 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying SF 1999: Bradford 40-4 St Helens (L)
- Preliminary Final 1999: St Helens 36-6 Castleford (W)
- Grand Final 1999: Bradford 6-8 St Helens (W)
- Qualifying PO 2000: St Helens 16-11 Bradford (W)
- Qualifying SF 2000: Wigan 16-54 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 2000: St Helens 29-16 Wigan (W)
- Elimination PO 2001: St Helens 38-30 Leeds (W)
- Elimination SF 2001: Hull FC 20-24 St Helens (W)
- Final Eliminator 2001: Wigan 44-10 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying SF 2002: St Helens 26-28 Bradford (L)
- Final Eliminator 2002: St Helens 24-8 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2002: Bradford 18-19 St Helens (W)
- Elimination PO 2003: St Helens 24-6 London (W)
- Elimination SF 2003: Wigan 40-24 St Helens (L)
- Elimination PO 2004: Wigan 18-12 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying SF 2005: St Helens 16-19 Leeds (L)
- Final Eliminator 2005: St Helens 18-23 Bradford (L)
- Qualifying SF 2006: St Helens 12-8 Hull FC (W)
- Grand Final 2006: St Helens 26-4 Hull FC (W)
- Qualifying SF 2007: St Helens 10-8 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2007: St Helens 6-33 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying SF 2008: St Helens 38-10 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2008: St Helens 16-24 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 2009: St Helens 15-2 Huddersfield (W)
- Qualifying SF 2009: St Helens 14-10 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2009: Leeds 18-10 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying PO 2010: St Helens 28-12 Warrington (W)
- Qualifying SF 2010: St Helens 42-22 Huddersfield (W)
- Grand Final 2010: St Helens 10-22 Wigan (L)
- Qualifying PO 2011: Wigan 18-26 St Helens (W)
- Qualifying SF 2011: St Helens 26-18 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2011: St Helens 16-32 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 2012: Warrington 6-28 St Helens (W)
- Qualifying SF 2012: St Helens 18-36 Warrington (L)
- Elimination PO 2013: St Helens 46-10 Hull KR (W)
- Preliminary SF 2013: Leeds 11-10 St Helens (L)
- Qualifying PO 2014: St Helens 41-0 Castleford (W)
- Qualifying SF 2014: St Helens 30-12 Catalans (W)
- Grand Final 2014: St Helens 14-6 Wigan (W)
- SF 2015: Leeds 20-13 St Helens (L)
- SF 2016: Warrington 18-10 St Helens (L)
- SF 2017: Castleford 23-22 St Helens (L)
- SF 2018: St Helens 13-18 Warrington (L)
- SF 2019: St Helens 40-10 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2019: St Helens 23-6 Salford (W)
- Preliminary Final 2020: St Helens 48-2 Catalans (W)
- Grand Final 2020: Wigan 4-8 St Helens (W)
- SF 2021: St Helens 36-8 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2021: Catalans 10-12 St Helens (W)
- SF 2022: St Helens 19-12 Salford (W)
- Grand Final 2022: St Helens 24-12 Leeds (W)
- Eliminator 2023: St Helens 16-8 Warrington (W)
- SF 2023: Catalans 12-6 St Helens (L)
- Eliminator 2024: Warrington 23-22 St Helens (L)
LRL RECOMMENDS: St Helens’ superb potential 2025 line-up, including THREE new arrivals from NRL
1. Wigan Warriors – 63.93%
Played: 61, Won: 39, Lost: 22
- Qualifying SF 1998: Wigan 17-4 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 1998: Wigan 10-4 Leeds (W)
- Qualifying PO 1999: Wigan 10-14 Castleford (L)
- Qualifying SF 2000: Wigan 16-54 St Helens (L)
- Preliminary Final 2000: Wigan 40-12 Bradford (W)
- Grand Final 2000: St Helens 29-16 Wigan (L)
- Qualifying PO 2001: Wigan 27-24 Hull FC (W)
- Qualifying SF 2001: Bradford 24-18 Wigan (L)
- Final Eliminator 2001: Wigan 44-10 St Helens (W)
- Grand Final 2001: Bradford 37-6 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2002: Wigan 26-14 Castleford (W)
- Elimination SF 2002: Wigan 41-18 Leeds (W)
- Final Eliminator 2002: St Helens 24-8 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2003: Wigan 25-12 Warrington (W)
- Elimination SF 2003: Wigan 40-24 St Helens (W)
- Final Eliminator 2003: Leeds 22-23 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2003: Bradford 25-12 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2004: Wigan 18-12 St Helens (W)
- Elimination SF 2004: Wigan 18-14 Wakefield (W)
- Final Eliminator 2004: Leeds 40-12 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2007: Bradford 30-31 Wigan (W)
- Elimination SF 2007: Hull FC 18-21 Wigan (W)
- Final Eliminator 2007: Leeds 36-6 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2008: Wigan 30-14 Bradford (W)
- Elimination SF 2008: Catalans 26-50 Wigan (W)
- Final Eliminator 2008: Leeds 18-14 Wigan (L)
- Elimination PO 2009: Wigan 18-12 Castleford (W)
- Preliminary SF 2009: Hull KR 16-30 Wigan (W)
- Qualifying SF 2009: St Helens 14-10 Wigan (L)
- Qualifying PO 2010: Wigan 26-27 Leeds (L)
- Preliminary SF 2010: Wigan 42-18 Hull KR (W)
- Qualifying SF 2010: Leeds 6-26 Wigan (W)
- Grand Final 2010: St Helens 10-22 Wigan (W)
- Qualifying PO 2011: Wigan 18-26 St Helens (L)
- Preliminary SF 2011: Wigan 44-0 Catalans (W)
- Qualifying SF 2011: St Helens 26-18 Wigan (L)
- Qualifying PO 2012: Wigan 46-6 Catalans (W)
- Qualifying SF 2012: Wigan 12-13 Leeds (L)
- Qualifying PO 2013: Huddersfield 8-22 Wigan (W)
- Qualifying SF 2013: Wigan 22-12 Leeds (W)
- Grand Final 2013: Warrington 16-30 Wigan (W)
- Qualifying PO 2014: Wigan 57-4 Huddersfield (W)
- Qualifying SF 2014: Wigan 16-12 Warrington (W)
- Grand Final 2014: St Helens 14-6 Wigan (L)
- SF 2015: Wigan 32-8 Huddersfield (W)
- Grand Final 2015: Leeds 22-20 Wigan (L)
- SF 2016: Wigan 28-18 Hull FC (W)
- Grand Final 2016: Wigan 12-6 Warrington (W)
- SF 2018: Wigan 14-0 Castleford (W)
- Grand Final 2018: Wigan 12-4 Warrington (W)
- QF 2019: Wigan 18-12 Salford (W)
- SF 2019: St Helens 40-10 Wigan (L)
- Preliminary Final 2019: Wigan 4-28 Salford (L)
- Preliminary Final 2020: Wigan 29-2 Hull FC (W)
- Grand Final 2020: Wigan 4-8 St Helens (L)
- Preliminary Final 2021: Wigan 0-8 Leeds (L)
- SF 2022: Wigan 8-20 Leeds (L)
- SF 2023: Wigan 42-12 Hull KR (W)
- Grand Final 2023: Wigan 10-2 Catalans (W)
- SF 2024: Wigan 38-0 Leigh (W)
- Grand Final 2024: Wigan 9-2 Hull KR (W)
|
https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ranking-super-league-play-off-records-by-club
| 2024-12-16T06:23:12Z
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**
With less than 24 hours to go before the start of the 2007 NFL Draft, area scout Todd Brunner checks in with the 49ers Faithful in this latest blog!**
I left off my blog last week prior to our Local Workout Day. It went very well, everything went off without a hitch. There were some guys who stood out who could very well be part of our training camp. As scouts, we enjoyed being outside and running the drills and getting to see some more of these kids live. None of these kids are that familiar to me from a personal standpoint since I scout the opposite coast, so it was good to learn a little more about some of the kids from the west coast.
Starting on Monday, we began meeting with the coaches. We spent two days with the defensive coaches going over their rankings, our rankings, and meshing them together. If there were differences, we'd watch the tape and talk through those particular guys.
Some of the guys coaches didn't have as much background information, so the area scout for that player would go through the detailed information.
At the end, we got to a point where we set the board to where both sides felt good about it. As Scot McCloughan always says, you don't want to force a guy on a coach if there's a disagreement.
After meeting with the defensive staff, we moved on to the offensive side of the ball on Wednesday and met with those coaches. We pretty much really had these guys ranked the same so we were able to get through the entire offense pretty quickly, since we didn't have to watch as much film to break any ties or sway one side one way.
Thursday morning, I met with the special teams coaches and went over all of the kickers, punters, snappers and returners available in this year's draft which is good because that's one area where a lot of scouts aren't experts. We don't study it on a day in and day out basis the way our coaches do. Also, since we've got a new special teams coach in Al Everest, it was good to hear what he looks for in these positions. That's really the same with all of our new coaches. Sometimes a coach is looking for something specific and that changes the way they stack up on our board.
Every year we go through scenarios for the draft, but this year in particular, there really isn't a clear cut guarantee of who is going to go number one. There are three guys who could be taken at the first pick with which each one, could really impact the rest of the top ten. There are so many teams are looking to move up and down, so we can hope that the player we want comes to us but we just can't guarantee.
Last night, Coach Nolan had the scouts over to his house which has become an annual tradition on the Thursday night before the draft for a cookout/barbeque. That's always nice when you are on the road and have been away as long as we have, to get a home cooked meal versus eating in another restaurant. It's also good to hang out with people away from the office environment.
Today is a day where we usually get last minute calls from agents and coaches and hear from them. We also spend today preparing for after the draft on Sunday when we are trying to sign college free agent kids. We want to make sure we have phone numbers on the guys we've kind of pinpointing and know where they are going to be over the weekend, so we can reach them if needed. It's pretty much the most relaxing day we've had since we've been here because the board is done and now it's just a matter of waiting for things to get started tomorrow.
All of the scouts are in the War Room tomorrow and everyone has a job throughout the week. Every hour, a scout takes a turn on the direct phone line to New York where we have two representatives, Steve Risser and Donovan Dressler, who will turn in the cards for our picks which will then be read by the Commissioner or Gene Washington.
My job is to call the player we are going to take. I basically get to be the guy who tells them we're about to take them and then usually Coach Nolan and their coordinator will get on the phone with them after we've turned the actual pick in. It's fun when the kid gets real excited, like Vernon and Manny did a year ago. I knew Vernon well since he's from my area and he obviously started crying and you could tell how ecstatic he was. You really get to see how it is when they realize that their lifelong dream has come true.
So I'll check in after the draft (or during) and let you know how things are going!
- Todd Brunner
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https://www.49ers.com/news/brunner-s-blog-the-day-before-519107
| 2024-12-16T06:23:12Z
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Published 11:03 IST, December 16th 2024
Bloomberg $100 Billion Club: Two Big Indian Billionaires Out? See Names
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd, and Gautam Adani, of the Adani Group, are now facing multiple threats that are hitting their businesses.
The wedding celebration of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant earlier this year was the stuff of tabloid fantasy: a seven-month extravaganza that saw Rihanna and Justin Bieber flown in to entertain guests across exotic locales from Mumbai to the Italian Riviera. The event — which cost $600 million by some estimates — offered a window into the supreme confidence of the country’s super-wealthy, buoyed by soaring fortunes, a fast-growing economy, and demand for Indian assets. Fast forward six months, though, and the outlook suddenly looks less rosy.
Mukesh Ambani And Gautam Adani Drop Out Of The $100 Bn Club
Both Mukesh Ambani, chairman of conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd, and fellow tycoon Gautam Adani, founder of the Adani Group, are now facing multiple threats that are hitting their businesses — and their immense personal wealth. Ambani’s energy and retail businesses have been underperforming amid rising investor concern about debt, while Adani’s empire was rocked by a US Department of Justice probe that threatens to squeeze funding and make it harder to win contracts. And it’s still not clear if the worst is over for either.
For Adani, the move by US prosecutors in November over alleged bribery was an unwelcome return to the international media spotlight. He’s been fighting to shore up investor confidence after short seller Hindenburg Research last year published a report accusing the firm of fraudulent practices. Adani, who has denied both charges, has vowed to fight on. He said at an event after the US allegations that the firm is committed to “world-class regulatory compliance” and that each attack against the company “only makes us stronger.”
The charges are likely to weigh on the group — and its share price — heading into the new year. Adani’s fortune peaked at $122.3 billion in June after he’d worked to bolster finances following Hindenburg’s attack. Those gains have now evaporated after the US allegations that he oversaw bribes to Indian government officials, and he’s now worth $82.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
He’s not alone in seeing billions of his personal fortune melt away recently. The wealth of Ambani, Asia’s richest man, has also taken a tumble, if perhaps in a less dramatic and public way. It peaked at about $120.8 billion in July, right at the time the opulent family wedding was in full swing. His flagship Reliance conglomerate has struggled with weakening earnings at the energy business to flagging consumer demand at the retail division. His fortune stood at $96.7 billion as of December 13.
Both Ambani and Adani have tumbled out of the elite centibillionaires club - people with fortunes above $100 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Ambani is counting on a strategic shift that has seen his conglomerate focus more on digital platforms, retail brands, and renewable energy to lift growth. But sales and profit growth have slowed at the retail business, while digital rivals have gained a footfall in the grocery and household item market, especially in India’s top cities.
Musk’s Starlink A Threat To Ambani
The potential entry of Elon Musk’s Starlink in India’s satellite broadband market could also threaten gains at his digital and telecom business, Jio Platforms Ltd. The oil-to-chemicals business is under pressure from waning demand and Chinese exports.
“Reliance remains a strong wealth creator and each business has great value. But the pressure on the oil business has caused the stock to under perform,” said Kranthi Bathini, equity market strategist at Mumbai-based WealthMills Securities Pvt.
But Reliance has large ambitions in the tech space through a joint-venture deal with Walt Disney Co., which will create an $8.5 billion media behemoth that is expected to dominate India’s streaming market. It also expanded its partnership with Nvidia Corp., with plans to build out artificial intelligence computing infrastructure in India.
Further afield, both men also face other headwinds in common going into the new year, particularly the risks after the election of Donald Trump and uncertainty around the outlook for Indian business.
“In the short term there are challenges, especially with Trump imposing tariffs that’s going to make India’s exports not that competitive,” said V.K. Unni, a professor at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
Other Indian Billionaires Add $67.3 Bn
Billionaire retailer Radhakishan Damani has also lost significant wealth this year, as his DMart chain grapples with low footfall at new stores and online competition. He’s now worth $17.1 billion, down from a peak of $27.8 billion in October 2021.
But to be sure, the fortunes of most of the richest Indians continue to grow: the twenty wealthiest have added $67.3 billion since the start of the year, according to Bloomberg’s wealth index. The biggest gainers — technology tycoon Shiv Nadar and Savitri Jindal, whose family controls the industrial conglomerate Jindal Group — have added $10.8 billion and $10.1 billion respectively.
“We will see founders focusing on making their companies more efficient given the level of uncertainty in the world,” said Shrikant Chouhan, head of equity research at Kotak Securities.
(Bloomberg inputs)
Updated 11:03 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/business/bloomberg-100-billion-club-two-big-indian-billionaires-out-see-names
| 2024-12-16T06:23:12Z
|
Jaipur (Rajasthan): After some students in a private coaching centre in Jaipur fainted on Sunday, several other students staged a protest demanding the institute be sealed and proper investigation into the incident.
The official confirmation of the reason behind the fainting of students is awaited.
The protestors, told police officials that they wouldn't leave the premises till the institute was sealed.
Following the incident, affected students were taken to the emergency ward of the Somani Hospital in Jaipur.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Rajesh Jakhar confirmed that some girls had fainted and were immediately sent to the hospital for a check-up. He also assured that he would convey the demands of the protesting students to senior officials.
"There is this Utkarsh coaching centre here, some girls fainted - they were sent to hospital for a checkup. Our ADM (Assistant District Magistrate) madam is also at the hospital. Students are protesting here, and I have spoken to them, and we will convey their demand to senior officials," Jakhar said.
Jaipur MP Manju Sharma visited the site. She said that around 4-5 students fainted due to some 'gas' related issue in the coaching centre and the students are fine now.
"There were classes going on in Utkarsh classes, and then there was a gas issue, the students inhaled some gas, so around 5 students fainted, now all of them are fine," Sharma told ANI.
"I talked to the doctor, they said there has been an improvement, I talked to the girls too. There is a lot of improvement and no complications," she added.
She assured that the incident will be investigated and it will be assured that it doesn't happen again.
"We will talk about it, and to make sure this incident doesn't happen again we will see the arrangements for it. We have already formed a committee to investigate the matter, and whoever is responsible will be definitely punished for it," the BJP leader added.
He further assured that the police are investigating the matter and the situation is being monitored.
More details are awaited in the case. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/rajasthan/jaipur-students-protest-after-fainting-incident-at-coaching-centre-sdm-orders-probe
| 2024-12-16T06:23:14Z
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SINGAPORE: Singapore stocks slightly rose as trading began on Monday, Dec 16, reflecting the cautious sentiment seen across Asian markets ahead of key economic data from China.
The Straits Times Index (STI) edged up 0.1%, or 4.9 points, to 3,815.25 at 9:03 am, as reported by The Business Times. In the broader market, 68 counters gained while 61 declined, with 71.4 million securities valued at S$62.9 million traded.
Genting Singapore led in trading volume, rising 0.7%, or S$0.005, to S$0.775, with nearly 3.4 million shares exchanged. Singtel also saw significant trading activity, but its share price fell 0.6%, or S$0.02, to S$3.12, with about 2.3 million shares exchanged.
Local banks showed mixed performance in early trading. DBS rose 0.4%, or S$0.18, to S$43.92, while OCBC gained 0.7%, or S$0.11, to S$16.87. UOB declined 0.5%, or S$0.19, to S$37.16.
In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% to 39,623.95 at 9:06 am, while the Topix index made a smaller gain of less than 0.1%.
In Australia, the ASX 200 dropped 0.3% by midday local time.
In the United States, Wall Street ended the week with little movement on Friday. The S&P 500 and Dow recorded weekly losses, while the Nasdaq marked its fourth week of gains.
The S&P 500 ended almost flat, slipping just 0.16 points to 6,051.09. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.1%, or 23.88 points, to 19,926.72, marking its fourth straight week of gains. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.2%, or 86.06 points, to 43,828.06.
In Europe, the main benchmark saw its first weekly drop in three weeks amid uncertainty over eurozone monetary easing plans for next year, concerns about slowing economic growth, and a potential trade war.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 fell 0.5%, or 2.75 points, to 516.45, its lowest in over a week. /TISG
Read also: Singapore stocks fell as trading began on Friday—STI dropped 0.2%
Featured image by Depositphotos
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https://theindependent.sg/singapore-stocks-slightly-rose-as-trading-began-on-monday-sti-edged-up-0-1/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:15Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
By many measures, California is a shining success story. On its own, it boasts the world's fifth-largest economy. It's one of the richest states in the U.S., with one of the country's highest per capita incomes. And California is also a place where Hollywood and Silicon Valley have set a standard for the U.S. and created a mythical, romantic version of the state that looms over pop culture. But in recent years, it is a story that has been told of one as a state in decline. And according to that narrative, the most populous state is overregulated and too expensive to live in, and so much so, according to some, that people are fleeing it in droves. But how true is that story? To answer, I am joined now by Tessa McLean, the California editor at the online publication SFGATE. She dug into this narrative - not just the current one, but previous times that everybody has been talking about California failing. Welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
TESSA MCLEAN: Thanks for having me.
DETROW: Let's just start with the now - how dire is it? Is the California dream over? Are we packing it up?
MCLEAN: (Laughter) No, the California dream is not quite over yet, though many would say it is dying. The population in the last three years has declined, but it's never declined more than 1%. Each year since 2021, it's declined by a smaller and smaller number, and in 2023, it only declined 0.09%, according to figures from the State Department of Finance. So growth is simply slowing. It has not fully declined.
DETROW: But this led you to take a broader look because, you know, I covered California politics for a couple of years, and I heard this at the time I was there, and it seems like such a constant. This state is too expensive. It's overregulated. It's killing itself, and people are leaving in droves. And yet, the population - big-picture - continues to go up, the economy continues to grow. Why did you want to take a look back at these previous moments of doom and gloom? What was interesting about it to you?
MCLEAN: I write a lot about the movement of Californians, whether that's leaving the state entirely for a different state like Texas or Montana or whether they're moving around within the state itself. So I really wanted to take a look at the population data and see how big any decline has been in recent years and find out if this was a new phenomenon or if this had in fact been happening for years.
DETROW: Yeah.
MCLEAN: And leading up to the most recent election, it felt like California was in the spotlight more than ever. Kamala Harris was born in the Bay Area. She started her career in California, and that fact was often used against her. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is boasting about how Elon Musk left California for Texas. And Governor Gavin Newsom is sparring with the governors of Texas and Florida, and these conversations are making the national news. I wanted to take a step back and examine America's obsession with California failing.
DETROW: To be clear, though, you're not saying that some of the real problems that are being flagged, like the high cost of living, the cost of housing, in particular, aren't real. It's just that they may be overblown in terms of leading people to flee the state in droves?
MCLEAN: Absolutely. California is an expensive place to live. There's no doubt about it. And that high housing costs and all the cost of living expenses that come along with that are a big reason - the main reason, mainly - why people leave. There's been a lot more migration within the state itself, especially since the pandemic. You know, people might be leaving large coastal metros like San Francisco or Los Angeles for places like the Inland Empire or Sacramento, more so than are leaving the state itself.
DETROW: Why do you think then there's such an impulse over the years - and you're talking about the dot-com bust, you're talking about earlier periods in the 20th century. Why do you think there's such an interest in declaring the death of California?
MCLEAN: California has always been a prosperous place. It's a place that people look to, to go find wealth and success. People have been migrating out to California, looking for the California dream since the Gold Rush. And so I think that idea of the California dream is really important for people, and it really draws people out there.
DETROW: Were there any interesting parallels that you picked up on when you compared these moments?
MCLEAN: Yeah. I mean, the parallels is that the reasons that people are leaving are almost always the same. It's high housing costs. It's traffic. It's overpopulated cities, people just being fed up with the politics of the state. Those reasons never really changed, whether it's 1989 or 2023.
DETROW: That's Tessa McLean, the California editor at SFGATE. Her piece, "America's Obsession With California Failing," is at sfgate.com. Thanks so much for talking to us.
MCLEAN: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/the-love-hate-tug-of-war-with-california
| 2024-12-16T06:23:16Z
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Ten-Man PSG Battle to Down Marseille
Paris Saint-Germain hit back from a goal down and being reduced to 10 men to beat bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 Sunday and move onto the shoulders of Ligue 1 leaders Monaco.
Paris Saint-Germain hit back from a goal down and being reduced to 10 men to beat bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 Sunday and move onto the shoulders of Ligue 1 leaders Monaco.
The defending champions trailed to a first-half penalty scored by Ghana's Andre Ayew. They also had Thiago Motta red-carded for a foul which led to the spot-kick.
But Maxwell levelled on the stroke of half-time before skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotted home a second-half penalty to silence the Stade Velodrome crowd and preserve PSG's unbeaten start to the season.
PSG have 21 points but trail Monaco on goal difference while Marseille drop to fourth behind Lille on goal difference, four points off the lead. Marseille had lost just one of their last nine home meetings with PSG and they were the better side for most of the opening period.
Mathieu Valbuena saw a 12th-minute free-kick guided around the post by goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. The PSG keeper was called upon again in the 20th minute pulling off a fine double save to deny Jordan Ayew, playing instead of Andre-Pierre Gignac, and the lively Valbuena.
Marseille were in front in controversial circumstances just after the half-hour mark when Motta was penalised for bringing down Valbuena in the area. The clumsy challenge earned Motta a red card while in the lengthy protest that followed midfielder Marco Verratti was booked.
Motta's dismissal was the 18th red card handed out by referee Clement Turpin in the official's last 26 matches. Andre Ayew kept his cool in the mayhem to score from the penalty spot. But PSG were level on the stroke of half-time with Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda at fault.
Dutch full-back Gregory van der Wiel crossed from the right and the ball fell perfectly for Maxwell to beat a flailing, stranded Mandanda with a strong header. Just after the hour, Dmitri Payet unleashed a powerful, swerving drive that Sirigu flapped away as Marseille looked to make their one-man advantage count.
But it was PSG who were celebrating in the 66th minute when they were awarded a penalty for Andre Ayew's needless challenge on Marquinhos who was heading away from the danger zone.
Up stepped Ibrahimovic to calmly steer home the penalty for his third goal of the Ligue 1 campaign. The win also extended PSG's overall unbeaten record to 20 games in Ligue 1, a run stretching back to a 1-0 loss at Reims on March 2.
Beleaguered Lyon's desperate form continued as the former Ligue 1 giants fell 5-1 at Montpellier. Remi Garde's side have won just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Club president Jean-Michel Aulas admitted that the team are in "crisis" but blamed a string of injuries among their defence for their poor form. Jean Fernandez's Montpellier could largely thank the double act of strikers Victor Hugo Montano and Remy Cabella for their success.
Colombian striker Montano scored his third goal of the season after 16 minutes and just before the break Anthony Mounier added a second with a header. Lyon reduced the deficit just after the break when Alexandre Lacazette found the net.
Cabella converted a penalty after 59 minutes and scored a second seven minutes later. He then set up Montano (68) for his second. Lyon, who won the last of their seven-consecutive titles in 2008, are four points above the drop zone.
Monaco had gone three points clear at the top on Saturday after a late Lucas Ocampos winner gave them a 2-1 victory over Saint-Etienne.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/football/tenman-psg-battle-to-down-marseille-105426.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:16Z
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Indian Women In World Team Snooker Final
Vidya Pillai and Arantxa Sanchis played superbly as India1 edged past England 2-1 to breeze into the final of the 2013 IBSF World Team ( Women) Snooker Championship in Carlow, Ireland.
NEW DELHI: Vidya Pillai and Arantxa Sanchis played superbly as India1 edged past England 2-1 to breeze into the final of the 2013 IBSF World Team ( Women) Snooker Championship in Carlow, Ireland.
Arantxa began well for India as he beat Hannah Jones comfortably 62-25 but Vidya struggled in second frame where Maria Catalano exhibited some excellent shots to pull the frame 70-50 to level the match again.
However, Vidya recovered from the loss and retaliated with magnificent shots in doubles frame. She crafted small but effective breaks to gain a 50-points lead (64-14).
Catalano fought valiantly but Vidya sealed the frame 66-19.
On the other side, team India2 lost to team HongKong1 in straight set of frames 0-2.
Both the ladies, Chitra M. and Varsha Sanjeev did not play upto the mark. However, being in semifinals, they will share joint bronze medal alongwith team England.
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/indian-women-in-final-of-world-team-snooker-105262.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:17Z
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The New York Knicks are known to have one of the most passionate fanbases in all of sports. However, Gilbert Arenas shared one fatal flaw with the Knicks faithful that might be holding back the city’s basketball franchise. They’ll cheer for an offensive explosion no matter which team it’s coming from.
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“The only flaw of a Knicks fan is they love basketball. That’s the negative, it doesn’t matter who has given them the great basketball is the problem,” the former Washington Wizard said on his podcast, Gil’s Arena.
While Gil praised the fanbase for being basketball purists, he underlined how the crowd’s fickle nature at Madison Square Garden often affect the morale of the home team. “Because imagine you’re a Knick point guard and Steph Curry’s coming in there. Steph Curry hits a few threes, Knicks fans is, ‘Oh, sh*t’. So, they’re cheering. This is not how to do it,” Arenas added.
“Like I know you enjoy the greatness of the game itself cause you’re a purist. But y’all don’t know how to be fans. You supposed to be booing that man [Curry],” Arenas concluded.
“You’re supposed to be booing [Steph Curry]. F*ck him!”
New Yorkers don’t know how to be proper Knicks fans pic.twitter.com/yAU46oDNZW
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) December 15, 2024
But while Arenas’ sentiment may be true in general, New York is also known for its hostility to other teams. The Knicks’ first-round series against Trae Young’s Atlanta Hawks in 2021 is a prime example of that, when ‘F*ck Trae Young‘ chants reverberated around MSG throughout the series.
In addition, New York is not the only opposing crowd Curry garnered cheers from.
Stephen Curry has heard MVP chants in multiple cities
Gilbert Arenas made a reasonable argument against Knicks fans cheering on opposing stars, but Curry has proven to be a leaguewide exception to boos when the Warriors travel on the road. In fact, the 36-year-old has received MVP chants on several occasions in rival cities, especially during Steph’s first season back from injury in 2020-21.
Chef Curry was notably greeted with admiration in back-to-back road matchups against the Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers respectively. Even Cavs fans, who have been defeated in crushing fashion numerous times in the NBA Finals at the hands of Curry and the Warriors, couldn’t help but to heap praise on the future Hall of Famer.
Even during the Dubs’ most recent title run in 2022, Curry was getting swarmed by fans in Boston looking to get an autograph from the legendary point guard.
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https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-yall-supposed-to-be-booing-stephen-curry-gilbert-arenas-uses-an-example-to-explain-whats-wrong-with-knicks-fans/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:18Z
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In a society where longevity is often celebrated as the ultimate goal, we must ask ourselves an important question — is living longer really the best aspiration?
While adding years to life may seem like an obvious pursuit, it is far more critical to focus on how we live those years. The concept of healthspan, or the period of life spent in good health, is far more valuable than simply extending one’s life span.
After all, what’s the point of living longer if the quality of those extra years is compromised by poor health and chronic conditions?
The fallacy of chasing longevity
The desire to live a long life is understandable. We often look up to the elderly who have celebrated milestones like their 90th or 100th birthdays, admiring their endurance.
However, while appealing, the pursuit of longevity can sometimes overlook an essential aspect — the quality of those years.
Many people who live to old age are burdened with debilitating conditions like arthritis, heart disease, dementia, and limited mobility. These chronic illnesses may not only reduce the quality of life but also create a mental and emotional strain.
As we age, the prospect of living a longer life becomes less enticing when paired with a life of discomfort, dependency, and loss of independence.
Therefore, it is imperative to shift the focus from ‘how long we live’ to ‘how well we live.’
This is where the concept of “health span” comes in—a term that emphasizes the importance of maintaining physical, mental, and emotional well-being throughout our lives rather than merely counting years.
The benefits of focusing on health span
Improved quality of life – A longer life doesn’t automatically equate to a higher quality of life. On the other hand, healthspan directly impacts how we experience those years.
By investing in our health now—through regular exercise, balanced nutrition, stress management, and mental wellness—we can prevent or delay the onset of chronic diseases.
This results in a life that is not only longer but also more vibrant, energetic, and fulfilling.
Increased independence – One of the greatest fears people face as they age is the loss of independence. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help ensure that we retain the ability to live autonomously well into old age.
Regular physical activity strengthens muscles and bones, improves coordination, and helps prevent falls. Mental exercises, such as learning new skills or engaging in social activities, can keep the brain sharp and prevent cognitive decline.
Reduced healthcare costs – Focusing on health span rather than life span can also significantly lower healthcare costs over time. Preventing the onset of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease through lifestyle changes reduces the need for expensive treatments and medications.
A healthier life means fewer doctor visits, hospital stays, and medical interventions, ultimately saving money and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
Better emotional well-being – Chronic illness and physical limitations can take a toll on emotional health, leading to depression, anxiety, and a diminished sense of purpose.
Focusing on health span promotes mental wellness by encouraging healthy habits such as social engagement, mindfulness, and emotional resilience.
The pursuit of good health enhances self-esteem, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of achievement and empowerment.
How to enhance your health span
To prioritize health span, it’s essential to make proactive choices today that will benefit you in the future. Here are some practical steps:
Exercise regularly – Aim for a mix of cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility exercises. Regular physical activity improves heart health, builds muscle mass, and enhances mobility.
The more active you are, the more likely you are to maintain your independence as you age.
Eat a balanced diet – A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains provides the necessary nutrients to maintain energy levels, boost immunity, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Avoiding excessive processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats can help prevent obesity and related conditions.
Prioritize mental health – Engage in activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading, puzzles, or learning new hobbies. Managing stress through mindfulness, meditation, or simply staying socially active can improve mental well-being.
Regular health screenings – Preventive healthcare is key. Regular check-ups and screenings help catch potential health issues early, before they develop into more serious conditions. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes.
Stay socially connected – Strong relationships and social engagement have been linked to better health outcomes, including lower risks of depression and cognitive decline.
Make an effort to stay connected with friends, family, or community groups to maintain emotional and social well-being.
The future of healthspan
As scientific research continues to advance, we are learning more about the factors that influence health span and how we can extend it.
Genetics, of course, play a role, but lifestyle choices are equally—if not more—important. By focusing on health span, we move beyond simply hoping to live longer and begin to actively shape a future where we can enjoy a high quality of life for as long as possible.
Living a longer life is not necessarily the most important goal; living a healthier life should be the priority.
By shifting our mindset from the pursuit of longevity to the goal of maximizing health span, we empower ourselves to live longer and better lives.
Embrace the journey of good health, and you’ll find that it leads to a more rewarding, fulfilling life, no matter the number of years.
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https://theindependent.sg/why-focusing-on-good-health-is-more-important-than-chasing-a-longer-life/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:22Z
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Published 11:38 IST, December 16th 2024
Zakir Hussain's Cause Of Death Revealed, Tabla Maestro's Family Confirms He Was Suffering From...
Zakir Hussain Cause Of Death: The Tabla maestro breathed his last at the age of 73 at a San Francisco hospital. The family has shared the reason of his passing.
Zakir Hussain Cause Of Death: Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain died at a hospital in San Francisco. He breathed his last at the age of 73. In an official statement, the family has revealed the cause of his death and shared that he had been hospitalised for two weeks before his passing.
What is Zakir Hussain's death reason?
As per his family, Zakir Hussain died due to complications arising out of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. As per reports, it is a chronic disease that affects the lungs. The organ gets scarred making it difficult for a person to breathe.
Hussain had been hospitalised for the last two weeks and was later taken to the ICU after his condition deteriorated. Hussain, who is regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation, is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola and his daughters, Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi. Born on March 9, 1951, he is the son of legendary tabla master Ustad Alla Rakha. “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come,” the statement by the family read.
Awards and accolades received by Zakir Hussain
Hussain has received four Grammy Awards in his career, including three at the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this year. Apart from four Grammys, Hussain was the recipient of countless awards and honours, including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the USA's National Heritage Fellowship and Officier in France's Order of Arts and Letters.
Celebrities from the world of music, politics, sports, business and entertainment have mounted the demise of Zakir Hussain. Bigwigs like Anand Mahindra, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Mohanlal and several other politicians took to their social media accounts to share their tribute for the Tabla maestro.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 11:38 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/zakir-hussain-cause-of-death-revealed-tabla-maestro-family-confirms-he-was-suffering-from-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis
| 2024-12-16T06:23:20Z
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Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Uttar Pradesh police have enhanced security arrangements outside the State Assembly in Lucknow ahead of the Winter Session that will commence today.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Manisha Singh said, "The Winter Session of Vidhan Sabha is starting today and for security arrangements, Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) and civil police have been deployed at all major intersections around the Vidhan Sabha. We are also monitoring the area through CCTVs."
This session is expected to witness discussions on various key issues affecting the state -- Sambhal violence, the anti-encroachment drive, the preparation of Mahakumbh, and irregularities of Hospitals to avoid incidents similar to the Jhansi fire.
On Sunday, Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey announced that the Samajwadi Party (SP) would raise concerns over rising communal tensions in the state, particularly the situation in Sambhal.
Pandey stated that the party would hold the government accountable for attempts to disturb communal harmony and anticipated significant uproar in the session.
Speaking to the media, Pandey said, "Tomorrow, we will give notice to the government regarding the communal incidents taking place and the efforts being made to disrupt harmony through riots. We will hold the government accountable for these incidents. Tomorrow is expected to witness significant uproar in the session."
The Leader of Opposition affirmed that the Samajwadi Party would continue its fight against all forms of injustice.
"The Samajwadi Party will fight against all forms of injustice, across all communities, and will raise issues concerning the public, such as unemployment, farmers' grievances, or any other injustices," he said.
Referring to Sambhal, he asked, "Did the administration suddenly build such an ancient temple overnight? Did Lord Hanuman's centuries-old idol appear overnight? Did the ancient jyotirlinga just emerge out of nowhere? Was this not a matter of faith? Why have the culprits responsible for the massacre in Sambhal 46 years ago not been punished? Why is there no discussion about the innocent lives lost back then? What was the fault of those who were brutally killed in Sambhal 46 years ago?" (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/uttar-pradesh/uttar-pradesh-assembly-winter-session-enhanced-security-key-issues-to-dominate-discussions
| 2024-12-16T06:23:21Z
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SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Two important food holidays are meeting up this year. December 25 is both Christmas and also the first night of Hanukkah.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: Well, we did not want to miss the opportunity to explore the potential for a feast for all. And to help us imagine what to prepare, we have called on Sarah Lohman, who's a food historian and writer. Sarah has put together a menu for us, and my only regret here is that this is a remote interview and I cannot eat it all right now. So that being said, welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, Sarah.
SARAH LOHMAN: Hi, Scott. Thank you.
DETROW: When you first realized the alignment here, what was your first thought?
LOHMAN: OK, first thought was, of course, fry everything.
DETROW: Yeah.
LOHMAN: I mean, maybe it's obvious, maybe it's my first thought, but I was like, let's fry things that have never been fried before. Let's make it the Iowa State Fair up in here.
DETROW: (Laughter).
LOHMAN: OK, so the fun part of this project for me was I got to reach out to my community. And I started talking to my friend Leah Koenig, who is the author of the recent cookbook "Portico," which is about Roman Jewish culture. And she pointed out to me that latke, the traditional Hanukkah fried potato pancake - they really aren't that old in terms of Judaism. The practice originates with German Jews in the late 18th century. So that's like a drop in the bucket of the multiple-thousand-year history. So that's when I said, OK, well, is there another direction we can go here?
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: So you have put together a menu. And before we go into it, tell me...
LOHMAN: Feast.
DETROW: A feast - important correction.
LOHMAN: (Laughter) I think.
DETROW: Tell me what you ended up organizing it around. What were the central thoughts? What were you trying to bring together?
LOHMAN: Well, I also happen to know a lot of people who are Christian or specifically Catholic and Jewish from populations around the world. And I think particularly in America, we can get sort of lost the idea of Christian as being a majority faith here, whereas in most of the world, it is a minority faith. And so I decided to put together a multicourse menu that looks at regions that have traditional, historical Christian and Jewish populations and look at where their food intersects and differentiates. I really believe that, like, cooking can be an act of learning; eating can be an act of education. And so I wanted to use this moment, this party, this feast, this festival to make space for the understanding of the long histories of these faiths throughout the world.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: That being said, let's get going. Tell us what the first course is.
LOHMAN: OK, so for the first course, we're going to go to China, which does have a historical Jewish population. No one's quite sure when they came, but they came into the area around Kaifeng, which is in Henan, which - not Hunan, Henan, which is a northern Chinese province. And it's difficult to trace dishes from Jewish ancestry there. There's maybe only about 1,000 Kaifeng Jews today. But one we know of is a Kaifeng noodle-blanketed carp. And it's a whole fish that's wok fried, and it's served with a sauce made from vinegar, rice wine, ginger and scallions. And then you top it with crispy fried noodles.
But if you're not up for frying a whole fish, which not everybody is, I would recommend ordering in some Henanese cuisine. Soup dumplings, or xiaolongbao, are from the Henan area. But don't get the pork ones. Get ones made with lamb or chicken and vegetables, or you could also order in some hui mian (ph), which are wide wheat noodles. I should note in this whole menu, I decided to avoid pork, shellfish, and I didn't serve meat and dairy so that anyone can come to your house for this party of any religious background and be able to eat the food.
DETROW: All right, so walk me through the last main dish.
LOHMAN: OK, so last main dish, we're going to go to Ethiopia. And I think, you know, this might be - sound like a simple answer, but the national dish of Ethiopia is dora wat, which is a chicken stew, and it's dark meat chicken, slow cooked with hard boiled eggs, garlic ginger, onions, tomato, and you finish the top with a sprinkle of black cardamom. So I also love the connections, the spice connections and flavor connections made through these dishes. Now, dora wat is sort of the Coptic Christian name for it, but it's also known as sanbat wat in Ethiopian Jewish communities. And sanbat means Shabbat. So a lot of these two aren't necessarily Hanukkah dishes. Actually, the Ethiopian Jews didn't traditionally celebrate Hanukkah in Ethiopia. But now over 100,000 Ethiopian Jews have moved to Israel and another thousand are here in America too. So they've moved in the cultures that celebrate Hanukkah. And definitely, you should make it with injera, too.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: So assuming there's any room left at all after all of these dishes so far, I know you've put a lot of thought into a very important holiday item, and that is desserts.
LOHMAN: Oh, my gosh, of course. I mean, but there is always room for dessert.
DETROW: (Laughter).
LOHMAN: So I've got two ideas here. One is cassola, which is from my original person who gave me this idea, Leah Koenig. It's a cheesecake that was created by Roman Jews, and it actually descends from this idea of pancake-making on Hanukkah. Hanukkah, you know, oil, things that are fried and things that are dairy are sort of traditional Hanukkah foods. Cassola was originally made on stove tops, like a really thick pancake. Now it's baked, and now it's actually crossed over that it's a favorite served by Roman Catholics on Christmas. So it's a ricotta cheesecake made with cinnamon, vanilla and raisins.
Now, for some people, having dairy after meat is OK, but for some people, it's not. So if you want to stick to a menu that's kosher friendly, I'd also recommend bolo menino. Bolo menino is named after the Christ child, and it's a cake made in Macao, which is governed somewhat by China, but not totally, so they have more religious freedom. And many people there are also Portuguese descendants, as well. So this is a cake made with crumbled cookies, coconut and pine nuts that is always served on Christmas in Macao.
DETROW: You know, I think a lot of people listening might be taking notes and thinking, I want to do this. And I think there might be a lot of people listening who are thinking, like, oh, my gosh, this sounds so overwhelming.
LOHMAN: (Laughter).
DETROW: What do you say to somebody who, like, loves the idea, but when it comes to, especially, like, a multicourse meal, just kind of gets intimidated?
LOHMAN: You know, there is always a potluck. There's always divvying this up. Or, you know, hey, if you love throwing a party like me, make the whole thing. But if not, just make the one dish that appeals to you. I think that food is always better with a story. And I love the idea of using this December 25 to reflect on these cultures throughout the world. And sometimes they're often difficult stories, too.
DETROW: Yeah. You know, we're talking about learning about different cultures, as this menus together. But, you know, I think for a lot of people, a holiday is also about kind of leaning into your heritage - right? - your family story - right? - in terms of food.
LOHMAN: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that we can't forget that many of these cultures that I talked about today also exist within America. These communities are here. And I think for all of us during this holiday season, this is often a time where we connect to our own ancestry. I'm sure that there are people listening right now thinking about the recipes that they're going to make that have been passed down through their families and that really are labors of love that make this feel like a special and important time of year.
DETROW: Absolutely.
LOHMAN: It's religion, but it's celebration, it's family, it's ancestry, too.
DETROW: And all of this is kind of very American, right? Like, you've put together a meal that touches on a dozen different countries and cultures.
LOHMAN: Yeah, but they can all be found here, absolutely.
DETROW: Yeah.
LOHMAN: And to me, I think that that's the most powerful and beautiful thing about America, our diversity. We can be a little hard to govern sometime. We're an unruly lot. But just how many different people become American too, I think that's really the most wonderful thing about living here and celebrating the holidays here.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
DETROW: That is food historian Sarah Lohman. Her most recent book is just out in paper, "Endangered Eating: America's Vanishing Foods." Thank you so much for taking up the challenge and crafting a Christmas Hanukkah feast for us.
LOHMAN: Oh, my gosh, my pleasure. Now the real challenge is I'm going to have to sit down and make all of this.
DETROW: I think there's no question now. Thank you.
LOHMAN: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/what-to-cook-on-hanumas-chrismukah
| 2024-12-16T06:23:22Z
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COSY PICS: Tiger Woods & Lindsey Vonn
Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn went public in displaying affection at the Presidents Cup golf in Dublin, Ohio.
Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn went public in displaying affection at the Presidents Cup golf in Dublin, Ohio.
U.S team member Tiger Woods celebrates with his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn after defeating International player Richard Sterne of South Africa to win the Presidents Cup on the18th hole during the Singles matches for the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 6, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
United States team player Tiger Woods, left, hugs his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn after the U.S. won the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo: AP)
United States team player Tiger Woods, right, smiles with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn after U.S. won the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo: AP)
U.S team member Tiger Woods kisses his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn after defeating International player Richard Sterne of South Africa to win the Presidents Cup on the18th hole during the Singles matches for the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 6, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
U.S team member Tiger Woods celebrates with his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn after defeating International player Richard Sterne of South Africa to win the Presidents Cup on the18th hole during the Singles matches for the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 6, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
Tiger Wood's girlfriend Lindsey Vonn ducks under a rope during the Singles matches for the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 6, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
U.S. golfer Tiger Woods walks with his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn after losing his rain delayed Foursome match during the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 6, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
United States' Tiger Woods is kissed by girlfriend Lindsey Vonn following a four-ball match at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Dublin, Ohio. Woods and Matt Kuchar won 1-up against the International team's Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, and Adam Scott, of Australia. (Photo: AP)
Professional skier Lindsey Vonn (L) and her boyfriend, golfer Tiger Woods, greet Sybi Kuchar and Matt Kuchar (R) after their four-ball match victory over the International team of Adam Scott of Australia and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan at the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 5, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
Lindsey Vonn, girlfriend of U.S. golfer Tiger Woods, walks on the 15th hole while attending his four ball match with playing partner Matt Kuchar against International team members Adam Scott of Australia and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan at the 2013 Presidents Cup golf tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio October 5, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/pics-tiger-woods-and-lindsey-vonn-get-cosy-105315.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:23Z
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The Dallas Cowboys (6-8) dominated the Carolina Panthers (3-11) to the tune of a 30-14 victory in Week 15. Normally, this would be a cause for celebration for Cowboys fans like Skip Bayless. But in this instance, the former ESPN and FOX Sports analyst isn’t sure how to feel.
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Bayless discussed Dallas’ triumph on YouTube Sunday evening. He revealed the Cowboys were “tearing him apart” despite prevailing by 16 points.
“My emotions are so mixed. I don’t know whether to root for or against them. I don’t know, I’m lost, man… I was convinced they had taken off… [then] Joe Burrow finally did what Joe Burrow always does to everybody… he hit Ja’Marr Chase and the game was over. And so was my season.”
On Monday, Burrow and the Bengals handed the Cowboys a hard-to-swallow 27-20 defeat. With 61 seconds left in a tie game, “Burrow did what Joe Burrow always does” and clinched a win. The Cowboys’ special team’s blunder in the final moments of the game led to the Bengals recovering a fumble at their 43-yard line.
Joe Shiesty connected with Ja’Marr Chase for a spectacular 40-yard touchdown just three plays later. Chase masterfully outmaneuvered Pro Bowl CB DaRon Bland to land the final nail in the Cowboys’ coffin.
Bayless harped a great deal on the Cowboys’ Week 14 loss as it brought the Cowboys down to a disappointing 5-8 record, drastically harming their playoff odds.
Had they beaten the Bengals, they’d be just two games out of the playoff picture. Instead, they reside three games back following the Commanders’ last-second Week 15 victory.
What are Dallas’ current playoff odds?
According to NFL.com, the Cowboys have just a 1% chance of making the postseason. This likelihood takes their victory over Carolina into account. Dallas needs to win their final three games and have Washington lose their last three contests to retain any possible path to the playoffs.
The Cowboys would also need significant help beyond that to steal a postseason bid.
All CeeDee. All the time.
: #DALvsCAR on FOX
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/RqNb3jKKY4— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024
This wouldn’t have been the case had Dallas defeated Cincinnati. Entering Week 14, the Cowboys held a 4% chance to make the playoffs. A victory in that Monday Night Football affair, per NFL.com, would have increased their odds to 9%. But the loss dropped them to less than 1%.
When your team is eliminated from the playoffs, you might root for them to lose so their draft positioning improves. However, it can be odd cheering against them. And since Dallas has not been officially ruled out of the postseason, Bayless wants to hope for a miracle turnaround. Add everything up, and it makes sense that he’s unsure of what to want.
Regardless of their fanbases’ potential desires, the Cowboys should be applauded for fighting through adversity and not quitting on the season. Head coach Mike McCarthy’s squad has won three of its last four games following a 3-7 start. They’ve continued to battle and show tremendous heart instead of “tanking” for the sake of a better draft pick. In a year that feels lost, that is worthy of appreciation.
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https://thesportsrush.com/nfl-news-i-dont-know-im-lost-man-skip-bayless-unsure-whether-to-root-for-or-against-the-dallas-cowboys/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:24Z
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Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain — who united musicians from diverse cultures and by doing so, shaped modern world music — died on Sunday in San Francisco. He was 73.
In a statement, his family said the cause of death was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
"His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time," his family added.
Hussain's career spanned over five decades, during which he was revered as both a national treasure in India and admired worldwide.
He defied genres and collaborated with an impressive range of musicians, including jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, bluegrass artists Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck, as well as rockstars George Harrison and Van Morrison. His versatility earned him the rare distinction of performing twice on NPR's Tiny Desk — once in 2010 and then in 2023.
"You know, you come from India and you say, 'OK, I'm representing a 3,000-year-old history,' so you think you're gonna teach the world about rhythms and drums and so on," he told NPR in 2015. "And then you arrive here. You suddenly realize that you know nothing. You're just one little dot in the painting that is the music of the universe."
Beyond his performances, Hussain was admired for his passion to teaching Indian drumming, further spreading appreciation for the art form.
Hussain often said that his musical journey began soon after he was born in Bombay. In the 2015 NPR interview, he recalled a tradition where a father whispers a prayer into his newborn son's ear. Instead, his father chose to sing him rhythms.
"My mother was very upset and said, 'Why are you doing this?' And he said, 'Because this is my prayer,'" Hussain said.
He told NPR that it was his father's dream for him to carry on the tradition of being an Indian classical musician. His father, Alla Rakha, was considered one of the world's greatest player's of tabla, a centuries-old Indian hand drum. His father taught Hussain how to play the tabla when he was 7 years old.
But his father also introduced Hussain to music from around the world, which is how Hussain fell in love with rock and Western music.
"I was the only kid on the block who was walking down the street with a boombox on my shoulder, playing as loud as I could 'Light My Fire,'" Hussain recalled.
In 1970, at 19, Hussain traveled to the U.S. where he spent the following years working with rockstars like George Harrison, Van Morrison and Mickey Hart, the drummer from The Grateful Dead. He also played with jazz musician John Handy.
In 1973, Hussain formed the Indian jazz fusion band Shakti with jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. With its melodic and rhythm instruments, the band helped American listeners appreciate sounds and instruments beyond Western music.
In 2024, Hussain became the first musician from India to receive three Grammy awards in the same year after Shakti won Best Global Music Album, and Hussain's collaboration with Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck featuring Rakesh Chaurasia won Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Hussain told NPR in 2015 that throughout the course of his career, he has found similarities between rhythmists around the world — regardless of approach or style.
"We were all on the same wavelength, the same quest, looking for perfection, which we will never find. But that didn't matter because it's all about the journey — not the goal," he said.
NPR's Felix Contreras contributed reporting.
Copyright 2024 NPR
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https://www.kvcrnews.org/2024-12-15/zakir-hussain-legendary-tabla-virtuoso-who-defied-genres-dies-at-73
| 2024-12-16T06:23:28Z
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Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the Indian Army, ex-servicemen as well as the country and the people of the state on the occasion of 'Vijay Diwas'.
"This day displays the valour and honour of the Indian Army. Our brave soldiers always contribute with readiness to protect the country, which we are proud of," the CM said according to a statement by the Chief Minister's Office.
"The supreme sacrifice made by the brave soldiers to protect the borders of the country will always be remembered," he added.
Vijay Diwas for the 1971 Liberation War is celebrated nationwide on December 16, to commemorate India's victory against Pakistan in the 13-day war, which ended with Pakistan signing the instrument of surrender in Dhaka and the subsequent liberation of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan).
According to reports, 3,900 Indian soldiers are believed to have died and 9,851 were injured during the war of 1971.
"We are proud of the bravery of our soldiers and the whole country salutes their bravery," the CM said according to the statement.
India and Bangladesh will jointly commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Vijay Diwas of the 1971 India-Pakistan war today, with the annual exchange of war veterans and serving officers.
Eight Indian war veterans and two serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces have arrived in Dhaka to commemorate Bangladesh's Victory Day celebrations.
Similarly, eight distinguished Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) and two serving officers of the Bangladesh Armed Forces also reached India to participate in the Vijay Diwas celebrations in Kolkata today, the Indian Army said on Sunday.
On the eve of Vijay Diwas, President Droupadi Murmu attended an 'At-Home' reception at Army House in the national capital, hosted by Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan were also present for the occasion. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-cm-pushkar-dhami-pays-tribute-to-war-veterans-on-vijay-diwas
| 2024-12-16T06:23:29Z
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Tiger Woods Leads US to Presidents Cup
Tiger Woods clinched the Presidents Cup for the United States for the third time in a row on Sunday, giving the Americans an insurmountable 18-14 lead over the Internationals at rain-soaked Muirfield Village.
Tiger Woods clinched the Presidents Cup for the United States for the third time in a row on Sunday, giving the Americans an insurmountable 18-14 lead over the Internationals at rain-soaked Muirfield Village.
World number one Woods edged 41st-ranked Richard Sterne of South Africa 1 up to secure the trophy, thwarting an Internationals fightback and boosting the Americans to 8-1-1 in the overall rivalry with their fifth win in a row.
Battling nagging back spasms over the final five holes, Woods won the par-3 16th with a par, chipped from the rough to inches from the hole at 17 and halved 18 for the victory.
"It feels good," Woods said. "It was a tough day, tough conditions, rain, wind all around. (My back) acted up from 14 on in. It keep getting worse, a little tight, but I think we can find something for it."
His victory put the hosts up by four with only two matches on a course that saw heavy rain for the fourth day in a row, forcing lift, clean and place rules to be used. "We've all slogged it out and did our best," said 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott of Australia.
It was the third triumph for Fred Couples as the US captain, all having ended Woods taking the winning point. "Three in a row and Tiger has the winning point all three times -- that's pretty good," Couples said.
Internationals captain Nick Price was proud of the rally, winning four matches in a row with the US on the brink of clinching to create some drama until Woods came through.
"Against the might of America, that was a tall order for us," Price said. "The all played incredibly well. They tried their hardest and I'm proud to be their captain."
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/tiger-woods-leads-us-to-presidents-cup-105430.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:29Z
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The tush push has become the Eagles’s signature play. Jalen Hurts managed another rushing touchdown on a tush push during the Eagles’ 27-13 win over the Steelers. But NFL GOAT Tom Brady wondered what the actual cost of the tush push is on Hurts’ body.
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For his performance on Sunday, Brady awarded Jalen Hurts his “LFG Player of the Game” honors. During their conversation afterward, Brady expressed concern over Hurts’ frequent involvement in the Eagles’ signature Tush Push play.
“One thing I’m thinking about every time I see that tush push is -How do you feel about that? I did a lot of sneaks but no one was pushing me and I didn’t get hit that much. But I see your neck bent. Tell me what’s the Monday morning like after three or four of those?”
Brady noted how the Oklahoma alum absorbs constant hits and endures defenders piling on him during the play, even pointing out an instance where Hurts appeared to twist his neck. The seven-time Super Bowl champion highlighted the physical toll such a brutal play can take on a quarterback’s body.
Turns out, it doesn’t bother Hurts at all as he explained that he feels fine the next morning, especially if they taste sweet victory on game night. Being the leader that he is, Hurts explained that it is more important for him to win and to keep going as the Eagles look for their 11th straight victory.
Tush Push might be a dangerous play for some QBs but not for QBs like Jalen who squat 600 lbs and are built like tanks. It seems his body is perfect for that play. And he showcased that once again as he overcame the turbulent past few games to lead the Eagles to another win.
Jalen Hurts finds his rhythm in Week 15
Up until now, it was Saquon Barkley and the number defense that was delivering the Eagles their wins. With Hurts finding his rhythm at this time of the season, new possibilities can open up for the Birds.
Barkley has been the main man in Philadelphia this season, with Jalen Hurts doing the bare minimum to keep the passing game going. However, this week was a different story as everything clicked for the Eagles on the passing game, with their QB delivering his best performance of the season.
On Sunday, Hurts was efficient in finding his top receivers. He finished the game with 290 passing yards and two passing TDs, completing 25 of his 32 passes with an accuracy of 78.1 percent and a passer rating of 125.3. 19 of those passes went to A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith.
The Eagles are now 12-2 and move one step closer to the first seed in the NFC following the Lions’ loss to the Bills. With Detroit having a tough run of fixtures and a huge injury list, the Birds have a chance to clinch the first seed which they failed to do last season.
They look like the most dynamic team in the NFL right now and it won’t be surprising if they are in New Orleans this February.
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https://thesportsrush.com/nfl-news-i-see-your-neck-bent-back-tom-brady-gets-honest-about-jalen-hurts-health-after-eagles-tush-push-play/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:30Z
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Published 11:20 IST, December 16th 2024
MM Keeraavani's Son Sri Simha Koduri Ties The Knot, Uncle SS Rajamouli Dances His Heart Out | VIRAL
Oscar-winning music director Keeravani’s younger son, Simha Koduri recently tied the knot with Raaga Maganti, the granddaughter of senior actor Murali Mohan.
RRR music composer MM Keeravani is all smiles as his younger son Sri Simha Koduri finally tied the knot. Videos and pictures from the ceremony has now gone viral on social media. Interestingly, amid the wedding celebrations, SS Rajamouli's dance from the ceremony is now going viral on social media.
Sri Simha Koduri’s wedding ceremony
MM Keeravani’s younger son and filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s nephew Sri Simha Koduri has tied the knot with Raga Maganti, the granddaughter of actor Murali Mohan.
The wedding was held in Ras Al Khamiah, United Arab Emirates and was attended by close friends and family members. With traditional attire to fun dance at the event, everything is now gong viral on social media.
SS Rajamouli’s dance clip from the wedding ceremony goes viral
A video of SS Rajamouli dancing to the song Ayudha Pooja from Jr NTR’s Devara is also making waves on the internet. He can be seen dancing with much enthusiasm. As per reports, beside him MM Keeravani’s elder son Kaalabhairava too was seen dancing.
A video of Rajamouli dancing to the song Lunchostava with his wife during MM Keeravani’s son’s pre-wedding celebrations also went viral within no time.
For the unversed, Telugu actor Sri Simha Koduri, the younger son of Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravaani was engaged to Raaga Maganti in November. She is the granddaughter of veteran actor-politician Murali Mohan . The special event was held at Golconda Resorts in Hyderabad.
Sri Simha Koduri is an Indian actor, who works predominantly in Telugu. He made his debut in acting Yamadonga in 2007. His father MM Keeravani is a music director and he is the nephew of filmmaker SS Rajamouli. His elder brother Kaalabhairava is a singer and music composer in Telugu films. He made his debut in a lead role in Mathu Vadalara. In 2021, he starred in Thellavarithe Guruvaram. For Baahubali 2: The Conclusion in 2017, Sri Simha Koduri has worked as an assistant music director”. He has also worked as an assistant director to Sukumar during the filming of Rangasthalam in 2018. His other notable works including Eega, Bhaag Saale, Ustaad and Maryada Ramanna among others.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 11:20 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/mm-keeraavani-s-son-sri-simha-koduri-ties-the-knot-uncle-ss-rajamouli-dances-his-heart-out-viral-video
| 2024-12-16T06:23:28Z
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Fresh fears have emerged that dozens of colleges may be snared by Labour’s private school fee VAT rules.
Government guidance on its finance bill, which is making its way through Parliament, says it is “confident” its current definition of a private school “does not capture” FE colleges.
However, the guidance also warns that FE colleges which have chosen to apply VAT rules set out in a complex 2020 tax court ruling involving the Colchester Institute “could” be counted as private schools.
It states: “[FE] Institutions can, if they choose to, apply the conclusion of the Upper Tribunal in Colchester, which would result in them treating the public funds they receive as business income.
“This could bring these institutions within scope of this policy, as this income would be treated as consideration for the provision of education.
“However, FE institutions should carefully consider this decision and ensure they understand what their new VAT obligations would be and the financial implications of this.”
There are about 30 unidentified colleges understood to have applied the rules from the 2020 ruling on a dispute between the HMRC and Colchester Institute.
A HMRC spokesperson told FE Week that colleges have until January 1 to decide whether to begin charging VAT for the first time.
Increased VAT cost risks
College income from fee-paying and government grant-funded students is currently exempt from VAT.
So being caught up under the new definition of a private school could have a significant impact on a college’s VAT returns.
Ian Brown, VAT director at S3TAX, said some FE colleges risk being “caught up” in this definition by HMRC.
He added: “How the government legislated for this surprised everyone, there’s an uncertainty around the risk for some FE colleges.
“Between Colchester, the private school legislation and HMRC’s application of VAT to private schools there’s uncertainty all around at the moment.”
What was the Colchester dispute?
The 2020 court ruling stemmed from a claim the Colchester Institute made for VAT paid on a large building project in the 2010s using a rule known as the ‘Lennartz mechanism’.
The result of the ruling – which set a precedent for similar cases – was that the tax treatment of grant-funded education shifted from being defined as a “non-business activity” to a “business activity”.
This change in legal definitions means that colleges no longer have the right to claim significant discounts on their VAT bills, known as “reliefs”, which include a zero rate for new buildings and a reduced rate for fuel and power.
However, soon after the 2020 ruling, HMRC said it acknowledged the court decision but would not impose the new rules on colleges while it mounted a new “test” appeal.
Following Colchester carries the risk of a large future tax bill, as HMRC vowed to “protect its position to secure tax revenues” and plans to take the case to the Court of Appeal.
Colleges already at a disadvantage
The dispute highlights wider concerns about the tax status of FE colleges, which suffer an estimated £200 million per year on irrecoverable VAT, leading to complaints that they are on an unfair financial footing compared to schools and academies which can reclaim VAT in full.
Julian Gravatt, deputy chief executive at the Association of Colleges, said apart from the Bank of England, colleges are the only public institutions that cannot reclaim their VAT, putting their students “at a disadvantage” compared to their academy counterparts.
He added: “Private school VAT rules add to the complexity and the HM Treasury October 2024 update helpfully exempts publicly funded institutions but leaves a doubt about those who entered into Lennartz arrangements and we’re awaiting clarification”.
Another layer of complexity
Socrates Socratous, a VAT consultancy partner at Buzzacott, told FE Week that private school legislation has added “another layer of complexity” to VAT rules for colleges, including those that specialise in special needs.
He said: “I think part of the problem may well be that the introduction of VAT on private school fees has been rushed through and its full implications haven’t been considered.
“The guidance that HMRC have issued is proving quite difficult to interpret because there are a lot of grey areas that they are sitting on the fence on.
“Private school VAT rules add to the complexity and the HM Treasury October 2024 update helpfully exempts publicly funded institutions but leaves a doubt about those who entered into Lennartz arrangements and we’re awaiting clarification.”
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https://feweek.co.uk/30-colleges-risk-private-school-vat-trap/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:31Z
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IN PICS: Sebastian Vettel Wins Korean GP
It was Vettel's third successive Korean win, eighth triumph of the season and 34th of his career.
It was Vettel's third successive Korean win, eighth triumph of the season and 34th of his career.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel won the Korean Grand Prix on Sunday to chalk up his fourth victory in a row and stretch his championship lead to 77 points with five rounds remaining.
It was Vettel's third successive Korean win, eighth triumph of the season and 34th of his career.
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen finished second, ahead of Lotus team mate Romain Grosjean, in a race marked by two safety car periods and the unexpected appearance of a fire marshals' Jeep on the track.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Vettel's closest challenger, could manage only sixth place on an overcast afternoon that threatened rain without delivering.
Second placed Lotus Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (L) congratulates winner Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany after the Korean F1 Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, October 6, 2013.
Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates winning the Korean F1 Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, October 6, 2013.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds his trophy aloft after winning the Korean Formula One Grand Prix at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates on his car after winning the Korean Formula One Grand Prix at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013.
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany stands on his car as he celebrates his win in the Korean Formula One Grand Prix at the Korean International Circuit in Yeongam, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013.
Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (bottom R) races ahead of the field during the Korean F1 Grand Prix at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam, October 6, 2013.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/motorsport/in-pics-sebastian-vettel-wins-korean-gp-105250.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:36Z
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Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Union Minister of State, Raksha Khadse and Indian Olympic Association President, PT Usha paid a courtesy visit to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun on Sunday, an official statement said.
Earlier on Sunday, CM Dhami launched the logo, theme song, and mascot for the upcoming 38th National Games in Dehradun.
The National Games are set to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Dehradun from January 28 to February 14, 2025, according to an official release.
Speaking at the unveiling event in Dehradun on Sunday, CM Dhami described it as a 'historic day' in the history of Uttarakhand sports. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting Uttarakhand the honour of hosting the 38th National Games.
CM Dhami further highlighted that the logo of the 38th National Games symbolises various aspects of Uttarakhand's identity.
"Today is a historic day for all of us in Uttarakhand's sports history. We are unveiling the mascot, anthem, logo, tagline, and jersey. On behalf of all the people of Uttarakhand, I extend my heartfelt thanks to PM Modi for giving us the opportunity to organise this event. The logo we have launched today showcases the diverse facets of Uttarakhand to the nation, and the anthem not only reflects our unity but also inspires our players and youth to strive harder," he said.
Earlier this month, CM Dhami held a meeting with officials to review preparations for the 38th National Games.
Following the meeting, he stated that hosting the National Games is a matter of pride for Uttarakhand and a significant opportunity to promote a sports culture and drive the state's overall development. He also noted that the event would establish Uttarakhand as a hub for sports activities. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/states-and-uts/uttarakhand/uttarakhand-news-raksha-khadse-pt-usha-meet-cm-dhami-38th-national-games-logo-unveiled
| 2024-12-16T06:23:36Z
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Vettel Insists Japan Win Not Inevitable
Sebastian Vettel jets off to one of his favourite circuits knowing he can seal a fourth world title in succession, but he insists he is not popping the champagne corks just yet.
Sebastian Vettel jets off to one of his favourite circuits knowing he can seal a fourth world title in succession, but he insists he is not popping the champagne corks just yet.
The Red Bull man led from pole to chequered flag at Sunday's Korean Grand Prix, meaning he will retain his crown if he wins again this week and Fernando Alonso is not in the top eight.
But after another dominant victory -- his fourth in as many races -- in front of a modest crowd at Yeongam, the 26-year-old Vettel said: "No win is inevitable. Sure, there's some sort of expectation as things went so well in the immediate past and also because I like Suzuka a lot.
But I would find it inappropriate to sort of bank on winning. "Before a win there is work to be done and at the moment we are enjoying doing that work. Of course, that's also because we are on a fantastic run."
The German was never seriously under threat on Sunday, although the appearance twice of the safety car and a fire truck coming onto the track did add some much-needed spice. The fire truck was rushed out after Vettel's Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber was shunted off by Force India's Adrian Sutil and Webber's car promptly burst into flames.
Webber, in his final season in Formula One, clambered safely out, but there was consternation and confusion when the truck came onto the track and briefly led the field, before the safety car was deployed.
Asked what he thought when he saw the fire truck lumbering in front of him, Vettel said: "That hopefully nothing severe had happened. "But then I saw Mark standing by his car -- that indeed looked pitiful -- and that was a relief."
Vettel insisted the victory, four seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, whose Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean was in hot pursuit, was not straight forward.
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli was forced again to defend itself in Korea, with Alonso, Webber and Sergio Perez -- whose tyre exploded -- all voicing concerns.
In typical fashion, Webber did not pull any punches, while McLaren's Perez warned it was only a matter of time until they caused a serious accident. Drivers have repeatedly railed at the Pirelli tyres this season, saying they are too fragile and potentially dangerous.
Vettel -- whose tyre-management has been a key element of his title charge -- said his Pirellis also threatened to ruin his race.
"I had a good view of my front tyres and the right tyre didn't look too healthy towards the end -- that's why there was intense conversation with the team in that phase of the race," he said. "It is always a bit of a nail-biter here with the right-front tyres, and even if the car feels great, you can never be too sure that it lasts."
Vettel holds a huge 77-point lead over nearest challenger Alonso in the championship with five races to go, starting at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/motorsport/vettel-insists-japan-win-not-inevitable-105429.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:37Z
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The upcoming social media ban for under-sixteens in Australia is rightly grabbing attention. This is an audacious move in the times we live in, but a repeat here would only increase further education’s role in educating about its dangers and appropriate use.
A ban on popular platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok will not please many teenagers. On the flip-side, it could prevent more tragic stories of their devastating consequences of on-line bullying and harmful content.
You don’t have to live in Australia to know that parents, teachers and health workers worry that excessive amounts of time on social media can damage individual’s mental health and wellbeing.
The government hasn’t yet acted, but just a fortnight ago, technology secretary Peter Kyle told the BBC that a similar ban was “on the table”.
In fairness, the new government didn’t have to wait long before running into trouble with the platforms, facing appalling scenes as a result of online disinformation after the shocking attack on children on Southport.
But that disinformation didn’t just affect young people, and nor is disinformation the only problem.
While teaching learners functional skills maths last year, it was common to hear tales of students spending between six and eight hours a day on phones. Granted, not all that time was spent on social media. However, it is indicative of how attached some young people are to their devices.
I’m not a medical or mental health professional, so I won’t venture into discussing what constitutes social media addiction. What I’m certain of is that six to eight hours a day on a phone is unhealthy and cannot be ignored.
And national ban or no, it’s also clear that the de facto ban on phones in schools is sacrificing an opportunity to educate about this in favour of more time on teaching the core curriculum.
Above all, we must not demonise
But it’s a curriculum that fails many of the learners who come to us, so they will now arrive with low self-esteem and without the tools to fend off the social media reinforcement of that low self-esteem.
Among the other problems they won’t be equipped to deal with are isolation, relationship breakdowns, fear of missing out, anxiety, depression, imposter syndrome and more.
Inability to concentrate may or may not be alleviated by more focused lessons in school. The jury is out on that one.
In truth, teenagers know the potential damage and yet continue to scroll – much like they continued to smoke in the 70s. This is not harmless fun or an easy-to-kick habit. We can all see that action is required.
Working in a college in the East Midlands last year, the most popular pastime at break times was a given. Little surprise that reading a book is rapidly going out of style.
There is a balance to be struck, of course. These platforms do help people stay connected and make new friends, to apply for jobs and develop their knowledge and skills.
One way or another, striking that balance is a responsibility that is likely to increasingly fall on our sector.
It seems clear to me that we simply must educate students about how they use their time on phones. This starts by considering its effects and its ethics (Asset or time thief? Democratising or demagogue-enhancing?).
Above all, we must not demonise. We must give them the knowledge and the agency to develop not just effective use but effective methods to manage that use.
And we can only do that if we embed sessions on social media in our curriculum. Given the platforms’ record of undermining British Values and the paucity of that curriculum, perhaps that’s the best place for it.
It might require some outside help, or some staff development, but the investment would surely be worth it, both in terms of their mental health and their future life chances.
Who knows? Staff development and college-wide efforts to allocate times to check social media might be just as beneficial for our adults as for our young people.
The results could be staggering: reduced anxiety levels, less cyber bullying, greater self-esteem and more focus.
No ban is going to rescue our sector, so we might as well start now.
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https://feweek.co.uk/a-social-media-ban-wouldnt-stop-the-need-to-educate/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:38Z
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Published 10:56 IST, December 16th 2024
Bengaluru Techie Suicide: Atul Subhash's Wife Arrested, Where is his Son? What We Know So Far
Bengaluru Techie Suicide Case Updates: Atul Subhash's wife Nikita Singhania has been arrested but his son's whereabouts are unknown. Here's what we know so far
Bengaluru: The shocking suicide note holding his wife and her family responsible for his grave step, left behind by Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash has sparked a nationwide debate over men's rights. Amid the ongoing investigation in the Bengaluru Techie Suicide Case, the engineer's estranged wife, Nikita Singhania has been arrested along with her mother and brother but Atul Subhash's family is asking about their grandson as the young boy's whereabouts remain unknown. Here's what we know so far in this case…
Bengaluru Techie Suicide Case Updates: What We Know So Far
Atul Subhash's Wife Nikita Singhania and her Kin Arrested, Sent to Judicial Custody
Nikita Singhania, Her Mother and Brother Arrested: Days after Atul Subhash, a Bengaluru techie committed suicide and in his 24-page suicide note, he blamed his wife and in-laws for mentally torturing him and extorting money from him by filing false cases against him and his family. In a major update in the Bengaluru Techie Suicide Case, Nikita Singhania, Atul Subhash's wife has been arrested from Gurugram. Nikita's mother and brother, Nisha Singhania and Anurag Singhania have also been taken into police custody from Prayagraj. The three have been sent to 14 days in judicial custody.
How Was Nikita Singhania Arrested: Republic exclusively spoke to DCP Whitefield, Shiv Kumar, who provided insights into the arrest of Bengaluru techie Atul Subash wife Nikita Singhania and her parents in suicide case. "Nikita Singhania was apprehended on December 14 in Gurugram and subsequently transported to Bengaluru via flight. Separate teams were deployed to locate and arrest Nikita and her parents", told DCP Kumar. "Authorities managed to track Nikita using reliable sources, as she had turned off her mobile phone to evade detection.", he added.
Where is Atul Subhash's Son? Techie's Parents Seek Grandson's Custody
‘Don’t Know If Our Grandson is Dead or Alive': Hours after Nikita Singhania's arrest, in a statement, Atul Subhash's father expressed worry about his grandson who has not been seen for quite some time. The Bengaluru techie's father is unaware of his grandson's whereabouts and is questioning his estranged daughter-in-law about him. Pawan Kumar Modi, father of deceased Atul Subhash says, "We don't know where she has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don't know anything about him. I want my grandson to be with us... For a grandfather, his grandson means more than his son...The whole society, people are standing in my support..."
Atul Subhash's Father Seeks PM Intervention: Thanking the police for arresting Nikita Singhania and her mother and brother, Pawan Kumar Modi has also appealed for justice to be served and has sought Prime Minister's intervention. He said, “I thank the police for arresting the accused...The judge (of the accused) was corrupt...I still haven't got justice as a case has been filed against me. A new case has been filed against me in the name of my grandson...We appeal to PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar , RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders to ensure that my grandson comes to me...”
Atul Subhash's Letter to His 4-Year-Old Son: In the 24-page suicide note he left behind, Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash addressed a heartfelt letter to his four-year-old son, who resides with his estranged wife, Nikita Singhania. Atul began his message with a heartfelt declaration, “Son - When I first saw you, I thought that I could give my life for you any day. But, sadly, I am giving my life because of you. I don’t even remember your face now till I see pictures of you when you were 1 year old. I don’t feel anything about you now except a tinge of pain sometimes. Now, You just feel like a blackmail using which I will be extorted more and more. Though it would hurt you, the truth is that now you feel like a mistake I made.”
He continued by expressing the weight of his decision, “Till I am alive and make money, they will use you as a tool to harass your grandparents, uncle and me to extort more and more money from me. I can’t let all this harass my father, mother and brother unnecessarily. Not even for you. I can sacrifice 100 sons like you for my father. I can sacrifice a 1000 of me for you. But I will not be the reason for the harassment of my father.” At last, Atul expressed his hopes for his son’s future while lamenting his own fate. “Now with me gone, there will not be any money to loot and I hope that they might start to look at the facts of the cases. Someday, you shall know the real face of your mother and her greedy family. I pray that they don’t devour you and your soul.
Remember this always that You don’t owe anything to anyone. Don’t trust society. Don’t trust the system. Both - society and system wants to feed off of you. If my blood wins in you, you shall live, love and fight with all your heart and craft beautiful things & destroy problems with your mind. May you live a life with the confidence & pride I lived with. May you not turn out to be a socialist or communist leech which is the highest form of corruption i.e. corruption of soul. Goodbye my son!”
Atul Subhash Suicide: Family Demands Justice
‘Will Not Immerse My Son’s Ashes Till Justice is Served': Atul Subhash's father Pawan Kumar told the reporters, “I thank the Karnataka Police for arresting them (Subhash’s estranged wife and in-laws). All those who harassed my son should be punished so that he gets justice, and his soul rests in peace. I will not immerse the ashes of my son till we get justice.” “My son was being harassed and tortured for money, and humiliated by his wife... I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all concerned… please give us justice,” he added.
‘They Made a Mockery of the Law’: Speaking to Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami , Subhash’s brother mentioned instances of how the techie was being harassed by his wife and her family. Bikash mentioned one instance when Atul’s wife (Nikita Singhania) demanded Rs 5 lakh and threatened with court cases if he did not pay her. His brother further said that the kind of allegations levelled on Subhash in the last two years will show how they made mockery of the law. He mentioned that the woman’s family kept filing the same cases at different intervals of time.
‘Are There Any Rights Against Misuse of Women Empowerment?': Atul’s brother also informed that he (Subhash) also named many judges in his case. “Justice is due… many men are going through this trauma… for how long will men be seen as money machine? After Nirbhaya… the law which was brought… the women are now using the same law and misusing the act… Are there any rights against misuse of women empowerment,” Bikash Kumar asked. “If a man shares his trauma then the society takes it in a wrong way,” Atul's brother Bikash further said.
Bengaluru Techie's Wife Alleged ‘Mental and Physical Harassment’ in Dowry Complaint
Nikita Singhania's Dowry Complaint: Nikita Singhania had filed a dowry harassment complaint against him in April 2022. The complaint, which resulted in an FIR under the Dowry Prohibition Act, allegedly highlighted a pattern of alleged abuse and cruelty related to dowry demands, which began shortly after their marriage. In her complaint, Nikita accused Subhash, his parents, and his brothers-in-law of subjecting her to both physical violence and mental harassment. Married in 2019, she claimed that Subhash treated her “like a beast” and regularly assaulted her.
Nikita's Uncle Denies Allegations Against Niece: Nikita's uncle has denied all the allegations levelled by Atul Subhash, the Bengaluru techie who committed blaming harassment by his wife, terming them as baseless. "Subhash's allegations are baseless… Nikita is out… will answer all the questions once she's back… I live in a separate house… and not dealing this case… they (Nikita's family) only do it," her uncle said.
Who is Atul Subhash, What Did His Suicide Note and Video Say?
Who is Atul Subhash: Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old Bengaluru techie, who died by suicide was an AI expert from Bihar. Atul reportedly grew up in Bihar, where he completed his education before relocating to Bengaluru to pursue a career in the private sector. Subhash, according to reports held the position of Deputy General Manager in the private firm. In 2019, Atul married Nikita Singhania, who is currently working with Accenture. The couple had a son, however, their marital life soon soured.
Atul Subhash Suicide: On December 9th 2024, Atul was found dead in his Marathahalli residence in Bengaluru, having taken his own life. Before his death, Atul recorded a video and penned a detailed suicide note, expressing the immense anguish caused by the ongoing legal battles. He blamed the accusations and harassment by his wife and her family as the primary reasons for his decision. In his final message, Atul made a heartfelt plea for an NGO to care for his elderly parents, who relied on him for support. His tragic passing has sparked debates about the misuse of legal provisions and the emotional toll of marital disputes on men.
Atul Subhash Recorded Video Before Committing Suicide: Before taking the drastic step, he recorded an over 80-minute video on Rumble, explaining the circumstances under which he had decided to die by suicide. In the video, which has now gone viral on social media platforms, Subhash can be heard saying, "I feel that I should kill myself because the money I earn is making my enemies stronger. That same money will be used to destroy me, and this cycle will keep going. "With the money from my taxes, this court and police system will harass me, my family, and other good people. So, the supply of value should be finished." He demanded that, after his death, his wife and her family should not be allowed near his body. Until his alleged harassers were punished, he asked his family not to immerse his ashes.
Atul Subhash's Suicide Note: In his 24-page suicide note and 80-minute accompanying video, he detailed the harassment he claimed to have suffered at the hands of his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family. The suicide of Atul Subhash, amid a contentious legal battle involving divorce, child custody, and a demand of Rs 3 crore from his estranged wife, has triggered a debate on social media. 'If I win from the system, devote my mortal remains in Ganga otherwise in a gutter outside the court', this was one of the 12 wishes Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash had penned in his 24-page suicide note.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 11:19 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/india/bengaluru-techie-suicide-case-atul-subhash-s-wife-nikita-singhania-arrested-with-mother-brother-where-is-his-son-charges-pressed-suicide-note-details-what-we-know-so-far
| 2024-12-16T06:23:36Z
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Bopanna-Edouard Pair Lifts Japan Open
Rohan Bopanna ended his long wait for the second title of the season as he lifted the Japan Open trophy with French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin, sailing past Jamie Murray and John Peers on Sunday.
TOKYO: Rohan Bopanna ended his long wait for the second title of the season as he lifted the Japan Open trophy with French partner Edouard Roger-Vasselin, sailing past Jamie Murray and John Peers on Sunday.
The fourth seeded Indo-French pair emerged winners with a 7-6 (5) 6-4 scoreline against the Briton-Australian combo in one hour and 17 minutes in the summit clash of the USD 1,297,000 ATP 500 tournament.
Bopanna had won his first title of the 2013 season in February when he triumphed at ATP 250 event in Marseille, France with British partner Colin Fleming.
He had also reached the final of Rome Masters with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi but ended runners-up.
It was a tough battle out there for Bopanna and his partner as the two teams fought tooth and nail, not allowing a single break in the opening set.
The fourth seeds had five break chances but Murray and Peers saved all to stretch the issue to a tie-breaker.
In the second set, Bopanna and Roger-Vasselin finally converted a break chance to get a lead, which they maintained to emerge winners.
PTI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis-and-badminton/bopannaedouard-pair-lifts-japan-open-105263.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:43Z
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Punjab [Pakistan]: For over two decades, the Sahiwal Metropolitan Corporation has been disposing of the city's solid waste near the Jhal Road Overhead Bridge on the banks of the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC), Dawn reported.
Despite the city's transition to a metropolitan corporation in 2008, it still lacks a dedicated dumping site, and the Jhal Road area was chosen arbitrarily for waste disposal, without any legal procedures in place. As a result, approximately 140 tonnes of solid waste are discarded daily on both banks of the LBDC, covering a total area of 192 kanals on one side and 105 kanals on the other.
Riaz, the Chief Sanitary Officer of the Sahiwal Metropolitan Corporation, informed Dawn that about 10 million square feet of land near the Jhal Road Overhead Bridge has been filled with solid waste. The situation remains unaddressed despite the city receiving a significant PKR 1.8 billion boost from an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project aimed at improving civic services.
However, the establishment of a legal dumping site remains a distant goal. Asjad Khan, City Manager for the Punjab Intermediate City Improvement and Investment Program (PICIIP), confirmed that a site purchase for waste disposal is part of the ADB project, but it has yet to be executed.
The daily waste dumping has led to serious environmental and health issues. Residents in surrounding areas like Muhammadpura, Hazoori Bagh, and Bhutto Nagar have reported numerous health problems, including respiratory issues, skin diseases, and poor air quality. In addition, the occasional burning of solid waste worsens the already toxic air, making the situation even more hazardous for local communities, reported Dawn.
A public health official, speaking anonymously, explained that the long-term accumulation of waste attracts pests such as rats, flies, and mosquitoes, which can spread diseases like malaria, dengue, and leptospirosis. Furthermore, decomposing organic waste introduces harmful bacteria and pathogens that can contaminate local canal water and soil, posing further risks to public health. The situation has caught the attention of environmental experts and ADB officials.
Sources revealed that the ADB's social and environmental departments raised concerns about the site's environmental impact, particularly its role in damaging air quality. "They conveyed to the commissioner/head of divisional coordination committee that the existing site is creating environmental hazards and it is damaging the air quality index of the city," sources told Dawn.
Local resident Haji Mushtaq criticised the authorities for their lack of action regarding the health risks faced by residents in Jhal Road's slum areas. "The corporation and district/divisional administration show little interest in the health of poor citizens living in the slum areas of Jhal Road," he said, highlighting the neglect of the community's welfare.
Waqas Akram, a municipal officer, acknowledged the issue, admitting that the current site is unsuitable for waste disposal. The scale of the problem became evident during a recent joint inspection by officials from the municipal corporation, irrigation department, and revenue department, Dawn reported.
According to the inspection report, a stretch of land from RD 326 to RD 329 on the eastern side of the LBDC has been filled with 6,562,500 cubic feet of waste, while a similar stretch on the western side holds an additional 3,562,500 cubic feet of waste.
Sahiwal Commissioner Shoaib Iqbal confirmed that the corporation has identified a new landfill site near Bunga Hayat. However, he also acknowledged that land acquisition has been delayed due to litigation from local residents. "In the future, daily solid waste would not be disposed of near Jhal Road but at the new dumping site," he said. (ANI)
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/world/environmental-hazards-in-sahiwal-haphazard-waste-dumping-threatens-health-and-ecosystem
| 2024-12-16T06:23:43Z
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South Yorkshire metro mayor Oliver Coppard says getting national, regional and local agencies to pull in one direction is crucial for his region’s progress
Oliver Coppard believes he’s on the verge of gaining powers that could join the dots between health, employment and education services and make a dent in South Yorkshire’s deep-rooted inequalities.
Any day now, the government is due to publish a devolution white paper that promises to give metro mayors like Coppard “the tools needed to boost economic growth”.
Greater Manchester and the West Midlands have already been promised so-called ‘single funding pots’ from March to replace dozens of separate income streams. South Yorkshire, along with Liverpool City Region, the North East and West Yorkshire combined authorities hope to get theirs in 2026.
And Coppard’s team – buoyed by success in taking the region’s tram system under public control – are already working out how they’re going to spend it.
Skills on the doorstep
At 43, Coppard is one of England’s youngest metro mayors. He had name recognition locally before being elected in 2022, having stood against the then-deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in his Sheffield Hallam constituency at the 2015 general election, losing out by around 2,000 votes.
We meet at his glassy Sheffield office the day before the US election, significant for Coppard who confesses a “love affair with American politics” having interned for Dick Gephardt, then Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, during his University of Leeds politics degree.
He returned in 2012 to volunteer for the Obama campaign, but wasn’t one of the Labour activists campaigning for Kamala Harris that Donald Trump accused of “blatant foreign interference”.
Coppard says: “I would’ve gone out on the same basis now if I wasn’t mayor, it’s got nothing to do with the Labour Party. It’s just because I care about American politics, and I like campaigning, I like knocking on doors.”
On the doorstep, he admits most people associate him with transport issues, rather than his skills agenda.
Transport plans
This is hardly surprising, given one of Coppard’s most notable achievements has been his combined authority taking control of the Supertram network in March after 27 years, as part of plans for an integrated transport network to connect communities.
The combined authority also recently invested £5 million in school buses to boost capacity because the cost-of-living crisis means “some people can’t afford to get their kids to school”.
But last year it scrapped the Zoom Beyond travel pass launched in 2021, which gave 18 to 21 year olds cheaper bus fares. “We couldn’t sustain it because of the funding challenges that come with the privatised bus market,” he says.
Coppard believes public transport cutbacks are partly to blame for the rise in NEETs (not in education, employment or training) in South Yorkshire.
In 2021, 16 per cent of South Yorkshire’s working-age population had no qualifications compared to 12 per cent nationally, and the region has “a problem” with “very basic level skills and being able to make sure that people can access opportunities”.
Coppard is equally passionate about skills training for those already in work. He believes “that’s one of the big areas where this country has always fallen behind… working with people in work to target those areas where we need to increase productivity”.
The combined authority does this through its skills bank, a public-private investment fund which match-funds employer contributions to skills training.
Coppard says where employers have a “specific training programme that contributes to growth”, South Yorkshire offers to co-fund it.
After being funded for the first four years by South Yorkshire’s local economic partnership, the combined authority took over in 2022 with a £5 million cash injection until 2025.
“For me, that’s a really good example of where devolution gives you those levers,” he says. “But we need to be able to do more. Devolution hasn’t gone far enough in the skills space. This government would hopefully argue the same.”
Going local
When Coppard is given access to a single devolved pot, his skills strategy reveals he wants to set up new community skills hubs to “deliver the next generation of programmes targeted at reducing economic inactivity”.
These will “bring together skills, health and employment support”, requiring “close partnership working with Job Centre Plus, health services and community groups”.
His optimism comes from experience of joining up different systems in the health and work space to improve outcomes for residents. South Yorkshire’s WorkWell, initially launched by Coppard’s predecessor Dan Jarvis in 2018, is now one of 15 pilots each getting £3.5 million for “tailored early-intervention work and health support and assessment, and a single, joined-up gateway to other support services”.
But he is facing some criticism of his proposals.
At a recent combined authority meeting, members expressed concern about Coppard’s pledge for a single point of entry for skills and employment services in South Yorkshire, saying commissioning on a regional level wasn’t local enough.
And there are capacity issues at the combined authority – a report said its “demand for analysis and insight outstrips supply” – which is partly why the implementation plan to deliver the skills strategy, published in spring was delayed by at least four months to January.
Coppard speaks quickly and at times erratically. He is hard to pin down on policy specifics, partly perhaps because of uncertainty about exactly how much he will get from central government under the next devolution deal, and for what.
When asked to explain the difference between his powers and those of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, he pauses to consider how he can best articulate the complexity of the current devolution landscape.
“As a mayor, I struggle with some of this,” he says candidly.
Devolution is a complex issue, but particularly so for the residents of South Yorkshire. Their combined authority was, for its first three years, called Sheffield City Region, but to stop the spotlight shining so brightly on the Steel City as opposed to neighbouring Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham, it was renamed South Yorkshire in 2021.
Missing money
Unsurprisingly, Coppard gushes enthusiastically about the intentions of the current government. As for the last one, he has a large chip on his shoulder over how South Yorkshire was short-changed in competitive funding allocations.
A £560 million bid for its Bus Service Improvement Plan “didn’t get a single penny”, and with “levelling-up funding in general, we didn’t get the support that we wanted or needed”.
What’s more, Coppard, who was director of the regional Remain campaign during the 2016 referendum, says that until 2014, South Yorkshire was one of the country’s biggest recipients of the European Union’s objective-one funding which gave more to “particularly egregiously worse off” areas. But from 2014 to 2020, the government changed the funding formula to “particularly disadvantage” South Yorkshire and Liverpool City region.
While South Yorkshire received €111 per head, the North East got €273 and Tees Valley €300.
He claims that because his region has become more deprived since then, “we would technically be back in objective one funding now if we were still part of the EU”.
South Yorkshire got £38 million over three years from the UK shared prosperity fund (intended to replace EU structural funding), and Coppard claims the last government “promised” to double its share of that to match the money it previously received from the EU. That increase “never materialised” in what Coppard describes as a “political trap” for the incoming Labour government.
“They’d never accounted for any of that money… it just so happened that that coincided with an electoral timetable. Now this government’s having to figure out how to actually fund some of these things where no money was ever set aside.”
LSIPs from a ‘previous age’
Coppard is equally dismissive of the last government’s attempts to encourage joint working between skills providers, employers and local government players through local skills improvement plans (LSIPs), saying they “feel like a product of a previous age”.
Coppard admits his region has “not always worked hand in glove” across private and public sector institutions.
This is evident in the fractious birth of the combined authority itself; after a deal was signed in 2015, several local authorities pulled out, and both Barnsley and Doncaster backed an alternative proposal for a giant pan-Yorkshire combined authority before the government quashed the idea.
But Coppard claims that in recent years, relationships between key players have “changed quite dramatically”. He wants “more of a connection to the way South Yorkshire works now” as regards LSIPs, to “speak to the wider objectives and approach” that his region is trying to take.
Meanwhile, Skills England is about to start flexing its muscles over mayors, as part of its remit to hold local and national partners to account to ensure pledges made on skills are delivered.
It is not a prospect that Coppard seems to be relishing.
He points to Homes England as an example of a national arms-length agency that works successfully with South Yorkshire, partly because it provides the “capacity and expertise” that his combined authority lacks in planning for the delivery of new homes. But it still “recognises we have a leadership role to play”.
“So working much more on our priorities, rather than being mandated to by a national organisation, has to be the way forward,” Coppard adds.
Skills England will also help oversee South Yorkshire’s growth plans, as part of its work to ensure areas meet the government’s blueprint for its industrial strategy and green prosperity plan.
Coppard is concerned that “if you’ve got national organisations sitting outside of the system, you’re not going to be able to push all those levers to genuinely influence things”.
College relationships
But he brightens up when we talk about his relationship with local colleges. He is in “regular conversation” with them about “all sorts of things,” not just skills.
He recently held a roundtable on the local police and crime plan, chaired by David Blunkett and attended by Sheffield College chief executive Angela Foulkes, who “helped us think through some of the challenges for policing and crime when it comes to our colleges”.
He is “lucky” in South Yorkshire because, being a smaller region with a “limited number of colleges”, it is “easier” for him than some other mayors to develop those relationships.
Coppard is keen to build on Sheffield’s reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing.
He wants more sway over careers advice in schools, to influence pupils to consider professions in sectors like advanced manufacturing that are key to his growth plans.
Plus he wants to expand Rotherham’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, which is “massively oversubscribed”, and use bus reforms to remedy the fact only 1 per cent of the region’s population can access that centre by public transport within 30 minutes.
If all this can be done, Coppard says it will be a “really good example” of what can be achieved through devolution.
“Knitting up this system so people can genuinely access opportunity feels like my challenge, and it’s where I’m proudest to be working.”
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https://feweek.co.uk/south-yorkshire-mayor-oliver-coppard/
| 2024-12-16T06:23:44Z
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Published 11:14 IST, December 16th 2024
Bill on Simultaneous Polls Likely To Be Introduced in LS on Dec 17; To Be Referred to Joint Panel
A constitutional amendment bill for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Tuesday
New Delhi: A constitutional amendment bill for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously is likely to be introduced in Parliament on Tuesday and could be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses.
A top government functionary said the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on "one nation, one election", was expected to be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
After its introduction, Meghwal will request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament for wider consultations.
The joint panel will be constituted on a pro-rata basis, based on the strength of MPs of various parties.
As the largest party, the BJP will get chairmanship of the committee, besides several members, the functionary said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was a member of the high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind that recommended holding Lok Sabha, state assembly and local body elections simultaneously in a phased manner, is likely to be present in the Lower House at the time of Bill's introduction, the functionary said.
The Union Cabinet last week decided to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but opted to leave "as of now" how local body polls are held.
Meghwal may tell the Lower House that since the Bill will need wider consultations with lawmakers and the public, it should be sent to a joint committee.
The speaker will seek the names of members for the proposed panel from the parties on the same day.
If the parties do not inform the speaker about the members they wish to send on the panel, according to rules, they may lose membership.
The speaker will announce the committee's composition by the evening on the day the Bill is introduced, the functionary said.
Initially, the tenure of the proposed committee will be for 90 days but it may be extended later.
The Union Cabinet has approved two bills to hold the parliamentary and assembly polls concurrently.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Kovind had said during the consultation process on "one nation, one election" that 32 parties supported the idea while 15 did not.
Simultaneous polls were held in the country between 1951 and 1967.
The concept of simultaneous elections has featured in many reports and studies since 1983, essentially implying a return to the previous practice of conducting polls concurrently.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 11:14 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/india/bill-on-simultaneous-polls-likely-to-be-introduced-in-ls-on-dec-17-to-be-referred-to-joint-panel
| 2024-12-16T06:23:45Z
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Serena Beats Jelena to Win China Open
World number one Serena Williams bagged her 10th title of the year with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Jelena Jankovic in the final of the China Open on Sunday.
World number one Serena Williams bagged her 10th title of the year with a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing of Jelena Jankovic in the final of the China Open on Sunday.
The top-seeded American broke the eighth-seeded Serb twice in the first set and three times in the second to register her 73rd win of the season.
Williams appeared in pain after serving an ace during the third game of the second set and her serve was broken for the only time in the match in that game as Jankovic went 2-1 ahead.
But it was Jankovic who had to take a medical time out after the game due to a problem in her hip.
The Serb, however, failed to win another game upon her return to the court as Williams racked up five games in a row to close out the match.
"I'm really excited. I didn't think I'd win this tournament starting out, so I'm really happy to be here holding the trophy," Williams, who complained of a sore back after Saturday's semifinal, said during the presentation ceremony.
Sunday's victory also gave the 32-year-old Williams her 56th career title.
AFP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/sports/tennis-and-badminton/serena-beats-jelena-to-win-china-open-105431.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:50Z
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Published 10:43 IST, December 16th 2024
Kurla BEST Bus Accident: Man Succumbs To Injuries, Toll Rises to 8
A 55-year-old man, who was among the several persons injured in the BEST bus accident in Kurla area here, died on Monday morning, taking the death toll to eight, a civic official said.
Mumbai: A 55-year-old man, who was among the several persons injured in the BEST bus accident in Kurla area here, died on Monday morning, taking the death toll to eight, a civic official said.
The electric bus, hired by the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking on wet-lease basis, ploughed into a crowd and fatally knocked down seven persons and injured 42 others on a crowded road in Kurla area on December 9.
Several vehicles were also damaged in the incident.
One of the injured persons, identified as Fazlu Rehman, died during treatment at the Sion Hospital on Monday morning, the official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
BEST has set up a five-member committee to investigate the Kurla accident.
Driver Sanjay More (54) is in police custody for alleged reckless driving.
In a statement issued last week, BEST said a committee, headed by Chief Manager (Transport) Ramesh Madavi, will investigate the accident.
It also said that BEST would provide Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives and bear treatment expenses of the injured.
BEST administration has claimed that More received three days' training before he was allowed to drive the electric bus.
RTO officials suspect human error and lack of proper training for driving automatic transmission buses could be the reason behind the accident, among the most horrific involving BEST buses in recent history.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 10:43 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/india/kurla-best-bus-accident-man-succumbs-to-injuries-toll-rises-to-8
| 2024-12-16T06:23:53Z
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Samsung May Post Record $35 Bn Profit
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is on track to post its second consecutive year of record earnings as a rebound in its semiconductor business shields the South Korean tech giant from a slower smartphone market.
SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd is on track to post its second consecutive year of record earnings as a rebound in its semiconductor business shields the South Korean tech giant from a slower smartphone market.
The world's biggest memory chipmaker is likely to see its semiconductor earnings charge to a three-year high - a much-needed shot in the arm - just as sales of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone begin to slip, analysts say.
The global chip market has rallied since late 2012 due to a supply crunch caused by years of cautious investment to support prices, and conversion of factory capacity to produce more profitable chips used in smartphones and tablets.
The market further tightened following a fire in early September at a China plant owned by SK Hynix, the world's No.2 chipmaker. The drop in supply helped divert customers to Samsung, whose heavy investment in cutting-edge chip-making technologies has made it head and shoulders above smaller rivals like Micron Technology Inc.
"As of now, there is no real competitor for Samsung in the (memory) chip business," said Lee Seung-woo, a tech analyst at IBK Investment & Securities. "This dearth of players is expected to allow Samsung to post considerable operating profits throughout this year and next year, even if demand flags."
Samsung is estimated to post an operating profit of 38.5 trillion won ($35.85 billion) this year, up a third from 2012, according to a survey of 45 analysts by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said on Friday operating profit is likely to reach a record 10.1 trillion won in the third quarter.
Contract dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chip prices jumped 9 percent in the second half of September from the first half of that month while spot prices soared 37 per cent.
UBS estimates supply of DRAM chips by SK Hynix would shrink by 14per cent in the fourth quarter, plunging the overall DRAM market into a supply deficit of some 7 per cent. The South Korean firm aims to fully restore operations in November.
Shares in Samsung ended Friday unchanged, after advancing as much as 3.1per cent on Wednesday prior to the earnings guidance announcement. Financial markets in South Korea were closed on Thursday due to a public holiday.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/enterprise/samsung-may-post-record-$35-billion-profit-105246.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:56Z
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Samsung's Success Run Continues
Operating profit at Samsung Electronics hit another record high in the July-September quarter, likely driven by robust sales of its cheaper mid-range smartphones in developing countries.
Operating profit at Samsung Electronics hit another record high in the July-September quarter, likely driven by robust sales of its cheaper mid-range smartphones in developing countries.
The maker of Galaxy smartphones said that its third-quarter operating income rose 25% over a year earlier to 10.1 trillion won ($9.4 billion). The result was slightly better than the market expectation of $9.3 billion, according to FactSet, a financial data provider.
Third-quarter sales increased 13% to a record high of 59 trillion won ($55 billion).
Samsung did not disclose net income or other details of its financial performance. Its full results will be announced later this month.
Analysts said robust sales of mid- and low-end smartphones and improved profit from Samsung's semiconductor businesses were behind another record quarter.
There had been expectations that slowing growth in sales of high-end smartphone in rich countries would dent the South Korean company's profit but the latest result underlined the success of Samsung's expansion in the mobile-phone market in developing countries.
Sales of the Galaxy S4 smartphone, Samsung's flagship model that was released in April, plunged during the three-month period but Samsung probably still sold more smartphones than the previous quarter as consumers snapped up its cheaper smartphones, said Young Park, an analyst at Hyundai Securities.
Samsung announced last month the latest iteration of the Galaxy Note smartphone as well as the Galaxy Gear, a wristwatch with a touchscreen display that can receive and place phone calls through the Samsung smartphone.
The company is the world's largest maker of smartphones, computer memory chips and TVs. Smartphone sales accounted for about two-thirds of its overall profit in recent years, while demand for televisions and personal computers remained tepid.
AP
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/enterprise/samsungs-success-run-continues-with-high-profits-104990.html
| 2024-12-16T06:23:57Z
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Published 10:27 IST, December 16th 2024
Manipur CM Condemns Killing of Bihar Migrant Labourers, Announces Ex-Gratia of Rs 10 lakh
Manipur CM N Biren Singh has strongly condemned the killing of two migrant labourers from Bihar and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin
Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has strongly condemned the killing of two migrant labourers from Bihar in Kakching district and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of the two deceased.
He said every possible effort is underway to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible for killing the two migrant labourers.
Singh in a post on X said, "I strongly condemn the brutal killing of young brothers, Sunalal Kumar (18) and Dasharat Kumar (17), from Bihar in Kakching district, Manipur. This act of terrorism is a direct assault on our values, and my deepest condolences go out to their grieving families." "In this crucial juncture, we cannot ignore the possibility that this horrific crime is part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise our state and push it further towards chaos. We must stand together against these destructive forces and ensure that they do not succeed in creating fear and insecurity," Singh added.
The Manipur CM also announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for the bereaved family and said the case would be transferred to NIA, if needed.
"An ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to each bereaved family, and every possible effort is underway to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible. If required, the case will be transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ensure a fair and thorough inquiry," Singh said.
Two migrant workers from Bihar were shot dead from point blank range in Manipur's Kakching district on Saturday evening. The incident happened near the panchayat office in Keirak on Kakching-Wabagai Road around 5.20 pm.
Those behind the incident are yet to be identified, police said. The deceased hailed from Bihar's Gopalganj district and were construction workers who lived in a rented accommodation in Kakching.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 10:27 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/india/manipur-cm-condemns-killing-of-bihar-migrant-labourers-announces-ex-gratia-of-rs-10-lakh
| 2024-12-16T06:24:00Z
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Google Removing Mug Shot Sites in Search
Google has reportedly decided to demote mug shot sites from its search results in a bid to help criminals or offenders come over the uncomfortable memory of the crimes and get a chance at not being stigmatized.
WASHINGTON: Google has reportedly decided to demote mug shot sites from its search results in a bid to help criminals or offenders come over the uncomfortable memory of the crimes and get a chance at not being stigmatized.
Several for-profit web sites repost mug shots obtained from local law enforcement agencies making it appear as a public service, however, it may hinder the efforts of those acquiring jobs or housing opportunities, who are guilty and want to pursue a better life.
According to Cnet, these sites often charge people 400 dollars or more for an 'unpublish service' to remove their images but these images still appear in search results like Google if a particular mug shot name is keyed into a query.
To tackle the issue, a Google spokesperson said that the company's team is working for an improvement to their search algorithms.
The report said that even the payments backbone of the commerce on the internet is also cutting off mug shot sites including PayPal, American Express, Discover and MasterCard who find the activity 'repugnant' and had urged the merchant bank that handles those accounts to end those relationships.
ANI
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/internet/google-to-remove-mug-shot-sites-from-search-results-105445.html
| 2024-12-16T06:24:03Z
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Donald Trump Appoints Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes as Chairman of President's Intelligence Advisory Board
BGT 2024-25: Smith and Head Shine with Centuries, Bumrah Claims Fifer as Australia Reach 405/7 at Stumps
Tata Cliq, JioMart, Ajio, Ola, Zomato & Others Commit to 'Safety Pledge' on National Consumer Day 2024
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https://www.thehawk.in/tag/jhal-road-waste-crisis
| 2024-12-16T06:24:05Z
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Published 11:43 IST, December 16th 2024
Spurious Drugs Of Rs 1.85 Cr Seized In Thane; 2 Booked
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) personnel have seized spurious drugs valued at Rs 1.85 crore following raids at two locations in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Monday.
Thane: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) personnel have seized spurious drugs valued at Rs 1.85 crore following raids at two locations in Maharashtra's Thane district, officials said on Monday.
The raids were carried out at a godown in Bhiwandi and another establishment in Mira Road area over the last few months, they said.
A case has been registered against two persons in this connection, a police official said.
The investigation suggested the accused were manufacturing and selling counterfeit medicines while falsely claiming them to be from the original manufacturers, an FDA official said in the complaint.
The drugs were distributed across multiple states, thereby deceiving patients and compromising public health, as per the complaint.
The police on Saturday registered a case against the accused under various Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including 318(4), (cheating), 276 (adulteration of drugs), 277(sale of adulterated drugs), 278 (sale of drug as a different drug or preparation) and 3(5) (criminal act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention of all), as well as provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The police and FDA were conducting a probe to identify the manufacturing locations of these spurious drugs, source of the packaging materials and distribution channels, officials said.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 11:43 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/india/spurious-drugs-of-rs-185-cr-seized-in-thane-2-booked
| 2024-12-16T06:24:07Z
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Grand Theft Auto V: Review
Now GTA V is the first game that has crossed into Hollywood mega blockbuster territory and it is fantastic. Not only that it’s three games in one.
With a budget of over 250 Million Dollars and over $1 Billion sales in just three days since it’s launch, Grand Theft Auto V has been breaking all sorts of records. The series has always been living life king size, racking up the controversy along with the money. Now this is the first game that has crossed into Hollywood mega blockbuster territory and it is fantastic. Not only that it’s three games in one.
Disclaimer: This game has everything in it, sex, drugs, rock n roll, robbery, psycho killing, everything, so you have to be over 18 to buy this game. So parents please, if your kid is crying for GTA, just get him/her a bag of sweets instead. You have been warned.
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Grand Masti
Starting with GTA III right up to V now, with all it’s sister games, each and every one has created a hoo haa, from the “hot coffee” sex mod in GTA III: San Andreas, to the direct blame this game has got from the media for allegedly inspiring shootouts in schools. GTA is known to be notorious. Though keeping the storm the series attracts, each game in Grand Theft Auto is not just a game, it’s a spectacle, each game one after the other pushing the boundaries of technology, game storytelling, art, satire. Grand Theft Auto is the first game to explore the narratives through the lives of three different characters.
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Trio
Three different characters from different parts of society. Michael is a retired criminal now living the good life and hating it all. Franklin is an ambitious street smart hood with dreams of making it someday. Lastly, Trevor, a psychotic, violent meth head living out in the wild. Fate and their unhappiness with the current state of their lives, throws these three men together where they risk it all to set them up for life. The story of GTA V is an urban epic, one of the most riveting, funny and downright awesome.
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Los Santos
The world of Grand Theft Auto V is a mirror image of Los Angeles, renamed to Los Santos here, part of San Andreas. In GTA III: San Andreas, the game world was bigger, far bigger, though with this game the developers shrunk it down to one section, to give you the best experience in a concentrated area. The result is a living and breathing city that reacts realistically to your presence. A city whose denizens are stereotypical and straight out of Hollywood depictions of America today, just a lot more stretched. What’s more is that Los Santos is a melting pot of cultures, and the developers have done a fantastic job of sculpting a city that reflects the upsides and often funny and dangerous downsides of each. You may just lose yourself here.
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Heist
What strikes you most from watching popular heist movies is not the actual heist, but the way the heist is planned and the equation of all the members of the crew. Oceans 11, Snatch even the recent Fast and the Furious movies all had the core crew. Which is what Rockstar games has been tapping into, by letting you control three characters in the game world and letting you switch between them. Which is the crux of planning and executing the heists.
__PAGEBREAK__
Chal, lets rob a bank
What set’s GTA V apart from all the GTA’s and other open world games is the Heists. Once your crew of Franklin, Michael and Trevor are together, you start robbing jewellery stores , banks, armored cars and more. Just like in the movies, each successful heist needs to be planned. You can choose to hire cheap or expert hackers, enforcers and the like to join your crew. Once you’re ready with the people you can lay out your gameplan. Each heist has multiple points of entry, multiple ways of tackling things. You can either go in all guns blazing, or go in all Mission Impossible style with stealth, or everything in between, you can get insanely creative.
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Switching out
When the heist is on, you can switch between the three main characters. Each with his special move, like Michael can go into bullet time for precise shooting, Franklin can slow time when driving, perfect for maneuvers during getaways, Trevor just goes bezerk doing double damage. You can micromanage your heist by switching in and out of characters as all hell breaks loose. One mission may have one character in a chopper while the other is stuck on a roof, and the next is keeping bad guys off them with a sniper rifle. Each and every situation are like mini action movies. Just plain fantastic.
__PAGEBREAK__
Three Little Gangstas
Apart from the heists, the gameplay is pretty much do anything. Los Santos is ripe for picking, and each character when not heisting, can do their own missions, which is important for levelling up. As Michael you can experience the slice of the high life crime, with Franklin you get to do the small street level jobs as a Repo man or do some low level hood stuff as a gang banger. Trevor, we’ll he’s a different beast that brings out the beast in you. He gives you the chance to unleash that inner killer in some truly mad, violent and insanely fun missions. At any time in the game you can switch in and out of each character. So if you get bored playing as Michael you can always move over to Franklin.
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The people you meet
As with any GTA, half the fun is the weird zany characters you run into along the way, who sometimes give you missions or help you out. GTA V has the weirdest. From Lamar, Franklin’s explosive best buddy, is extremely funny with his dialogues and illogical and spur of the moment stupidity. Michaels dysfunctional family, with his cheating wife, his lazy slug of a son and his daughter who thinks shes in a Reality TV show. Trevor’s conspiracy theorist neighbour Ron and many many more zany characters. The game has so much dialogue in it, and all perfectly acted out, and most of which will send you into laughing fits.
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Lots of things to do
Los Santos is a city with a lot of things to do. You can just simply piss off cops to raise your wanted level and and see how long you can survive. You can even go to the numerous sinful establishments, sometimes with friends. You want a spot of sightseeing? Just grab a cycle and bike it on the beaches babewatching or bike it up the nearest mountain to see the Los Santos sun dip below the horizon. You can also fly planes, drive boats in the ocean or just skydive. You can also just keep switching between characters to check on them, to see what they're upto in their lives, yielding some really funny results, as you can catch them in a firefight or just lounging around. There’s so much to do, and then there’s the minigames.
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Minigames
Usually minigames are mini games in a big game, but with GTA V the minigames are like big games in a bigger game. You can actually take to the greens to play a proper game of golf or a spot of tennis, you can surf, rockclimb, jetski. Do a bit of street racing. Not only that you can dabble in the stock market and buy and sell real estate. GTA V is choc a bloc with mini games all waiting for you to discover.
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The cars
A game called Grand Theft Auto is nothing without it’s cars. Fortunately, the game is fantastic in that aspect. Bringing car handling and physics that almost match up to a Need for Speed. Of course GTA does not have licensed cars, but you can drive almost Maseratis or almost Lamborghinis but not quite. There are also riffs on popular car types like the muscle cars and old style sedans. Driving around Los Santos is just pure adrenalin bliss.
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Multiplayer
Just a day ago, saw the release of GTA Online. Which had it’s fair share of glitchery and problems. Though the premise is fantastic, when everything is fixed. Apart from generally causing havoc around the city with friends, you can also get together and do heists. Once you assemble a group of people, you can rob jewellery stores or banks together, and split the haul once done. Like in the movies you can also double cross your buddies and shoot them and keep all the cash, though that can earn you meet them next for a beer in the real world. The online component is fantastic, and just adds to the longetivity of the game.
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Sound
With a slew of licensed music playing on the various radio stations to the awesome amount of recorded dialogue, GTA V is one of the most ambitious projects in sound to date. When repeating a mission, characters don't repeat the same dialogues thrice, thats a hell of a lot of voice. All of it done by some extremely funny people. The sound effects are fantastic and the ambience of the city changes with your location. From the rap music playing in the African American communities to the noisy city centres to the waves on the beaches. Fantastic. Best on a surround sound system.
__PAGEBREAK__
Graphics
Graphically the game is impressive. With an insane and immense level of detail. Areas are teeming with people all dressed and behaving like they've been living there for years. Joggers and sunbathers at beaches, shoppers browsing wares, people hailing cabs and rushing to work. The architecture is varied, with no two buildings looking exactly the same. From the skyscrapers to the hispanic beach like close cut shanties, to the small houses in the African American areas to the rich villas with pools in the super rich parts. Though, this being reviewed on a PS3, a console almost phased out, there are some graphical glitches and a hazy draw distance. So those who want the full GTA experience may wait for the fully loaded PC version.
__PAGEBREAK__
Conclusion
If there is one game you have to buy this year, it’s Grand Theft Auto V. It’s perfection in every way possible. A blockbuster of a blockbuster. With a fantastic memorable story, characters that will stay in your memory long after the main story is done. Highly recommended and a must buy.
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https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/internet/grand-theft-auto-v-review-104993.html
| 2024-12-16T06:24:10Z
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‘All INdiana Politics’ | Dec. 15, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — On Sunday’s edition of “All INdiana Politics,” I-Team 8’s Tim Spears sat down with Gov. Eric Holcomb as he reflected on his time in office.
Gov.-elect Mike Braun gave a farewell speech to the U.S. Senate.
News 8’s Phil Sanchez brought in two members of Indiana’s best political team, Democrat Kip Tew and Republican Tom John, to discuss Holcomb’s legacy, where Holcomb ranks among Indiana governors, and defining moments for Braun in the U.S. Senate.
“All INdiana Politics” airs at 9:30 a.m. Sundays on WISH-TV.
News at your fingertips! Stay informed with Indiana, Local, and National News straight to your inbox.
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https://wishtv.com/news/allindianapolitics/all-indiana-politics-dec-15-2024/
| 2024-12-16T06:24:11Z
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Donald Trump Appoints Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes as Chairman of President's Intelligence Advisory Board
BGT 2024-25: Smith and Head Shine with Centuries, Bumrah Claims Fifer as Australia Reach 405/7 at Stumps
Tata Cliq, JioMart, Ajio, Ola, Zomato & Others Commit to 'Safety Pledge' on National Consumer Day 2024
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https://www.thehawk.in/tag/mata-prasad-pandey-statements
| 2024-12-16T06:24:12Z
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Published 10:52 IST, December 16th 2024
Maharashtra Shocker: Thane Man Booked For Raping 6-yr-Old Daughter
Police have registered a case against a man for allegedly raping his six-year-old daughter in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Monday.
Thane: Police have registered a case against a man for allegedly raping his six-year-old daughter in Maharashtra's Thane district, an official said on Monday.
The 42-year-old accused, resident of Dombivli area, committed the offence on multiple occasions since June this year whenever the child was alone at home, the official from Vishnu Nagar police station said without giving more details.
Based on a complaint by the man's wife, a case was registered against him on Saturday under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said.
Get Current Updates on India News, Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
Updated 10:52 IST, December 16th 2024
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https://www.republicworld.com/india/thane-man-booked-for-raping-6-yr-old-daughter
| 2024-12-16T06:24:15Z
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State lawmakers react to newly passed high school diploma redesign
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana state lawmakers are reacting to the massive changes coming to high school diploma requirements. The changes were unanimously passed by the Indiana Department of Education last week and now head to Attorney General Todd Rokita‘s desk for final sign off.
The newly redesigned requirements aim to address the declining number of Indiana high school seniors enrolling at higher education institutions, seniors moving into the workforce without necessary skills, and students enrolling in the military finding out they are disqualified too late.
Starting next academic year, schools can choose to require their high schoolers to earn 42 credits to turn their tassel. That’s two more than what’s needed now.
If they choose to offer the newly redesigned graduation options, students will pick one of the three pathways and earn “readiness seals” toward each. The three options include an enrollment track, an employment track, or an enlistment and service track.
As a part of their coursework, they will be required to complete 75 work-based learning hours, a reduction from the previously proposed 100 hours.
The change to the now passed redesign is one of many. The first several iterations received sweeping backlash from parents, teachers and lawmakers — including Democratic State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn.
Garcia Wilburn, who represents Indiana House District 32, says the final diploma model is a compromise, but she’s not without concern.
“It does not give enough time for school corporations to recruit additional school counselors,” Garcia Wilburn said. “Unfortunately, in our state, we have one of the worst ratios of students to counselors. It’s about 649 students to every one academic counselor.”
Republican State Rep. Michelle Davis, who represents Indiana House District 58, has long supported the initiative.
“Indiana’s high school diploma redesign is a significant step toward ensuring students graduate prepared for a rapidly evolving world and workforce,” Davis said in a statement to News 8’s Kyla Russell. “By emphasizing flexibility, academic rigor and real-world experience, these updates reaffirm our commitment to investing in Hoosier students’ development and future success. I commend the Indiana Department of Education and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner for their leadership in putting Indiana students first.”
Wilburn emphasized her gratefulness students will receive hands on learning, but questioned the impact it might have on the workforce.
“I am still considerably concerned about the ability for our workforce to handle such demands in regards to apprenticeships, internships, volunteer hours, etc.,” Garcia Wilburn said. “I was happy to see the shift in number of hours extend to the summer, so I think that buys students more time.”
Despite previous disapproval, this final plan is now fully supported by all of the state’s public colleges and universities.
The plan is set to be fully implemented at all state high schools by the 2028-2029 academic year.
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https://wishtv.com/news/education/state-lawmakers-react-to-newly-passed-high-school-diploma-redesign/
| 2024-12-16T06:24:17Z
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