A Bengaluru resident narrowly escaped a scam when a fake Flipkart delivery agent attempted to hand over a sealed box, claiming it contained an iPhone 15 ordered by his sister. In a Reddit post, he explained that her sister had paid in advance for the phone and opted for open-box delivery, allowing inspection before acceptance. However, the fake agent refused to open the box, raising suspicions. The resident began filming the conversation as evidence, documenting the agent's reluctance to allow him to check the package. The resident later verified the order status on Flipkart's website and contacted customer support to report the incident.
Just minutes after the fake delivery agent left, the official Flipkart delivery executive arrived at the resident's home with the actual package.
''My sister brought an iPhone 15 with VIP on Flipkart sale, it was an open box delivery. This loser (guy in white) came with a big package to deliver claiming that he can't do open box. We have to accept like as is. I refused he called some random people they said there is no facility like that,'' he wrote.
''He was scared shitless because I recorded all this. Telling his partners in crime in kannada that I have recorded everything and all. I did not accept the package within two minutes other guy came to deliver a very small package and said that he will do the open box. We got the product because I recorded everything otherwise I am sure he would have gave me some random package,'' he added.
The Reddit post, which garnered hundreds of views, sparked a wave of comments from others sharing similar experiences of distrust with online marketplaces. Many users chimed in, recounting their encounters with fake delivery agents, while some praised the man's presence of mind.
One user wrote, ''Nice bro. Glad you knew something was off and recorded everything. It's very hard to trust Flipkart now. Their association with insane amount of scammers in all delivery pipeline is really scary. It's really disturbing yo know that Flipkart can't do or doesn't do anything about the scamming happening during the delivery.''
Another commented, ''Kudos to your presence of mind, I keep telling anyone as soon as something sus happens, pull out your phone and start recording. Make this an instinct. This is required in city that is corrupt to the bone like Bengaluru.''
A fourth added, ''Bro you made a pro move and saved from getting a brick.''
This incident highlights the importance of vigilance when receiving high-value deliveries. To prevent similar scams, it's essential to verify delivery details with the marketplace, opt for open-box delivery when available, and inspect packages carefully before acceptance.
The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has delivered an incredible new image of the spiral galaxy IC 1954, located approximately 45 million light years from Earth in the Horologium constellation, also known as The Clock. Seen at a diagonal tilt, IC 1954's bright core and sweeping spiral arms give it the appearance of a cosmic pendulum. This galaxy is filled with star-forming regions, visible as glowing pink patches in the image, offering a deeper insight into the formation of stars within galaxies.
Combined data from three advanced telescopes
The new observations of IC 1954 significantly improve upon earlier images. The inclusion of H-alpha data, highlighted by red regions in the image, marks the areas where hydrogen is abundant and stars are actively forming. These glowing areas, spread across the galaxy's disc, were explained by the European Space Agency (ESA) in a statement. They mentioned that some astronomers suggest the bright ‘bar' across the galaxy could be an energetic star-forming zone positioned over the galactic centre.
The remarkable detail in the image was made possible by the combined efforts of three powerful telescopes. Alongside the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile also contributed to this observation.
Together, these instruments are studying over fifty nearby galaxies, offering a comprehensive view across radio, infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths. This data is essential for understanding how matter moves through interstellar dust and gases in galaxies, aiding in the understanding of galaxy evolution.
The ESA also highlighted the importance of Hubble's ultraviolet and optical capabilities in observing young stars and clusters. These wavelengths capture the most active periods of star formation. The data gathered by Hubble will be instrumental in furthering research on how stars evolve, building on the foundation set by the James Webb Space Telescope's ongoing science missions.
France has submitted the final price offer to India for the 26 Rafale Marine Jet deal just ahead of the scheduled visit of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the country.
Defence sources told ANI that the best and final price offer has been submitted to the Indian authorities by the French side for the project and a significant price reduction has been given after tough negotiations in the proposed contract.
India and France are negotiating the deal for buying 26 Rafale Marine jets which are going to be deployed on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and different bases.
The two sides had also held negotiations last week when a French team was in the national capital for finalizing the discussions with India.
The deal is scheduled to be taken up for discussion during the India-France Strategic Dialogue where the Indian NSA is scheduled to meet his French counterparts from tomorrow in Paris.
The deal is important for the Indian Navy as it is looking at strengthening its maritime strike capability.
India has also approved deviations in the letter of request, which is the tender document equivalent in government-to-government deals, like the integration of the indigenous Uttam radar in the jets for the Indian Navy.
Sources said that the integration would have taken a longer time of around eight years along with a high price to be paid to the French side for doing so.
India had also asked France for integration of indigenous weapons on the plane. This includes the Astra beyond visual range missiles along with the Rudram anti-radiation missiles.
The sources added that the price for the deal has been based on the agreements over rate it inflation to be taken into account and would be using the previous deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force as the basis.
Some of the Indian Air Force requirements have also been incorporated in the naval deal which will include around 40 drop tanks and a small number of work stations for the planes.
The Indian side is also going to get more number of long-range air-to-air Meteor missiles and with the anti-ship weaponry in this project planned to be concluded before the end of this financial year.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The orders for the drug were generated through WhatsApp, supplies were initiated and delivery made; but the delivery person and the final receiver never saw each other. In fact, people in the demand and supply chains operated like unrelated units.
Shahi Mahatma aka Shashi Negi, an apple trader in the upper Shimla region, ran an interstate 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) racket for five to six years, avoiding enforcement agencies by ensuring the dots were always so wide apart that they could not be connected to reach him. Negi remained the only common link between the demand and supply chain in his 'chitta'.
But he ran out of luck on September 20, a day after the police made this year's biggest haul of drugs in Shimla - 465 grams of 'chitta' from Kharapathar.
"Links of the accused Mudasir Ahmed Mochi, a resident of Bhatpura village in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir (who was arrested on September 19) were established with Shahi Mahatma alias Shashi Negi and the kingpin was arrested," SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI on Saturday.
Mr Gandhi said Negi and his 40 associates were supplying drugs in Rohru, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Theog areas of Upper Shimla under the garb of his apple business, and he had links with Nigerian drug gangs in New Delhi, gangs in Haryana and people in Kashmir.
Explaining the modus operandi of Negi's gang, Mr Gandhi said he made sure the drugs being delivered changed hands four times before getting to their destination. He had hired different sets of unrelated people for bringing in demand, supplying drugs and receiving payments.
He himself never used to come in direct contact with any of the partners, Mr Gandhi said.
The demand for drugs was generated in WhatsApp groups and, after verification of the drug user, it was sent to Negi, who had another team to supply the drugs.
At the time of the final handover too, the delivery person would keep the drug in an isolated place and share a video with the buyer, who would pick it up from there, Mr Gandhi said.
As for the money, it reached Negi's Dhan Laxmi account in Solan after travelling through various bank accounts, police said. And the people whose accounts were used during these transactions never knew it was drug money.
A fund flow of Rs 2.5-3 crores was detected in the bank accounts of the accused in the past 15 months, the police said.
Before the arrest of Negi, the police had already registered five FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against nine persons who were part of the drug racket, police said, adding that, so far, 25 associates of the gang have been arrested.
The social integrated intelligence network system involving local residents as informers helped in the registration of 650 cases and arrest of 1,100 drug peddlers, including 205 interstate dealers, in Shimla district in the past 18 months, said Mr Gandhi.
For impact assessment, police will increase intensive patrolling and the reach of social networking. Education institutions and large public places will be kept under surveillance to prevent such drug peddlers, he added.
Love, Sitara opens with a Kerala wedding, with Sobhita Dhulipala's Tara in the middle of an unabashed introduction to her dysfunctional family. Outwardly portraying a delusionally happy picture of an ideal bunch, Tara's family has perfected the art of casually masking the truth. It is a typical toxic Indian family that runs on hypocrisy and harbours several hushed secrets, enough to tear it apart.
Tara isn't exactly leading a perfect sticking-to-the-plan life herself, though. In the second scene itself we find her panicking in a clinic after finding out that she is pregnant, appalled at the discovery that contraception works only 95 percent of the time. Flooded with emotions, she makes an impromptu marriage proposal to her chef boyfriend, Arjun (Rajeev Siddhartha), with whom she shares a turbulent romantic history – conveniently hiding the truth about her pregnancy. The couple decides to have their wedding at Tara's childhood home in Kerala the same month. Thus begins a complicated circus of secrets, sleuthing, and moulding truths.
The flawed romance here isn't just restricted to the lead pair. Every romantic relationship in the film is flawed. The house helps are wedded off to drunkards and favourite aunts are wrapped in illicit affairs with married men. The film presents a disturbing array of inappropriate couples, laying bare the sad reality of a lot of Indian marriages.
Love, Sitara is a satirical mockery of romantic relationships. It exposes the faults straightaway, without beating around the bush much. The film excels in exposing the hypocrisy that pervades society, where people publicly condemn others for the very same secrets they hide themselves. With unflinching honesty, Love, Sitara reveals the flaws and double standards that often underline our most intimate connections.
What I particularly liked was director Vandana Kataria's attempt at a balanced portrayal of traditionalism and modernity. It is one of the few recent films where the two co-exist and point out the very awkwardness of this paradoxical existence. It doesn't justify the modern hookup culture but questions the traditional marriage set up, as well. The film also steers clear from a stereotypical representation of Malayali households in North Indian cinema, where you see homes reduced to extended temples with rooms.
As for performances, Dhulipala has done a decent job at portraying a flawed, messed up, and selfish woman who cannot get her priorities straight. Tara isn't written in a way that'll move you or make you feel sorry for her and her self-invited troubles, but is a nice break from the stereotypical extremes of women represented on screen. You won't feel much sympathy for her, but that's perhaps the whole point.
Siddhartha and Virginia Rodrigues, however, give the best performances of them all. The two actors bring a calming presence to the otherwise chaotic lives around them. Their poise, as opposed to the hypocrites around them, is enjoyable and delightful. Siddhartha's cooking sequences are cathartic, and Rodrigues' composure in how she handles things is a highlight. Even though the screenplay doesn't offer much room to the two for a multi-layered performance, they shine in their roles.
Love, Sitara intends well and starts strong, but somewhat lacks in its overall execution. The themes of hypocrisy, facade, and infidelity are all touched upon, but the film skirts around the impact these might have on characters and story. Though there are a few powerful scenes, including the one where Rodrigues' character has a nervous breakdown after a disturbing revelation, the momentum keeps ebbing away over time.
The dining table conversations are particularly hard to watch. The laughter feels forced and jokes miss the landing. They feel more like the early morning sessions of laughter yoga than a usual family dinner. Even though the film banks on families' pretentiousness, these fake bursts of laughter become too much to take.
Love, Sitara has all the ingredients of a good film on paper, with a perfect flavour of the traditional and the modern and how both remain deeply flawed, but it lacks a finishing touch. It ends up feeling like a good first draft for a film, which has the potential of translating into to something more challenging and complex, but is released in a rush with its half-cooked ideas, instead. The film conveniently skips on how ugly infidelity can get. While I understand that Kataria might have wanted to keep the film from being too heavy or seeming like moral lesson on monogamy, the narrative nevertheless could have been more compelling if it reckoned with the realities of the relationship issues it brings up.
Some of the tropes seem ill-fitted and act as unnecessary fillers for the storyline, scattered across the film for decorative purposes. For instance, Arjun's dad, a retired military officer, is little more than prop, who was added to the film just as another example of a dysfunctional relationship. He is there just to scorn, give disappointed looks to his son, and wear a pretentious badge of superiority. The film could have, honestly, done well without him, or at least given him a few more meaningful scenes to justify his presence.
Contrarily, some of the character tropes were wonderful in their little presence but heavily underutilized. B Jayashree, for instance, plays Tara's savage grandmother. She is unapologetically herself, loves scanning though newspapers for funny obituaries, and knows when to put her foot down. Jayashree is a joy to watch in each of her scenes. However, even though her character seems important at first, she soon takes a backseat unexpectedly; as if the director forgot about her.
Despite its shortcomings, however, Love, Sitara is a decent take on familial dysfunction in Indian families, that effectively contrasts old-school and modern relationships, while never favouring one over the other. It's a film that shows a mirror to the hypocritical standards of society, which bemoans the unstable, relationship-hopping culture of young people, and yet has been conveniently accommodating inappropriate relationships, if kept a secret. It exposes how the lustful fallacies plaguing humans have been well veneered beneath the mask of idealism.
If only the film didn't shy away from taking on its subject matter with a little more grit, it would have likely made it to the year's favourites list of a lot of cinephiles, including me. Sadly, that's not the case. While Love, Sitara might not be as good as it could have been, it is an honest attempt at portraying the evolving dimensions of love and relationships, even if it doesn't scratch beneath the surface.
Star India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday achieved an elite feat as he became the first Indian to pick the most wickets in Asia in Tests. Ashwin achieved the milestone on the first day of the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur when he removed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 31 runs from 57 balls in the 29th over. In Asia, Ashwin bagged 420 wickets in Tests and holds the top place on the list. While, Anil Kumble stands in second place with 419 wickets in Asia. Harbhajan Singh holds the third place with 300 wickets in Asia. Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies. Following that, the 38-year-old appeared in 101 Test matches and 191 innings, where he picked 522 wickets.
Presently, in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, India raced to a 1-0 lead following their remarkable 280-run victory in Chennai.
Coming to the match, India won the toss and decided bowl against Bangladesh in the Kanpur Test.
Zakir Hasan (0) and Shadman Islam (24) opened for Bangladesh, but failed to give a solid start as India pacer Akash Deep picked up two quick wickets to dismiss the opening pair of the visitors.
After losing two quick wickets Mominul Haque (40*) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) took control of the game and powered Bangladesh to 74/2 at the end of the first session.
Rain disrupted the second session, and the game was stopped for a few minutes.
Ashwin was the lone wicket-taker for India in the second session. He removed the Bangladesh skipper in the 29th over and gave India an upper hand on the game.
In the middle of the second session, the game was called off as rain played a spoilsport, and only 35 overs of play took place on Friday. At stumps, Bangladesh stood at 107/3 with Mominul Haque (40*) and Mushfiqur Rahim (6*) unbeaten of the crease.
Bangladesh Playing XI: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (WK), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed.
India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Alabama is set to carry out the second execution in the United States using nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial method critics say is tantamount to torture. According to CNN, a previous attempt to execute Alan Eugene Miller, 59, using lethal injection was called off two years ago after state officials said they couldn't access his veins before the execution warrant expired. Now on Thursday, he will be strapped to a gurney where a respirator mask will be applied to his face through which pure nitrogen will be piped. The resulting oxygen deprivation will cause death by asphyxia.
Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has designated a 30-hour window beginning Thursday morning for the 59-year-old's execution to take place, CNN reported.
Miller has been in jail for more than two decades. He was sentenced to death in 2000 for the 1999 murders of Lee Holdbrooks, Scott Yancy and Terry Lee Jarvis. He had worked with each of the victims and became upset when he believed the three "spread rumours about him", according to the outlet.
On August 5, 1999, Miller shot two of the three men at Ferguson Enterprises in Pelham, Alabama. "I'm tired of people starting rumours on me," Miller said, armed with a pistol while walking out of his employer's office. He then shot Scott Yancy three times and Lee Holdbrooks six times. He then headed to his previous employer, Post Airgas, where Terry Lee Jarvis worked and shot him "a number of times".
Miller was later captured on the highway with "a Glock pistol with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the ammunition magazine," per CNN.
A forensic psychiatrist who testified for Miller's defence determined he was mentally ill and suffering a delusional disorder, leading him to believe the victims were spreading rumours about him. The psychiatrist concluded, however, that Miller's mental illness didn't meet the standards for an insanity defence in Alabama.
Notably, Miller's execution via nitrogen hypoxia comes nearly three years after Alabama officials tried to execute him by lethal injection, but failed because they could not access his veins within the required time limit. It also comes after a federal lawsuit filed by Miller over the use of nitrogen gas in his execution was settled last month.
The 59-year-old had challenged the state's nitrogen hypoxia protocol, claiming it could cause him undue suffering, thus violating his Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The terms of the settlement are confidential, though state Attorney General Steve Marshall touted it as proof Alabama's nitrogen gas execution method - which was used for the first and only time earlier this year in the execution of Kenneth Smith - is constitutional, as per the outlet.
"The resolution of this case confirms that Alabama's nitrogen hypoxia system is reliable and humane," Mr Marshall said in a statement.
Amazon Great Indian Festival — the e-commerce giant's biggest annual sale event — is now live for Amazon Prime members. Every year, Amazon gives users with a Prime subscription access deals on the platform a day ahead of other customers on the platform, effectively giving them a 24-hour head start. There are discounts on several products during the ongoing Amazon sale, from smartphones to laptops, tablets, and accessories. However, customers can also use SBI credit and debit cards to avail of an additional discount on a range of products or exchange older products and lower the price of their purchases.
It's also worth noting that Amazon rival Flipkart's Big Billion Days sale is also live, but only for Flipkart Plus members. Both Amazon and Flipkart will allow all customers to access discounts on their platforms at midnight on Thursday (September 27). It's best to compare discounts and offers on both platforms to before making a purchase during the sale.
Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2024: Best Deals for Amazon Prime Members
Apple's iPhone 13 is now available for Rs. 41,180, down from its listed price of Rs. 59,900 on Amazon, as part of the ongoing Great Indian Festival Sale. This deal is currently available to Amazon Prime members. The Honor 200 5G is available for Rs. 29,999 — it was previously on sale via Amazon at Rs. 34,999.
Last year's flagship Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G is currently listed at Rs. 74,999 (the phone was launched at 1,44,999 and was recently listed at Rs. 84,999 on Amazon). Buyers can also avail of an additional Rs. 2,000 discount with a coupon.
Similarly, Samsung's midrange Galaxy M35 5G is priced at Rs. 15,999, down from the listed price of Rs. 19,999. Customers can also pick up the Galaxy M15 5G at Rs. 10,999, which is considerably lower than its previous price of Rs. 15,999 on the e-commerce platform.
Amazon has also listed the iPad (10th Generation, 64GB) at Rs. 29,999 — the tablet was launched in India at Rs. 44,900 and was previously available for Rs. 34,900 on the platform. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE model is available at 26,999, down from the listed price of Rs. 34,900.
Wireless audio devices and smart TVs are also discounted during the Amazon Great Indian Festival Sale 2024. The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are priced at 25,990 (previously Rs. 29,900) while Samsung's D-Series 43-inch 4K LED TV is priced at Rs. 36,990 (down from Rs. Rs. 41,990). Don't miss other deals and discounts during the Amazon Great Indian Festival 2024 sale.
Proving that there really is no mountain high or treacherous enough, a team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports has scaled an unnamed and unclimbed 20,942-foot high peak in the Gorichen range of the Eastern Himalayas in the Tawang-West Kameng region in Arunachal Pradesh, close to the border with China.
The 15-member team, led by an Army colonel, has named the peak "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" in honour of the 6th Dalai Lama, Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso.
Leaving from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) campus in Arunachal Pradesh's Dirang, the team led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal left to scale the peak on September 7 and the expedition took 15 days.
A statement released by the defence PRO said the peak was one of the most technically challenging and unexplored summits in the region and the team had to overcome immense challenges, "including sheer ice walls, treacherous crevasses, and a 2-kilometer-long glacier".
The statement said that by naming the peak after Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso, NIMAS wanted to "pay tribute to his timeless wisdom and his profound contributions to the Monpa community and beyond". The Monpa tribe is one of the most populous tribal communities in the northeast.
An official said NIMAS has informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation about the successful expedition and the process to ensure that "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" is recognised on official maps is underway.
Neetu Kapoor one more time appeared as the biggest cheerleader for her daughter-in-law Alia Bhatt. Alia made her debut at Paris Fashion Week this year and Neetu Kapoor didn't forget to share her shout-out post on social media feed. Neetu Kapoor shared a video clip from Paris in her Instagram stories in which Alia and Andie MacDowell slaying the ramp like divas. Neetu wrote in the caption, "We screamed the loudest." Alia walked the ramp with stars like Andie MacDowell, model Kendall Jenner, Brazilian top model Luma Grothe, Ethiopian actress and top model Liya Kebede. The actress wore a silver bustier over a black jumpsuit from the shelves of Gaurav Gupta. Take a look at what Neetu Kapoor posted here:
Bubah Alfian, an internationally reputed makeup artist, shared a heartwarming video on his Instagram feed from the event. In the video, Alia Bhatt can be seen hugging him while he breaks into tears. Bubah Alfian can be seen greeting Alia by holding her hands. Sharing the video, Bubah wrote, "Several years ago.. Alia met @pevpearce, Then Pev said "my make up artist really likes you" then they took a photo together... and sent it to my WA with Pev...Then after that I met @harnaazsandhu_03 @missuniverse made a video singing the song Meri Jaan, then screenshot it with Aliaa and posted it on IG... and today I met Alia in Paris... and she chatted with Cinta... previously I also chatted with Enzy and I also told you about Pev.. she's so kind.. thanks a lot @aliaabhatt @claurakiehl @enzystoriacrying. so touched." Take a look:
On the work front, Alia Bhatt made her big Hollywood debut with Gal Gadot's Heart Of Stone last year. She also featured in Karan Johar's hit film Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahaani with Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi.
Faced with a couple aged between 75 and 80 years fighting a legal battle against each other for alimony, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday made a strong observation, saying it seemed that 'kalyug' (the age of darkness in Hinduism) has arrived.
Hearing a petition by the husband, Munesh Kumar Gupta of Aligarh, against a family court order in favour of his wife, Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery said the legal contest was a matter of concern and also tried to give advice to the couple.
Mr Gupta's wife had demanded alimony from him and the family court had ruled in her favour. The man challenged the order and, issuing a notice to the wife, the high court said it hoped that they would come to an agreement by the next date of hearing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.
This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.
PM Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.
A joint statement issued following PM Modi's visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.
They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.
The statement had said that PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in New York, US
"The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit," the statement had said.
"Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace," it added.
Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in conflict for over two years.
A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
"We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries," the statement said.
" In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state," it added.
President Biden hosted Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, PM Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders' Summit on Saturday in his home town Wilmington, Delaware.
PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the United States, during which he had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including President Biden.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.
This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.
PM Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.
A joint statement issued following PM Modi's visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.
They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.
The statement had said that PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in New York, US
"The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit," the statement had said.
"Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace," it added.
Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in conflict for over two years.
A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
"We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries," the statement said.
" In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state," it added.
President Biden hosted Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, PM Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders' Summit on Saturday in his home town Wilmington, Delaware.
PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the United States, during which he had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including President Biden.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Kajol's strong penchant for fine food is not a secret. Being a die-hard foodie, the actress often treats her social media fanbase to several culinary outings. On Monday, September 23, 2024, she celebrated her mother and veteran actress Tanuja's 81st birthday. As we know, birthday celebrations are incomplete without a cake. Kajol decided to honour her mother with the perfect one. Sharing a couple of pictures on Instagram, she wrote, “If birthdays were flowers we would have flooded the table. Happy happy 81st aka 18 to our evergreen, crazy, beautiful goddess. Love you to the moon and back momma.” Kajol shared the same frame with her sister, actress Tanishaa Mukerji and Tanuja in the first snap.
The second slide showcasing the unique birthday cake demands attention from cake lovers. The chocolate cake was decorated with pink and white flowers, chocolate and white chocolate icing and a few other adornments. On a block of white chocolate the words, “Gorgeous as always” were written with chocolate icing. A black and white photograph of Tanuja from her younger days was placed in the middle, giving a special touch to the cake. Also Read:Farah Khan Celebrates Aditi Rao Hydari And Siddharth's Marriage With A Beautiful Cake
Kajol's Instagram is full of foodie moments. Back in August, Kajol organised a get-together involving many lip-smacking dishes. The meal might have been served somewhere between lunch and dinner, prompting her to invent an appropriate new word — lindner. In the picture shared on Instagram, Kajol was seen happily serving a range of food to the guests. Read on to know more. Also Read:Gigi Hadid Celebrated Daughter Khai's 4th Birthday With A Star Wars-Themed Cake
Kajol's gastronomical adventures are a feast for the eyes. On her birthday on August 5, 2024, she relished yet another unique customised cake. Shaped like a round bag, the cake was adorned with edible needles and wool balls. Do you know that the cake stood as a testimony to Kajol's love for knitting? Here's the full story.
Kajol's foodilicious endeavours are always tempting and wholesome. We are eager to find out her next foodie adventure.
Asteroid collisions with Earth are surprisingly common, with NASA estimating 48.5 tonnes of meteoric material entering our atmosphere daily. Most burn up, producing shooting stars. Although devastating asteroid impacts are rare in Earth's history, humanity has learned a crucial lesson from the catastrophic event 66 million years ago. The asteroid responsible for the dinosaurs' extinction was approximately six miles wide, but significantly smaller objects still pose a significant threat. In the face of potentially catastrophic asteroid impacts, scientists are racing to develop innovative solutions to protect our planet.
In New Mexico, scientists are exploring a futuristic solution to defend Earth against asteroid threats: harnessing X-ray blasts from nuclear explosions, the Guardian reported. Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque have successfully demonstrated a revolutionary method to deflect incoming asteroids using nuclear explosions. For the experiment, researchers harnessed the power of X-rays from a nuclear blast to vaporise the surface of a nearby asteroid.
The process works by unleashing an immense pulse of radiation, heating the asteroid's surface to tens of thousands of degrees. This creates a rapidly expanding ball of gas that can nudge the asteroid off its catastrophic course. By precisely calculating the blast's impact, scientists believe this technique can effectively push threatening asteroids away from Earth, potentially saving humanity from doomsday.
"The primary mechanism involves using X-rays to rapidly heat the target surface, causing it to vaporize and expand into the adjacent vacuum. The expanding gas pushes against the asteroid, transferring momentum (in the opposite direction)," authors of the study published Monday in the journal Nature Physics wrote.
Scientists noted that the nuclear option is for larger asteroids, particularly when time is short. Researchers believe this strategy can effectively deflect asteroids up to 2.5 miles wide, although this isn't a rigid limit.
“If there is enough warning time, one can certainly deflect larger asteroids,” Dr Nathan Moore, the first author of the study said.
Mr Moore and his team plan to conduct further experimental tests to refine the X-ray deflection technique, building on their initial success. Their goal is to enhance the method's effectiveness through additional laboratory experiments. Ultimately, they envision a space-based demonstration, similar to NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, to test the technique on a real asteroid.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he has set very ambitious goals in his third term to make the country a developed nation and asserted that India today is a land of opportunities.
"After going through this tough election process, this long election system, something unprecedented happened in India (this year). What happened... "Abkibaar Modi Sarkaar," PM Modi said in his address to thousands of Indian Americans in New York.
"For the first time in 60 years, the people of India have given a mandate which has great significance. During my third term, I have very ambitious goals to achieve. We have to move forward with three times the strength," he said.
PM Modi said he has dedicated his life for good governance and for a prosperous India. Observing that destiny brought him to politics, he said he had never thought of becoming a chief minister or prime minister. Over the last 10 years, people have seen this model of governance and thus have voted him to power for a third term, he added.
The prime minister was addressing a packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum with more than 13,000 Indian Americans. While the majority of them were from the New York and New Jersey area, Indian Americans came in from 40 States, organisers said. Sixty charter buses were used for transportation purposes.
Applauding the role of Indian Americans in strengthening the relationship between India and the US, he called them as India's brand ambassadors. Referring to a Sanskrit shloka that "it is those who make sacrifices reap benefits", the prime minister said wherever the Indian diaspora lives, they contribute to the societal and national development in every field.
In his remarks, the prime minister touched upon the celebration of democracy across the world, in particular in India and the US.
"While the elections in India are over, it's under process in the United States. The elections that were just held in India were the biggest elections so far in human history. When we see the scale of India's democracy, we are even more proud," he said.
PM Modi applauded the role of Indian Americans in making the country and community proud.
"Just yesterday, President Biden took me to his home in Delaware. His affection, his warmth, it was a moment that touched my heart. This respect is for the 140 billion Indians. This respect is for you, for your achievements, for the hundreds and thousands of Indians living here," he said and called Indian Americans as India's brand ambassador.
He also referred to the recently concluded T-20 World Cup in the United States.
India, he said, is now aspiring to be the third largest economy of the world from the fifth position. "Today, people of India, he said, are full of self-confidence, they have resolve and determination to achieve their goal," he said, adding development in India has now become a people's movement.
"Every Indian has confidence in India, its achievements. India today is a land of opportunities. It's no longer waiting for opportunities. It is now creating opportunities," he said, adding that in just a decade 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty.
"This was possible because we changed our old way of thinking. We changed our approach. We empowered the poor," he told the Indian Americans. It is this new middle class, which is accelerating the development of India, he said.
An entertaining cultural performance was the main highlight of the event before the prime minister arrived. The Echoes of India - A Journey Through Art and Tradition, showcased 382 nationally and internationally known artists. Prominent among them including Grammy award nominee Chandrika Tandon, STAR Voice of India winner and superstar Aishwarya Majumdar, Instagram's Dancing Dad Ricky Pond, and singing sensation Rex DSouuza, in a seamless experience of India's cultural diversity.
There were unique performances by 117 artists, impressing and entertaining attendees as they enter the coliseum. Organisers said more than 30 classical, folk, modern and fusion performances will pay homage to the rich and diverse cultures of India.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Sri Lanka's election commission declared a previously fringe Marxist politician the country's president-elect on Sunday after a vote coloured by discontent over the island nation's response to an unprecedented financial crisis.
Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the 55-year-old leader of the People's Liberation Front, won the presidency with 42.31 percent of the vote in Saturday's election, the commission said.
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa took second place with 32.76 percent.
Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe -- who took office at the peak of the 2022 economic collapse and imposed tough austerity policies per the terms of an IMF bailout -- took a distant third with 17.27 percent.
Wickremesinghe has yet to concede, but Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said it was clear that Dissanayaka had won.
"Though I heavily campaigned for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision, and I fully respect their mandate for Anura Kumara Dissanayaka," Sabry said on social media.
Dissanayaka will be sworn in on Monday morning at the colonial-era President Secretariat in Colombo, election commission officials said.
IMF deal
Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, with widespread public anger over the hardships endured since the peak of the crisis two years ago.
Dissanayaka would "not tear up" the IMF deal but would seek to modify it, a party politburo member told AFP.
"It is a binding document, but there is a provision to renegotiate," said Bimal Ratnayake.
He said Dissanayaka had pledged to reduce income taxes that were doubled by Wickremesinghe and slash sales taxes on food and medicines.
"We think we can get those reductions into the programme and continue with the four-year bailout programme," he said.
Dissanayaka's once-marginal Marxist party led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that left more than 80,000 people dead.
It won less than four percent of the vote during the most recent parliamentary elections in 2020.
But Sri Lanka's crisis has proven an opportunity for Dissanayaka, who has seen a surge of support based on his pledge to change the island's "corrupt" political culture.
"Our country needs a new political culture," he said after casting his ballot on Saturday.
Around 76 percent of Sri Lanka's 17.1 million eligible voters cast ballots in Saturday's poll.
Dissanayaka's party sought to reassure India that any administration he led would not be caught up in geopolitical rivalry between its northern neighbour and China, the country's largest lender.
New Delhi has expressed concerns over what it sees as Beijing's growing influence in Sri Lanka, which sits on vital shipping lanes criss-crossing the Indian Ocean.
"Sri Lankan territory will not be used against any other nation," Ratnayake told AFP.
"We are fully aware of the geopolitical situation in our region, but we will not participate."
Austerity rejected
Wickremesinghe sought re-election to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages during Sri Lanka's economic meltdown.
His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who then fled the country.
But Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures imposed under the $2.9 billion IMF bailout he secured last year left millions struggling to make ends meet.
Official data showed that Sri Lanka's poverty rate doubled to 25 percent between 2021 and 2022, adding more than 2.5 million people to those already living on less than $3.65 a day.
Thousands of police were deployed to keep watch over voting on Saturday.
A temporary curfew was imposed after polls closed, despite police reporting that there had been no violence during or after balloting.
No victory rallies or celebrations are permitted until a week after the final results are declared.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday spoke with the parents of Anna Sebastian Perayil, the 26-year-old Ernst & Young employee who died allegedly due to extreme work pressure. Over a video call, he offered them his sympathies and said he will ensure the tragedy becomes a catalyst for change.
"I spoke with the heartbroken parents of Anna Sebastian, a bright and ambitious young professional whose life was tragically cut short by toxic and unforgiving work conditions," wrote Mr Gandhi in an online post, sharing a video of their conversation.
I spoke with the heartbroken parents of Anna Sebastian, a bright and ambitious young professional whose life was tragically cut short by toxic and unforgiving work conditions.
In the face of unimaginable grief, Anna's mother has shown remarkable courage and selflessness, turning… pic.twitter.com/XY9PXbYAIK
He also praised Anna's mother for showing "remarkable courage and selflessness" and speaking up despite personal loss in the larger interest of improving working conditions of professionals.
During their conversation, Mr Gandhi asked Anna's parents how the atmosphere was at her workplace - "Was it very toxic? What was going on?"
Her mother replied with a "yes".
"She (Anna) used to always say that they had very long working hours. They have to work continuously. Night, Saturday, Sunday. No restrictions. Children are made to work like that. Mainly the young employees, new ones. She had no time even for her personal things," she said while sobbing on the video call.
"She called me every night and she would say 'Amma, I can't speak, I'm dead tired. I am going to sleep.' Even when she came back from office, she just (used to) drop on her bed. So exhausted," she added.
Anna's mother went on to say that children are subjected to torture and made to "work like slaves".
"Rahul ji, what I have to say is, only in India, children are subjected to such torture. If it is outside India, will they ask their employees to work like this? They say we have received freedom in 1947, but our children are still working like slaves. Even now they are working like slaves. Children who study so hard to reach where they are, being put through so much slavery, why? Why are our children made to suffer like this?" she added.
Mr Gandhi asked them if they want him to raise the issue in parliament. They said yes.
"We are fully with you. However we can support your cause, we are happy to do it," he said, assuring Anna's parents that he will fight for this cause in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition.
Anna Perayil, a Chartered Accountant from Kerala who worked at EY India, died allegedly due to work-related stress, sparking a nationwide debate over work-life balance and corporate accountability.
In a statement on Wednesday, EY said that it is deeply saddened by Anna's untimely death and that it will continue to improve and provide a healthy workplace in its offices across the country.
The Union Labour Ministry has begun a probe into the circumstances that led to the EY employee's death.
Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill put on 167 runs in the second innings to give India a stronghold in the ongoing 1st Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Pant slammed his 6th Test ton, which put on him on-par with MS Dhoni as the wicketkeeper with most centuries for India in the format. Gill, on the other hand, registered his 6th score of 100 or more, following a duck in the first innings. However, Pant got a huge reprieve after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped a sitter when the wicketkeeper batter was at 72.
The incident happened in the 49th over as the ball ballooned high in the air after Pant mistimed his pull. This led to a series of emotions from KL Rahul, who was sitting in the pavilion all padded up.
As the ball went in the air, Rahul left his chair in order to get ready for batting. However, fate had other ideas as Shanto dropped a sitter. Rahul had a wry smile on his face as he returned to take his seat.
Jab rishabh pant ki catch hawa me gyi to kl rahul ko laga out aur wo seat se khade hoke ane lag gye lekin catch chhut gyi aur unko phir se chair par baithna pada jaha siraj bhi has rhe the #INDvBAN#RishabhPant#KLRahulpic.twitter.com/e13Xb5BjP6
Pant, who made 109, and Gill, unbeaten on 119, put on 167 runs for the fourth wicket to ram home India's advantage in the second session after they bundled out Bangladesh for 149 on day two.
Pant, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, smashed the bowlers to every corner before a double off Shakib Al Hasan got him his sixth Test century.
The 26-year-old, who survived a near-fatal car crash in December 2022, took off his helmet and raised his bat to acknowledge a standing ovation from the weekend crowd.
He finally fell caught and bowled by spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz after his 128-ball knock that included 13 fours and four sixes.
Gill kept up the charge and raised his fifth Test ton before skipper Rohit Sharma called him and KL Rahul, on 22, back.
A corporate firm, is receiving widespread praise for its new "Birthday Plus One" leave policy. It allows employees to be off for an additional two days every year, one for a birthday and another for either a family member or a close friend.
The policy, introduced by company founder Abhijit Chakraborty, as a refreshing change in the corporate culture, where work is usually ahead of personal celebration, or maybe even synchronised with it, is an effort to address the same. Chakraborty, recalling the birthday leave request being disapproved early into his career, led off by stating that an employee should be allowed to celebrate without guilt.
"In one of my early roles, my boss once asked me, Why do you need a leave? I told him, It's my birthday. He shot me a strange look, as if a crime were committed," He noted on LinkedIn, "If it's someone's birthday, they deserve a gift. Not a leave deduction and weird reactions."
The post went viral online as the company announced the move, where most people welcomed the firm for its progressive approach to work-life balance as they celebrate a leave day during which a child or other loved one's birthday falls.
Chakraborty's post also reflects the company's commitment towards making a work-friendly space. He said that as the company grows further, possibly more birthday-related leave days will abound, furthering the dedication of the company towards employee happiness and personal milestones.
"India and Sri Lanka have to have a close economic relationship. The vision statement that Prime Minister Modi and I had issued mentions this," Mr Wickremesinghe, who is seeking another term as President, told NDTV.
Speaking further about areas of shared investment and development, Mr Wickremesinghe said, "India has a huge demand of renewable energy, as do we. That is an area we seek to strengthen ties. When the Singapore-India pipeline (via Andaman and Nicobar Islands) is complete, we too can look for opportunity in it."
Other significant area that he said Sri Lanka aims partner with India for is to enhance port infrastructure and to get more tourists from India. "We want to encourage more investments from India and more tourists from India. We are working together with India on infrastructure projects like the Trincomalee Harbour," he said.
Speaking about the social and cultural ties shared by the two countries, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said, "that has been happening for thousands of years". He also said that the two nations share very strong people-to-people ties and that it is the people's mutual regard and appreciation that is the bedrock of India-Sri Lanka relations. "There will always be some groups who may make anti-India remarks, what needs to be done is to minimise it. As far as the India-Sri Lanka friendship is concerned, it is decided by the people and they have already decided it. So, let's further strengthen (the bond)."
India's economy has "taken off", the Sri Lankan President told NDTV, adding that Sri Lanka would also like to benefit from it, after all India is "just 20 miles away" and the two nations have shared deep cultural and historical ties. Mr Wickremesinghe further said that "Sri Lanka will deal with China as well to fulfill its national objectives, but at the same time, we will always keep India's interests in mind."
After his appointment as the head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting opened up on his exit from the Delhi Capitals (DC) coaching setup, saying that his availability had become an issue and the franchise wanted him to operate as a full-time head coach. Ponting has been named the new head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) starting from IPL 2025, following his departure from Delhi Capitals two months ago, ending a seven-year stint with the franchise. Ponting becomes the third head coach in four seasons for Punjab Kings, who finished ninth in the 2024 IPL season. The team has not made the playoffs since 2014, when they were runners-up. One of Ponting's initial tasks will be to identify players for retention ahead of the next season, pending the finalisation of the IPL's retention rules.
Ponting's IPL journey began as a player with Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural 2008 season. He later joined the Mumbai Indians, where he relinquished the captaincy mid-season in 2013, allowing Rohit Sharma to take over and lead the team to their first title that year. Ponting continued in an advisory role in 2014 and served as head coach in 2015 and 2016.
In 2018, Ponting took over as head coach of the Delhi Capitals, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021, including their maiden final in 2020.
After his tenure with the Delhi Capitals ended in July 2024, Ponting led the Washington Freedom to a title-winning campaign in the Major League Cricket (MLC).
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Ponting said that he managed to create a "family environment" during his stint with the Capitals.
"I felt like we created a really good family environment there. As I said, I understand what they want; they said to me that my availability was becoming an issue. And they wanted to pretty much have a full-time head coach. I could not commit to that, so I was disappointed that it ended, but I understand the direction they wanted to head going forward," said Ponting.
"Everyone that I have been there with, has had a great time. You have only to look at some of the social media posts that Delhi put out straightaway to understand that a lot of the people involved in the franchise were disappointed that I wasn't continuing as well. But the decisions were made," he added.
Ponting said that the pressure of winning a trophy weighs heavy on a coach, but he wants that pressure.
"That is the thing that makes coaching inviting to me. I like having that pressure. It is as close to getting back to playing as you can possibly get. From the moment I finished playing, when that competition stops in your life, it is really hard to replace that again. The closest thing I could find to playing was getting back in the cricket team's changing room being a coach and feeling like you are actually playing again. And coaching against guys that I might have played against and guys that are coaching that I played against--I want to beat them. Simple. A cricket changing room is where I'm supposed to be," he added.
Ponting acknowledged that he made a lot of great memories during his IPL journey, calling coaching MI an "awesome experience." He also said that DC changing room was a "special place" even without a trophy.
"But we made a couple of big slip-ups in our mega-auction a couple of years ago [2022] and even probably our player retentions, and that set us back quite a way. And even this year [2024], little things went against us again, with Rishabh [Pant, DC captain] being suspended for a game that we had to win. We missed the playoffs on run rate. Little things like that add up. The results in T20 games are decided by really small margins. And then our season can be defined by really small margins as well. And we have been on the wrong end of those for a couple of years at DC," he added.
On the evolution of coaching in the IPL, Ponting said that coaching has become more specific now and teams are covering every base by appointing coaches for different roles.
"So you have a lot of the best coaches in the world there at once. And when you have the best coaches and the best players, you are guaranteed to have high-quality cricket. What the IPL has done by having all of these coaches is, I think, the reason that India are actually as good as they are. There has always been that talent in India, but to have that talent around the best coaches for two or three months every year has helped them become better players," he added.
Ponting said that a lot of IPL franchises are trying to have a full-time coaching staff, something he considered not doing because he would not have been available during the off-season due to other commitments and family time.
Key performers for Punjab last season included Harshal Patel, who won the Purple Cap for the second time, and the uncapped Indian players Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.
The squad also features notable talents like left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, and a strong contingent of overseas players, including England's Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, and South African pacer Kagiso Rabada.
With the recent retirement of Shikhar Dhawan, identifying a new captain will also be a priority for Ponting and the team management.
He befriended women online and asked them to marry him. And once he had earned the women's trust, he would disappear with their money. This was the modus operandi of Mukeem Khan, a conman who had cheated over 50 women across the country, including a woman judge who failed to see through his lies.
Khan, 38, a resident of Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch recently for extorting money from women on false pretexts.
He created multiple accounts on matrimonial websites with fake identities and trapped women in his intricate web of lies.
Khan told the cops he used to target Muslim women - unmarried, widowed and divorced - for marriage. He introduced himself as a government officer and enticed them with fake stories about his wife being dead and he being unable to take care of his daughter.
Khan, who is married and has three children, used to share photos of his wife and daughter with these women. He even met their families and fix the wedding date. Once he had earned their trust, he would ask for money to book marriage halls or for other wedding expenses.
And then, he would disappear.
During his interrogation, he revealed he had conned over 50 women across the country. A woman judge from Uttar Pradesh too was among his victims.
How it started
Khan created his first matrimonial website in 2020 - six years after his first marriage. It is where he found his first target - a Vadodara-based divorced woman with a five-year-old daughter - and proposed to marry her. She agreed.
Before leaving Vadodara, he faked a story about losing his wallet and took Rs 30,000 from her. He returned and started living with her, but the idea of earning easy money had him hooked.
In 2023, he married another woman - a widow - in Delhi with another fake story.
This continued - in different states, in different cities.
He received expensive gifts like mobile phones, jewellery and even two-wheelers from these women, and later sold those. If he couldn't manage to lure them into buying gifts for him, he would fake a story about his ATM card not working or a shortage of money.
In one such incident, he booked a two-wheeler as a gift for a woman, paying only a token amount. Citing shortage, he asked her to pay the rest, and disappeared during the first ride.
British rock band Coldplay will be performing in India as a part of the Music of the Spheres World Tour in 2025. The band will reportedly perform in Mumbai. More details are awaited. However, Bookmy show unveiled a short teaser of their upcoming concert on Wednesday on its Instagram profile. The post showcases a motion image of the announcement of Coldplay's performance in Mumbai. The post drew instant reactions. A fan wrote, "Let's goo!!!" Another fan wrote, "Wohooo!" Another comment read, "Can't wait to be there with my yellows for life." Take a look:
Coldplay previously performed in India in 2016 as a part of the Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai which also had a lineup of several other music artistes and bands. The festival was held to promote global development goals. The upcoming concert will mark Coldplay's first-ever solo performance in India. During their performance at the Global Citizen Festival in India, the band won the hearts of millions with their namaste (greeting). They hoisted the Indian flag as a part of their set.
Coldplay, as a part of the Music of the Spheres World Tour, has performed in Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America, and Australia in the last two years.
For the unversed, Coldplay is a British rock band, formed in 1997. The team members include vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey. The band is known for songs like All My Love, Amazing Day, Another's Arms, Broken, Charlie Brown, Death and All His Friends, to name a few.
