IAS Officer Who Demolished Delhi Monument To Build Bungalow Suspended

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has suspended 2007-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer Udit Prakash Rai, accused of demolishing a monument and constructing a government accommodation, with immediate effect.

According to an order issued by the MHA, departmental proceedings are being contemplated against Rai.

"Now, therefore, the President of India, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 3 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, hereby places Shri Udit Prakash Rai, IAS (AGMUT: 2007) under suspension with immediate effect.

"It is further ordered that during the period for which this order shall remain in force, the headquarters of Shri Udit Prakash Rai, IAS (AGMUT: 2007) shall be Mizoram and the said Shri Udit Prakash Rai, IAS (AGMUT: 2007) shall not leave the headquarters without obtaining the prior permission of the Competent Authority," the order read.

In August last year, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended action against Rai for allegedly accepting a Rs 50-lakh bribe to grant "undue favours" to an executive engineer in two corruption cases. During his tenure as the vice-chairman of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board (DAMB), Rai "virtually let off" executive engineer P S Meena in two disproportionate assets cases -- one involving Meena's son and the other involving his wife.

He was allegedly involved in the construction of an official accommodation following the demolition of a 15th-century monument during his tenure as the Delhi Jal Board's (DJB) chief executive officer.

Earlier this year, the Delhi government's vigilance department served a notice to Rai for the construction of the official accommodation following the demolition of the monument.

The monument, a "mahal" (palace) from the Pathan period and the only remnant of the Khizrabad city founded by Khizr Khan of the Sayyid dynasty, was located in the Jal Vihar area, near Lajpat Nagar, in southeast Delhi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pooran Breaks Internet With Match-Winning 55-Ball 137 In MLC Final

The inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket concluded on Sunday (Monday IST) with MI New York clinching the title against Seattle Orcas in Dallas. The brand MI continued to display its flawless cricketing skills as it added another trophy to its collection. Asked to bat first, the Orcas posted a good total of 183/9 in 20 overs with Quinton de Kock scoring 87 runs. However, the match turned upside down in the second innings as skipper Nicholas Pooran smashed a whopping total of 137 runs off just 55 balls and guided MI New York to victory by seven wickets.

Pooran's massive knock was laced with 13 sixes and 10 boundaries. The most memorable moment of the match came during the 16th over of MI's chase as the West Indies wicketkeeper thrashed Harmeet Singh for 24 runs. That over included a boundary and a stunning hat-trick of sixes. 

3 SIXES TO END THE LAST OVER OF THE POWERPLAY!

THIS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL, NICKY P!

8⃣0⃣/2⃣ (6.0) pic.twitter.com/pGRwHNz0nT

— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 31, 2023

NICHOLAS POORAN MADNESS.

0, 6, 6, 0, 0, 0, 1, 6, 6, 4, 6, 4, 1, 1, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 0, 0, 6, 0, 4, 4, 2, 0, 6, 0, 4, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 4, 0, 0, 0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 4, 6, 6, 6, 1, 2, 4

He came when MI New York was 0 for 1 then smashed 137*(55) with 10 fours & 13 sixes. pic.twitter.com/xwDPLVdGKC

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 31, 2023

Nicholas Pooran playing a video game in MLC final....!!!!

69* from just 22 balls in the Powerplay with 9 sixes & 3 fours.

What a knock, Captain. pic.twitter.com/7tf2YPzCa1

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 31, 2023

Nah man i have never seen this kind of hitting in any T20 cricket final. Nicholas Pooran you have rocked my world as a Mumbai Indians fan. pic.twitter.com/ynCXavWUMG

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) July 31, 2023

With this total, the MI skipper also became the highest run-scorer of the MLC 2023 with 388 runs to his name. His knock of 137* was also the highest individual score by any batter in the tournament. 

Notably, MI were one down for zero runs on the board during the chase. However, the skipper took the matter into his own hands and played a fearless innings to take his team to the inaugural title. 

Talking about the match, no other batter, apart from de Kock, was able to go past the 30-run mark for Seattle Orcas. The bowling duo of Trent Boult and Rashid Khan broke the backbone of Orcas' batting line-up, with their respective three-wicket hauls. Apart from them, Steven Taylor and David Wiese took one wicket each. 

Later, MI New York lost two wickets early as openers Steven Taylor and Shayan Jahangir departed for 0 and 10 runs respectively. However, it was Pooran who remained firm and played an extraordinary knock of 137 runs off 55 balls. Apart from him, Dewald Brevis and Tim David scored 20 and 10 runs respectively. 

For Seattle Orcas, Imad Wasim and Wayne Parnell scalped one wicket each. 

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WWF Uses Twitter Bird Logo To Highlight Species Facing Extinction

Last week, Twitter replaced its iconic bird logo with the letter 'X',  marking the latest major shift since Elon Musk's takeover of the social media platform. Twitter, founded in 2006 and whose name is a play on the sound of birds chattering, has used avian branding since its early days. 

Needless to say, Elon Musk's Twitter logo rebranding has become the talk of the town, and the subject of viral jokes and memes. Now, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has used the rebranding of Twitter to talk about wildlife conservation.

The German chapter of the WWF created an impactful graphic that shows the evolution of the blue bird logos over the years. The post drives home the point that some animals are heading for extinction if we don't protect them.

Notably, McCann Germany, an advertising agency, collaborated with WWF to create the graphic and shared it on LinkedIn. When translated into English, the caption of the graphic reads, ''The whole world mourns the loss of the Twitter bird. Around 1 million real animal species are threatened with extinction. Today we are in the midst of the greatest extinction of species since the end of the dinosaur era. A quarter of mammal species, one in eight bird species, more than 30 percent of sharks and rays, and 40 percent of amphibian species are threatened. Help us save the animals. An initiative of WWF Germany & us!''

 The text on the graphic, reads, “Protect our animal species before it's too late.”

See the picture here:

British writer Julia Hobsbawm posted this graphic on X and wrote, “Good work from a German ad agency which reads “protect the wildlife before it's too late”.

Reacting to the graphic, one user said, ''You could interpret the meaning a lot of ways. It could be covertly about free speech or it could actually be about protecting wildlife for all I know.''

Another commented, ''Join the wildlife rescue mission before these precious creatures go 'tweet-tweet' into extinction!''

A third said, ''I'd completely forgotten the bird logo was different in Twitter's early years, which in itself is a tribute to the timeless perfection of the final version. On top of everything else wrong with Elon Musk, he's a sheer cultural vandal.''

A fourth wrote, ''Another endangered species, now extinct.''

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Were Umpires Right In Ruling Out Stokes' Catch Of Smith? ICC Says This

Team England needed a crucial wicket on the last day of the last Ashes Test to contain Australia and believed they had Australia's star batter Steve Smith close to lunch on Day 5 but the batter was ruled not out. In the 66th over, Smith was batting on 39 and England captain Ben Stokes appeared to have caught the ball at leg gully as it popped off the batter's glove of Moeen Ali's loopy delivery. Umpire Joel Wilson said it was not out and Stokes went for review. 

The catch was taken cleanly by Stokes at leg gully as he stretched his right arm but as he moved to celebrate, the ball flew out of his hands and fell down.

Replays appeared to indicate that Stokes realised it wasn't a clean catch since his head dropped right away. 

"After numerous replays, Smith was ruled not out as the catch was not perceived to be clean according to law 33.3 of the MCC," the ICC wrote in a report.

"The law states, 'The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder's person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement.'

"The incident was similar to Mitchell Starc's catch of Ben Duckett at Lord's but clearer. With this, Smith survived as Australia headed to lunch three down and needing a further 146 runs to win. "
 
Chris Woakes and Mark Wood provided the early breakthrough on Day 5 of the of the fifth Ashes Test to help England stage a comeback but Australia still have an edge in the crucial math.

Australia were 238/3 at Lunch with Steve Smith (40) and Travis Head (31) standing unbeaten at the crease with the team needing another 146 runs for victory.

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Focus Not Just On Ram Temple: PM's "Mantra For 2024" At NDA Meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told the NDA to focus on issues apart from Ram Mandir ahead of the 2024 general elections. At a meeting with MPs from Uttar Pradesh today, the Prime Minister advised the MPs to go local, and "spend more time with the people", sources said.

The MPs who attended the meet -- to be a part of a series of meetings -- were from West Uttar Pradesh, Braj and the Kanpur-Bundelkhand area.

Sources said the Prime Minister has asked the MPs to talk about local issues in their respective constituencies, go to programmes that people attend including weddings.

"PM Modi gave the mantra of 2024 victory to NDA MPs. 'Convince those who are sulky, angry, spend more and more time with the public during elections," a source quoted him as saying.

Invoking 'coalition dharma', he said unlike the UPA, the NDA is about sacrifice, not selfishness, sources said.
 
As an example, PM Modi cited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who, he said, was made the Chief Minister despite having fewer MLAs than the BJP but he still ended the coalition and joined the opposition ranks.

"Despite having a good number of MLAs in the government with the Akali Dal in Punjab, the NDA did not ask for the post of Deputy Chief Minister," a source quoted him as saying.

The BJP has divided the 430 MPs of NDA into 11 groups, which will meet PM Modi by turns till August 10.

The next round of meetings will be held on Wednesday, in which 96 MPs from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep will participate.

The meetings are meant to ensure greater cohesion and synergy within the alliance ahead of the election.

Senior party leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and BJP chief JP Nadda are expected to be part of the meetings.

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Father Dies, 4-Year-Old Injured After Bouncy Castle Shot Into Air In France

A father died and his four-year-old daughter was badly injured in France after a bouncy castle in which they were playing at a water park was blown skyward by high winds, prosecutors said Monday.

The 35-year-old man had been taken to hospital with his child after the accident on Sunday at the water park in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in France's southern Var region, hugely popular with tourists in the summer. He died later that day.

The structure, some 20 metres (65 feet) long, lifted 50 metres off the ground at the Wonderland Waterpark, with both victims trapped inside, the prosecutor for the nearby town of Draguignan said in a statement.

The daughter's life remains in danger, the prosecutor's office added. It said the bouncy castle had taken off due to "strong gusts of wind" that were buffeting the area at the time after a spell of hot weather.

An investigation has been opened into involuntary homicide.

Draguignan prosecutor Guy Bouchet told AFP that the management of the park had taken the decision to suspend the bouncy castle activity due to the weather at the very moment the accident happened.

"How can a water park that had been accepted on the municipal territory to bring joy and happiness to children be transformed into a machine of death that strikes down an entire family?" the local mayor Alain Decanis wrote on Facebook.

He vowed the investigation opened by prosecutors would provide answers. The child, like her father, had to be resuscitated after suffering cardiac arrest.

The Wonderland Waterpark opened only this summer some 40 kilometres (25 miles) outside the town of Aix-en-Provence.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Karnataka Congress MLA Says He Threatened To Quit At Party Meet

Senior MLA BR Patil on Sunday admitted that he threatened to resign during the recent Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, citing "self-respect", but said he did not apologise for writing a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister highlighting his concerns.

The CLP meeting on Thursday evening was significant as it came amid reports that as many as 30 legislators have written to Mr Siddaramaiah and the party leadership expressing concern over non-implementation of development works in their constituencies.

The behaviour and conduct of certain ministers has upset some legislators, Mr Patil said, as he warned that their fight would continue, if it is not corrected.

The Aland MLA, however said he is satisfied with the Legislature party meeting held on Thursday and what transpired there.

"I too have seen media and newspaper reports. I don't know who has apologised. I have not apologised, nor will I. Have we committed any crime to apologise? Or have we made a big mistake?" BR Patil said in response to a question that some ministers including Home Minister G Parameshwara had stated that those who wrote letters to the Chief Minister had apologised at the CLP meeting.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "There is internal democracy in our party, we have the right to request a legislature party meeting. Accordingly, leaders have called (for the meeting). There was open and detailed discussion in the meeting and I'm satisfied, but I'm not a coward to apologise. If I had committed any mistake, I would have apologised," he added.

Several legislators are said to be miffed and have complained that they had not been able to get work done in their constituencies, and have not been granted transfers (of government servants) as requested. They have expressed unhappiness regarding some ministers, alleging that they were not cooperating with them.

According to party sources, Mr Patil, one of the MLAs who wrote to the Chief Minister, slammed ministers at the CLP meeting for not taking MLAs into confidence.

They said BR Patil asserted his rights when Mr Siddaramaiah questioned the need for the letter that was written to him.

Stating that there is no disgruntlement, Mr Patil today told reporters that he along with some legislators wanted certain issues to be discussed for which they had requested that a legislature party meeting be called.

Asked whether he had said that he would resign at the meeting, he said, "I said one thing at one point, that if my self respect is hurt I will throw my resignation and go." He however did not wish to elaborate as to what the context was in which he made such a statement. "It cannot be discussed openly in the media, we have discussed internally." The behaviour and conduct of certain ministers has upset some legislators, Mr Patil said, adding, "I don't know whether Chief Minister has advised them (ministers) or not... If their behaviour is not right, our fight against it will be there." Clarifying that there is no team as such in place to fight against the ministers' behaviour, the senior MLA, in response to a question, admitted that he walked out of the CLP meeting, and was persuaded by a couple of ministers to get back. But he did not wish to go into details.

He however said that the chief minister subsequently spoke to him over the phone.

BR Patil, clarifying that the issue that legislators have is not related to transfer of government servants, said that the Chief Minister has explained at the CLP meeting about the burden on the exchequer due to implementation of the poll guarantees, and that there will be shortage of funds for developmental works initially this year, which will be set right in the days ahead.

"We are satisfied with what Chief Minister said," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PM Modi On What Made Haj "Special" For Muslim Women This Year

In continuation of his outreach to the Muslim community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, while addressing the 103rd edition of his radio programme, 'Mann ki Baat', thanked the Saudi Arabia government for making changes in the Haj policy and said due to this change, over 4,000 Muslim women from India performed Haj without 'mehram' (male companion). He said many of them had written to them to express their joy and give their blessings.

"There are some letters that bring you a lot of joy and inspiration. The letters that my Muslim mothers and sisters have written to me, after returning from Haj, are like that. Their journey this year was very special in many ways. These are women who have been able to go to Haj without a male companion that was not allowed earlier. I want to thank the Saudi Arabia government for this change in policy," he said, calling the shift "transformative" as the number of women going for Haj from India without men accompanying them was not "50 or 100" but over 4,000.

Amid international scrutiny on human rights record and treatment of women, Saudi Arabia in 2019 had said that it would allow women to travel without the permission of a male relative.

Haj has been at the centre of political flashpoints in India. While the central government decided to do away with the discretionary Haj quota that was available with people in top constitutional posts and the minority affairs ministry, the Congress has been blaming the government for doing away with Haj subsidy that the centre has said was being misused.

Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani recently said a decision was taken to end discretionary quota in Haj under PM's resolve to end VIP culture. She also said her government made several changes in Haj yatra guidelines keeping in mind the interest of the people, including disallowing a VIP delegation that visits Saudi Arabia every year.

As many as 4,314 Indian women went for Haj without 'Mahram (male companion)' this year, the largest since the reform in 2018. The Minority Affairs Ministry had made comprehensive arrangements for the health of the Haj pilgrims with health desks at airports and medical screening by government doctors. 

Each year, Saudi Arabia hosts around 25 lakh to 30 lakh pilgrims from across the globe to visit Mecca and India sends the third largest contingent of pilgrims in the world. 

A quota of 1,75,025 Haj pilgrims was allotted to India. The annual pilgrimage took place in June-end.

Muslim women have been at the centre of the BJP's outreach towards the community, starting with the centre's move to criminalise Triple Talaq. 

The PM's mention of Muslim women came a day after the BJP appointed former VC of Aligarh Muslim University Tariq Mansoor as one of its Vice presidents. 

Mansoor has been working with the RSS on its efforts to promote teachings of Mughal prince Dara Shikoh on peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Muslims. As the VC of AMU during the anti CAA rights, his role was criticised by many students for being pro-government. 

Mansoor is also a pasmanda Muslim, a non Ashraf Muslim - BJP has been trying to woo the Pasmanda Muslims for a while now.

The PM, specifically speaking in Bhopal recently, while making a pitch for the Uniform Civil Code had listed the names of the Muslim Pasmanda communities that were never given a voice by the opposition. 

Apart from Mansoor, Abdulla Kutty is also a vice president with the BJP. He was appointed last year and also heads the Haj committee. 

Formerly with the CPM and Congress, Abdulla Kutty has always been vocal in praising the PM's model of governance, and this works well for the BJP that has been trying to strengthen its position politically and ideologically in Kerala against the communist forces.

 

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'Barbie Feet Challenge' Has Left Health Experts Concerned. Here's Why

The highly-anticipated movie 'Barbie' starring Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling which was released on July 21, is making a splash at the theatres globally. The Barbie mania is taking over, and people, companies, brands and everyone else is jumping on the pink bandwagon. The movie has also given rise to several viral trends across all social media platforms. One such trend is called the 'Barbie Feet Challenge', inspired by a particular scene from the movie.

The challenge involves recreating a scene from the movie where Margot Robbie's character slips out of her heels and stands on the tips of her toes, while her heels remain in the air. To ace the challenge, women are attempting to step out of high heels, walk on tiptoes, and maintain their feet in an arched position.

The hashtags #BarbieFeet and #BarbieFeetChallenge have garnered a combined total of over 80 million views on the platform, and search interest for “Barbie Foot Challenge” increased 2,950% over the course of one week, Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center reported, according to the New York Post.

 Even American model Chrissy Teigen hopped onto the bandwagon.

However, health experts are now raising concerns about the potential dangers associated with the viral trend.

“Although the Barbie Arch makes a woman's legs appear longer and toner, it is not without risk. If someone attempts the pose once or twice, they will likely be ok and produce a great TikTok video. However, if attempting the pose and stride over long periods, there are some risks involved. The ankle is unstable, which can lead to ligament sprains and injuries, commonly seen with high heel use,” Dr. Jodi R. Schoenhaus told The Post.

The high-arched position of the Barbie foot could also lead to muscle and spine problems as it puts strain on the lower back. It can also damage growth plates, a warning to younger girls who are still growing, she added.

''To walk on your toes without heels isn't sustainable, and, in fact, the reality in the movie is that Barbie actually has flatfeet, along with 30% of the population. Considering we aren't trained ballerinas en pointe, let's keep the fad to movie stars who have props and multiple takes to make it look perfect,” she said further.

Notably, 'Barbie' is a live-action retelling made by reimagining the toy figurine. Everything in the film - from the costumes to the sets - is drenched in trademark Barbie pink colour. 

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"Amit Shah Visited Manipur, Took Every Step To Restore Peace": Minister

Union Sports and Youth Affairs minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday took a jibe at the Opposition parties of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) delegation and asked why they are running away from discussion over the Manipur issue. 

"We have been ready to discuss the Manipur issue since day one. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also invited a discussion over the same. My first question is why the Opposition is running away from this. Second, I want to ask the opposition to share the experiences of their two-day visit to Manipur and take part in the discussion," said Union Minister Thakur while speaking to reporters. 

Notably, the 21-member delegation of the grand Opposition alliance, on Saturday, arrived on a two-day visit to the state, which has seen ethnic strife and violence since May 3.

The 21-member Opposition delegation from both Houses included Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD

Furthermore, Mr Thakur said, "The Congress regime turned out to be a failure when thousands of people were killed in Manipur. At that time, neither Indira ji (former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi), nor Rajiv ji (former PM Rajiv Gandhi) gave a statement on the same. How come they (the opposition) are seeking a statement from us?"

"The Union Home Minister had been in Manipur for four days. We took every possible step to restore peace in Manipur. The opposition should not spread chaos in order to remain in the limelight. It should take part in the discussion rather than do the politics", said Minister Thakur. 

Speaking on Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary's remarks on Manipur violence, Mr Thakur said, "Please be enlightened towards the situation of Bengal also. You have to fight elections from Bengal. I want to ask him if 'all is well' in Bengal. They do not have the time to listen to the plight of women in Bengal". 

Earlier, on Sunday, Mr Chowdhary said that the state and the central governments turned a deaf ear to the plight of the people in Manipur. 

Moreover, Union Minister Thakur said, "The parliament is functioning. I want to request the opposition to come to the parliament, take part in the discussion, present their viewpoints and have the courage to hear the truth also".

Significantly, since the beginning of the monsoon session of the parliament on July 20, the opposition MPs of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance have been seeking an elaborate discussion and a statement from Prime Minister Modi over the Manipur issue. The government, on the other hand, says that it is ready to hold a discussion over the same. 

The state has been witnessing an ethnic conflict since May 3 following the High Court's order asking the state government to consider including the Meitei community under the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). the majority community sought the ST status in order to purchase lands in the hilly areas.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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In Indore, Amit Shah Reaches Out To Party Workers, Congress To Tribals

The BJP organised a mega gathering of its booth-level workers in Indore today, which was addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This was his third visit in less than 20 days. A few kilometers away, senior Congress leaders, including two former Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, as well as ex-JNUSU president-turned-NSUI's national in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar, addressed an Adivasi Yuva Mahapanchayat.

Addressing the BJP workers, Mr Shah urged them to aim for victory in 2023, which breaks all previous records of assembly poll victories. He also urged the BJP's booth-level workers to fight hard in the next general elections to ensure Narendra Modi's third term as Prime Minister.

"It is not the leaders sitting on this stage, who win the elections for the BJP. It is our booth-level workers who win us the polls," he said.

Terming PM Modi as the "Messiah of Poor" for starting a large number of pro-poor schemes, Mr Shah said Congress, while being in power for 70 years in the state, didn't do anything for the poor.

He also took a dig at the previous Congress governments headed by Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, comparing their works with the achievements of the BJP governments over 18 years in the state -- particularly during the double engine BJP governments at the Centre and in the state.

"No new industry was started in the 15-month regime of Corruption Nath, as only the Transfer Industry (18,000 Class I officers were transferred in Mr Nath's 15-month regime) flourished. Whatever new industry has been established is the result of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in the state," Mr Shah said.

He also raised the issues of surgical strikes on Pakistan soil, Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya and the abrogation of Article 370.  

Meanwhile, addressing an Adivasi Yuva Mahapanchayat, former Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath assured that all demands raised by the tribal youths through a "Maang-Patra" at the Mahapanchayat on Sunday will be included in the party's poll manifesto.

Lashing out at the BJP and its leaders, Kanhaiya Kumar accused the party of pitting tribals against non-tribals in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence since May. He also questioned the country's first tribal President Droupadi Murmu's silence over tribal women being paraded naked in Manipur.

He also targeted state home minister Narottam Mishra, saying "instead of zeroing on what Deepika Padukone is wearing in a movie, you (Mishra) should be concerned about what is happening to women, tribals and Dalits in Madhya Pradesh".

Indore serves as the hub for the 66 seats in the state's western and south-western regions, known as the Malwa-Nimar area.

Over the years, the party that won the 66-seat Malwa-Nimar (MP region with the most seats) has gone on to form the state government.

The BJP swept the region in 2013, capturing 57 of the 66 seats, while the Congress trailed far behind with only nine. The Congress, however, turned the tables on the BJP five years later, gaining 36 seats.

The BJP could only win 27 seats, with three seats going to Congress rebels running as Independents.

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Prince William Serves Burgers To Shocked Diners. There's An India Connect

Britain's Prince William served up a surprise to diners in south London when he dished out environmentally-friendly burgers from a food truck.

In a video released on Sunday, the heir to the throne handed out "Earthshot Burgers" to highlight the work of last year's winners of his annual Earthshot Prize, which he set up to help develop solutions to major environmental problems.

"Coming right up," the prince said as he served up the burgers to the stunned customers. "Morning everyone, nicely cooked, ready to go."

The object for William, who had teamed up with the founders of the YouTube channel Sorted Food which reviews kitchen gadgets and shares recipes, was to raise the profile and work of three previous Earthshot prize winners.

"So the box you're about to eat in is built by a company called Notpla and there's no plastic involved, they've come up with a seaweed coating," the prince told the customers at the burger van.

"The ingredients inside the burger are grown from a greenhouse in India from a company called Kheyti, and last but not least, the way we cook them has been on a thing called Mukuru Clean Stoves, and that is designed by a lady in Kenya who came up with the concept to reduce air pollution."

He added: "Can't vouch for the taste, the quality but ... I'm rolling with it."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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James Anderson's 3-Word Reaction When Told Of Stuart Broad's Retirement

One of the finest England pacers ever, Stuart Broad made the big revelation as he announced his intention to retire after the conclusion of the 5th Ashes Test against Australia. When Broad, who has been one of England's biggest servants in the longest format of the game, revealed the big news to his partner-in-crime James Anderson, the latter couldn't beleive his years. In fact, as revealed by Broad, Anderson thought Broad was joking as he revealed his intention of calling time on his career after the series.

"He just said 'are you joking?'," Broad was quoted as saying to BBC Test Match Special while speaking on Anderson's reaction. "We then had a hug. It is always hard."

Broad and Anderson are two icons of England cricket who have donned the whites together for a long time. As Anderson remains an active player, Broad decided that it was time for him to move on.

"When I spoke to Jimmy, I got a bit emotional. But ultimately, we have a game to win here. We can do the reminiscing afterward if we get the job done," he stated.

Considered one of the greatest seamers to have represented England, especially in Test cricket, Broad has over 800 international wickets across formats.

Broad has taken 602 wickets in 167 Test matches he has played. He has also scored 3656 runs at an average of 18 with 1 century and 13 fifties in Test cricket.

In ODIs, Broad has featured in 121 games taking 178 scalps. His best bowling effort in the 50-over format to date is 5/23 while in T20Is, he has 65 wickets in 56 matches, with his best being 4/24.

Meanwhile, in T20I format, he has played 56 matches and taken 65 wickets with an average of 22.93.

With ANI inputs

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2nd ODI: Shai Hope Guides West Indies To Series-Levelling Win Over India

IND vs WI, 2nd ODI Highlights: Shai Hope led with an unbeaten 63 as West Indies defeated India by six wickets in the second ODI in Barbados on Saturday. Chasing 182, the hosts were 91 for 4 at one point but Hope helped the side win the game from there. Shardul Thakur took three wickets and Kuldeep Yadav picked one but failed to stop West Indies from a series-levelling win. Earlier, Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie picked three wickets apiece as West Indies bundled India out for 181 runs. Ishan Kishan scored 55 while Shubman Gill hit 34. West Indies skipper Shai Hope won the toss and opted to bowl against Hardik Pandya-led India. (Scorecard)

Here are the Highlights of the 2nd ODI match between India and West Indies from Bridgetown:

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Mother Of Woman Stripped In Manipur Wants To See Bodies Of Son, Husband

The mother of one of the two women paraded naked by a mob in Manipur on May 4 urged the MPs of opposition coalition INDIA to help her see the bodies of her husband and son, who were also killed on that day.

A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc is on a two-day visit to the state, and meeting people affected by the violence.

When Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev and DMK MP Kanimozhi met the mother of one of the victims, she urged them to help her at least see the bodies of her son and husband.

She also told the two leaders the situation is such that Kukis and Meteis, the two warring communities, cannot live together anymore.

"Her daughter was raped, and her husband and son were killed by the mob in the presence of Manipur Police but till today, not a single police officer has been suspended," Ms Dev told PTI-Video.

"They have got a huge shock. They are saying that there was a mob of more than 1,000 people, and they have made a specific demand, which I will raise with the governor," she said.

The girl alleged that she was raped in front of the police, but nothing was done to help her, she added.

Ms Dev claimed that the girl is scared of the police now. "If a victim does not trust the police anymore then it is a constitutional crisis." Kanimozhi said the victim's father served in the Army and protected the nation, but could not protect his family.

"It is so sad to see a woman whose daughter was raped. She lost her husband and her son on the same day and there is no justice for them," she said.

The viral video of the May 4 incident renewed the national attention on Manipur, where violence broke out nearly three months ago, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.

The violence erupted on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2nd ODI Live: Shai Hope Nears Fifty, WI Cruise In Chase Of 182 vs India

IND vs WI, 2nd ODI, Live Updates: Shardul Thakur has taken three wickets but West Indies are going well in their chase of 182 runs in the second ODI, thanks to Shai Hope's solid knock. Kuldeep Yadav has taken one wicket. Earlier, Romario Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie picked three wickets apiece as West Indies bundled India out for 181 runs. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill stitched a solid opening stand of 90 runs but West Indies bounced back brilliantly after that. Kishan fell for 55 while Gill departed for 34 but other India batters failed to play noticeable knocks. West Indies skipper Shai Hope won the toss and opted to bowl against Hardik Pandya-led India. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Updates of the 2nd ODI match between India and West Indies from Bridgetown:

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Jaffer's 'Pathaan' Twist To Kohli, Rohit Not Playing Second ODI vs WI

As Hardik Pandya came out at the toss for the second ODI against West Indies in Barbados, there was anticipation in the air. The stand-in captain then clarified that indeed Rohit Sharma was not playing along with Virat Kohli. India managed to clinch the first match after facing a few challenges. Ishan Kishan performed exceptionally well with the bat to help India chase down a total of 114. The visitors would be keen to clinch the series with a second consecutive win.

India stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya said during the time of toss, "We were looking to bat first. We want to see how much we can score on this pitch which is a bit up and down. Rohit and Virat have been playing constant cricket, so they are resting in this game. They can be fresh for the third ODI. I think when you get someone out for 115, it's a good sign. Our catching was impressive, but we can improve in certain areas. Sanju and Axar come in for Rohit and Virat."

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer gave a funny twist to the duo not playing. "Rohit and Virat watching from the dressing room. #WIvIND" he posted with a picture if Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan from the movie 'Pathaan'. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wasim Jaffer (@wasimjaffer14)

WI Skipper Shai Hope said during the time of toss, "We are going to bowl first, we saw what happened in the last game. The conditions will assist the bowlers. We got two games to play, so we got to win this one to stay alive. It has been a bit unpredictable. Both teams have to play on the same surface. We got to bowl first and put them under pressure. Powell, Drakes is out, Alzarri and Keacy are in." 

West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

With ANI inputs

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"No Point...": Twitter Fumes As India Rest Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma vs WI

The Indian cricket team had two notable absentees in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the second ODI against West Indies. India managed to clinch the first margin after facing a few challenges. Ishan Kishan performed exceptionally well with the bat to help India chase down a total of 114. The visitors would be keen to clinch the series with a second consecutive win.

Hardik Pandya is leading India in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Axar Patel and Sanju Samson have been named as their replacements. India stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya said during the time of toss, "We were looking to bat first. We want to see how much we can score on this pitch which is a bit up and down. Rohit and Virat have been playing constant cricket, so they are resting in this game. They can be fresh for the third ODI. I think when you get someone out for 115, it's a good sign. Our catching was impressive, but we can improve in certain areas. Sanju and Axar come in for Rohit and Virat."

No point in watching a match without Kohli. They rested him from T20s to make sure he focuses on Tests and ODIs, but now they are resting him in ODIs too. Clown management @BCCI pic.twitter.com/dOGQM6g086

— Yashvi. (@BreatheKohli) July 29, 2023

Go and sleep boys, Goat Virat will not play cricket today pic.twitter.com/VhchkHdOvV https://t.co/Zxcr5nvQhx

— Shaurya (@Kohli_Devotee) July 29, 2023

Prayer circle :




India's lose
IND V/S WI
2


No Rohit and Virat
Bcci Deserves To lose This match
Sack Dravid ASAP!! pic.twitter.com/BUE3AU7Nam

— Aryan (@OxygenKohli18) July 29, 2023

Cricket is boring without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma pic.twitter.com/hHMNzdxnvm

— Lokesh Saini (@LokeshVirat18K) July 29, 2023

WI Skipper Shai Hope said during the time of toss, "We are going to bowl first, we saw what happened in the last game. The conditions will assist the bowlers. We got two games to play, so we got to win this one to stay alive. It has been a bit unpredictable. Both teams have to play on the same surface. We got to bowl first and put them under pressure. Powell, Drakes is out, Alzarri and Keacy are in." 

West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Yannic Cariah, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar.

With ANI inputs

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Judge Throws Out Donald Trump's $475 Million Defamation Suit Against CNN

A federal judge has dismissed a $475 million defamation lawsuit that Donald Trump filed against CNN for describing his claim that the 2020 election was stolen as the "Big Lie."

Trump, in the suit filed in a US District Court in Florida in October, had alleged that the use of the phrase by the cable television news network associated the former US president with tactics used by Adolf Hitler.

US District Court Judge Raag Singhal, who was appointed by Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, tossed out the suit on Friday.

"There is no question that the statements made by CNN meet the publication requirement for defamation under Florida law," Singhal said in his ruling.

"The next question is whether the statements were false statements of fact," the judge said. "This is where Trump's defamation claims fail.

"The complained of statements are opinion, not factually false statements, and therefore are not actionable," Singhal said. "CNN's statements, while repugnant, were not, as a matter of law, defamatory.

"The case will, therefore, be dismissed."

In his defamation complaint, Trump said the network's use of the phrase the "Big Lie" was a "deliberate effort by CNN to propagate to its audience an association between the plaintiff and one of the most repugnant figures in modern history."

Trump had a caustic relationship with CNN and other major news outlets like The New York Times during his White House term, branding them "fake news" and repeatedly raging against them on social media.

The twice-impeached Trump, who has continued to insist falsely that he won the 2020 presidential election against Democrat Joe Biden, is to go on trial in Florida in May on charges of mishandling top secret government documents.

Trump is also facing dozens of felony charges in a case involving hush money payments to a porn star in New York and is bracing for indictment in separate state and federal investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Pandya's Bizarre Run-Out Dismissal Sparks Debate On Social Media

Hardik Pandya's dismissal during the first ODI encounter between India and West Indies in Barbados has resulted in a massive debate on social media. Ishan Kishan slammed the ball straight towards the bowler Yannic Cariah but he was not able to complete the catch. However, the ball bounced out of his hands and crashed directly into the stumps with Pandya out of his crease on the non-striker's end. While the replays clearly showed that Pandya's bat was in the air when the bails were dislodged, fans on social media believed that he should have been given not out according to the new rules. The users pointed out that the bat was grounded and it bounced when he tried to return to the crease. No such observation was made by the third umpire who gave the decision in West Indies' favour.

dismissed by a whisker#Windies secure the big wicket of #HardikPandya 

Keep watching #WIvIND - LIVE & FREE on #JioCinema in 11 languages

#SabJawaabMilenge pic.twitter.com/00TiGVvFhs

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) July 27, 2023

Left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja masterminded the rout of an abject West Indies team as India romped to a five-wicket victory with more than 27 overs to spare in the opening One-Day International of a three-match series at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Thursday.

Hardik Pandya should not have been given out basis new run out rules. His bat was grounded in crease before going in air#INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/tqgEkC9xQL

— Slayer (@pervy_slayer_) July 27, 2023

Beaten 1-0 in the preceding two-Test series, the home team were brushed aside for just 114 off 23 overs after being put in as they appeared completely at sea in trying to cope especially with variations offered by Yadav's wrist-spin.

@BCCI @bhogleharsha @ImRo45 @imVkohli @hardikpandya7 hardik should not have been given out basis new run out rules. His bat was grounded in crease before going in air. pic.twitter.com/A59p1POIN9

— Ashish (@ashishkds) July 27, 2023

India were always on course for the modest target thanks to Ishan Kishan's belligerent 52, although the loss of three wickets near the end of the chase took some of the gloss off the win.

In what was clearly a bit of an audition for younger batting aspirants ahead of the World Cup, champion batsman Virat Kohli did not feature while captain Rohit Sharma only appeared at the fall of the fifth wicket.

(With AFP inputs)

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Wasim Jaffer's Hilarious Meme On India's Batting Order vs WI Wins Internet

Skipper Rohit Sharma and senior pro Virat Kohli, who have 76 international hundreds between them, decided to give game time to middle-order batters as India beat West Indies by five wickets in the opening ODI, riding on exploits from spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. After Jadeja (3/37 in 6 overs) and Kuldeep (4/6 in 4 overs) set it up beautifully, shooting out the Windies for 114 in 23 overs, Ishan Kishan helped himself to a half-century (52 off 46 balls) in India's successful chase in just 22.5 overs.

It is interesting to note that the pair of Kishan and Shubman Gill opened the innings for India in the paltry chase of 115 despite skipper Rohit also being available to bat. After Gill fell, Suryakumar Yadav was sent in at number 3 with Virat Kohli staying in the dugout. Hardik Pandya came in at the fourth position while Ravindra Jadeja batted at the fifth position. Rohit came only after the fifth wicket fell down.

Former India batter Wasim Jaffer posted a funny tweet describing India's batting order against West Indies in the first ODI.

See the post here:

Team India deciding batting order today #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/FtkXDSG7bL

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 27, 2023

The Indian team will be expected to return to its set batting order as it aims to put up a much-improved show with the willow and take an unassailable lead in the three-match series when it faces a below-par West Indies in the second ODI in Barbados on Saturday.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid did face a minor hiccup while trying out the middle-order batters upfront on a track that became a raging turner during the second session but a meager target of 115 meant that things were smooth for the better part.

However, one can vouch with a degree of certainty that even if India once again chases a small target, Rohit Sharma will indeed come out with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli will be seen padded to come at one drop.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Several Hundred Credit Suisse Bankers To Get Termination Notices: Report

Several hundred Credit Suisse investment bankers will soon be fired as UBS begins to implement the merger of the two banks, the Swiss weekly HandelsZeitung said Friday.

UBS agreed to buy its rival in a hastily arranged 3-billion-franc ($3.5 billion) fire sale over a March weekend by Swiss authorities afraid that a weakened Credit Suisse would go bankrupt, with speculation rife since about the impact on jobs.

HandelsZeitung said that according to its sources UBS chief executive Sergio Ermotti wants to rapidly get to work on eliminating the huge amount of duplication in their operations.

"The transformation is beginning: in the coming days several hundred Credit Suisse bankers will receive termination notices," said the weekly.

It noted that the Swiss media have speculated about between 30,000 and 35,000 job cuts across the world.

At the end of last year, the two banks had around 120,000 employees between them across the world, including 37,000 in Switzerland.

UBS declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Yusuf Pathan Turns Back Clock, Slams 3 Sixes Against Mohammad Amir

Yusuf Pathan rolled back the years and how, as he produced plenty of big hits and entertainment at the Harare Sports Club, to help the Joburg Buffaloes storm into the finals of the Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10, after defeating the Durban Qalandars by 6 wickets in Qualifier 1. Yusuf scored an unbeaten 80 from 26 deliveries as the Buffaloes chased down a record total on Friday. Put into bat first, the Durban Qalandars, who had finished top of the table in the league stage, had a slow start, losing the in-form Tim Seifert for 11 in the third over, with the score on 16. That though would kick start a fantastic as Mirza Tahir Baig and Andre Fletcher went through the gears against the Joburg Buffaloes' bowling. 

While it was Fletcher, who was finding the boundaries with more regularity, Baig ensured he kept the scoreboard moving at his end. The duo put on a 49-run stand for the second wicket in quick time before Baig was dismissed in the 6th over for 20 by Victor Nyauchi. A short while later, George Linde departed for 1, and that was followed by the big scalp of Fletcher for 39 off 14 deliveries. 

That brought the due of Asif Ali and Nick Welch to the middle in the death overs, and they piled on the runs at good pace. Both hammered a six each and smashed 8 boundaries between themselves, as the Qalandars' total soared over the 100-run mark, to stop at 140/4 in their 10 overs. At that point, it was the highest total in an innings during the course of the tournament. 

Far from over when @iamyusufpathan is in this form! #JBvDQ #T10League #ZimAfroT10 #CricketsFastestFormat pic.twitter.com/Cdgi7HCsAd

— T10 League (@T10League) July 28, 2023

In response, the Joburg Buffaloes did not quite have the start they needed. Mohammad Hafeez and Tom Banton, both big hitters were looking to tee off from the get-go, as required, but the Qalandars' bowlers had other ideas. 

They tied up the batters with some fantastic bowling, which led to Hafeez (17) becoming the first wicket for the Qalandars. Soon after, Banton (4) was cleaned up by Tayyab Abbas, who would also go on to dismiss the dangerous Will Smeed (16) a little later in the fifth over. At that time the score read 56/3, with the Qalandars well and truly in the ascendency. 

Ravi Bopara could only add 1 to the cause before Tendai Chatara had his number, after which Yusuf Pathan and Mushfiqur Rahim came together, with quite the task on hand. After the duo absorbed the pressure, Yusuf broke free against Mohammad Amir in the 8th over, smashing him for 3 sixes and a boundary, in what was a 25-run over, and took the Buffaloes over the 100-run mark. In the final two overs, the Buffaloes would need 39 to win. 

Yusuf completed his fifty in the 9th over, and then continued to put the long handle to good use, much to the joy of the fans. In the final over, the Buffaloes needed 20 to win with Yusuf going great guns.

The Indian batter was absolutely rolling back the years with a vintage knock, and continued in his merry ways in the final over, beginning as he smashed two fours and two sixes, finishing off the game with a boundary to help the Buffaloes storm into the final of the Zim Afro T10.

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Monsoon Fury Shifts To South India, Red Alert For Heavy Rain In 3 States

After wreaking havoc in several North Indian states, incessant rain has now also moved to the southern states and authorities have urged locals to stay indoors and take precautions.

Red alerts forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rain have been issued in several districts of Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala.

With heavy rain predicted today, Telangana has declared a holiday today for all schools and colleges.

In view of heavy rains in #Telangana, the @cyberabadpolice has advised all private companies to resort to phased logouts for Tuesday & Wednesday.

The different timings for phased log-outs have been given to reduce traffic jams across #Hyderabad.#TelanganaRains #HyderabadRains pic.twitter.com/EQwsqAMaF4

— Telangana Digital Media Wing (@DigitalMediaTS) July 25, 2023

Two girls were washed away in an overflowing stream in Mahabubnagar district in Telangana on Tuesday as heavy rain led to inundation of low-lying areas and disruption of road links at several places in the state. The two teenaged girls, who were crossing the stream, did not realise the current of water and got swept away, police said.

To prevent traffic jams, the Hyderabad police has urged IT companies to conduct a phase-wise logout of their employees.

In Karnataka, the weather department has asked people in coastal regions to avoid areas that are prone to waterlogging and asked them to stay away from vulnerable structures which might collapse due to incessant rains.

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11 Women Pooled Money To Buy Rs 250 Lottery Ticket. They Won Rs 10 Crore

Some did not even carry Rs 25 in their purse when they decided to pool money to buy a lottery ticket worth Rs 250 weeks ago.

One of them had even borrowed the meagre amount from an acquaintance to try her luck.

But, the 11 women, members of Haritha Karma Sena, the green army under the Parappanangadi Municipality, never dreamt of making a windfall which would turn them into crorepati in a stroke.

They were announced the winners of the monsoon bumper of whopping Rs 10 crore, by the Kerala lottery Department following a draw held on Wednesday.

"We have purchased lottery tickets before by pooling money. But this is the first time we have won a mega prize," an elated Radha, who bought the ticket after pooling money from her colleagues, said.

Another woman said they were eagerly waiting for the draw but felt sad after someone told them that a ticket sold in neighbouring Palakkad had won the first prize.

"The excitement and happiness knew no bounds when we finally came to know that we hit the jackpot. All of us are facing hardships in life and the money will be a relief to some extent to solve our problems," she said.

The women have a tough time making ends meet and the humble salary they draw as members of the Haritha Karma Sena is the only income of their families.

Haritha Karma Sena is engaged in collection of non-biodegradable waste from households and establishments, which is sent to shredding units for recycling.

Sheeja, the chairman of Haritha Karma Sena consortium at the Municipality, said the lady luck smiled on the most deserving people this time.

She said all the winners are very hardworking and only source of income for their families.

"Many have debts to pay... have daughters to marry off... or have to meet the treatment expenditure of near ones. They are living in very humble households fighting harsh realities of life," she told PTI.

A large number of people on Thursday flocked to the municipality godown premises here to meet the bumper lottery winners and congratulate them.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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US Hiding Info On Alien Craft: Ex Intel Officer In Congressional Testimony

We are not alone -- and American authorities are covering up the evidence, a former US intelligence officer told a congressional committee on Wednesday.

David Grusch testified that he "absolutely" believes the government is in possession of unidentified anomalous phenomenon, or UAPs -- which has replaced UFO in official parlance -- as well as remains of their operators.

"I was informed, in the course of my official duties, of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse-engineering program," Grusch said.

"I made the decision, based on the data I collected, to report this information to my superiors and multiple inspectors general, and in effect becoming a whistleblower," he said.

Pressed for details in the course of the hearing, Grusch repeatedly said he could not comment in a public setting because the information is classified.

He said the US government is hiding information on UAPs not only from the public but from Congress, and that he "personally interviewed" people with direct knowledge of non-human craft.

"My testimony is based on information I've been given by individuals with a longstanding track record of legitimacy and service to this country -- many of whom also shared compelling evidence in the form of photography, official documentation, and classified oral testimony," Grusch told lawmakers.

US Representative Tim Burchett supported the idea that the government was concealing information, saying at the opening of the hearing -- which also featured testimony from two former Navy officers who said they witnessed UAPs -- that "we're going to uncover the cover-up."

"This is an issue of government transparency. We can't trust a government that does not trust its people," he said.

But the head of the Pentagon office set up to identify UAPs that pose a potential threat told lawmakers earlier this year it had not identified signs of alien activity.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office "has found no credible evidence thus far of extraterrestrial activity, off-world technology, or objects that defy the known laws of physics," Sean Kirkpatrick testified in April.

The US government has however begun taking the issue of UAPs more seriously in recent years.

NASA held its first public meeting on UAPs in May, calling for a more rigorous scientific approach to clarify the origin of hundreds of mysterious sightings.

The Pentagon also began paying closer attention after a slew of inexplicable sightings from US Navy and Air Force pilots.

The central worry was that the sightings could be of unknown aerial surveillance technology China was using to collect intelligence on US defenses.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Not About Numbers": What Opposition Wants From No-Confidence Motion

The itinerary for the no-confidence motion against the Narendra Modi government will be discussed tomorrow between the Speaker and the political parties. The opposition, low on numbers, is not expecting to get the motion passed. Its only aim, sources said, is to get Prime Minister to speak on Manipur -- a demand that the government has so far brushed off. The government is willing to allow only a discussion and a statement from the Union Home Minister.  

In the 543-member Lok Sabha, five seats are vacant, bringing down the majority mark to 270.

The BJP has 301 seats including that of the Speaker, which vaults over the majority mark. The total NDA figure with allies reaches 331.

There are also the 'non-aligned parties' -- 10 including YSR Congress, Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal and BSP and TDP -- which can give indirect support to the government by remaining absent and thereby bringing down the majority mark.

The opposition is trailing far behind. The total numbers the united opposition front can tote up is 143. If smaller parties that are not siding with the BJP are included, the number reaches 159.

The Congress, aware of how the land lies, has said the proposal was brought so that PM Modi could be forced to make a statement on Manipur in the House.

"INDIA alliance is aware of its numbers in the Lok Sabha but this is not just about numbers. This is about Manipur's fight for justice," said Congress's Gaurav Gogoi.

"A message should go out to the brothers and sisters of Manipur that PM Modi might have forgotten Manipur but INDIA alliance stands with them in this hour of grief and we are fighting for their rights, inside the Parliament," he said.

"We want to tell PM Modi to come to parliament and address the nation as this matter is not about Manipur alone anymore but it has spread over to other states as well. In the interest of national security and integrity of the country, the PM should address the country from inside parliament," he added.

Tomorrow Speaker Om Birla will hold a discussion with leaders of all parties regarding the debate on the motion. Discussion will also be held on how much time each party will get to speak. Sources said the motion can be tabled next week.

The monsoon session of parliament, which started on July 20 and will continue till August 11, has so far been stymied over the situation in Manipur, which has been witnessing violence since May.

The session started a day after a video of two tribal women being marched naked and allegedly gangraped went viral, which gave a sharper edge to the opposition attack.

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Gadar 2 Trailer: Sunny Deol Is A Man On A Mission

The wait is over, the makers of one of the highly talked about films Gadar 2 just dropped the film's trailer and truth be told it is explosive. The long-awaited sequel of Anil Sharma's 2001 blockbuster cross-border romance has Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel reprising the iconic roles of Tara Singh and Sakina. Director Anil Sharma's son Utkarsh Sharma, who played the role of Tara Singh and Sakina's son in Gadar - Ek Prem Katha, will also be making a comeback in Gadar 2. The trailer, spanning over a few minutes is action-packed and shows Sunny Deol performing some deadly stunts and beating up those torturing his son Jeete, played by Utkarsh Sharma. The trailer also gives a glimpse of Ameesha Patel, who looks beautiful as ever as Sakina. The trailer ends with Tara Singh staring at a handpump and we can already guess what's coming next. For the unversed, in the first instalment of the Gadar series, Sunny Deol's Tara Singh had uprooted a handpump, giving way to Bollywood's one of the most iconic scenes.

The Gadar 2 trailer was released on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Divas. It was shared by Sunny Deol with the caption, "Apne parivaar aur desh ke liye, ek baar phir se Gadar machayega Tara Singh! (For the sake of his family and his nation, Tara Singh will fight back)."

Take a look at the trailer here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zee Studios (@zeestudiosofficial)

The trailer was launched at a grand event attended by Anil Sharma, Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma, Shariq Patel, Simrat Kaur, Mithoon, Alka Yagnik, Jubin Nautiyal and Aditya Narayan.

See some pictures from the trailer launch:

Gadar 2 is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. About the film, Sunny Deol said, "Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has been an eminent part of my life, personally as well as professionally. Tara Singh from Gadar isn't just a protagonist but went on to become a cult icon that defied all odds and crossed all boundaries for his Family and Love. Collaborating with the team after 22 years was a creatively enriching experience."

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Asked If He Was Faced With The Question Of Nepotism, Aditya Said...

Bollywood actor Aditya Roy Kapur has been hogging all the limelight ever since his portrayal of Shaan Sengupta in the blockbuster web series The Night Manager. Now, in an interview with Filmfare, the actor has opened up about his initial days in the industry and on being faced with the question of nepotism. Talking to Filmfare, Aditya Roy Kapur said that he started in the industry by doing supporting roles hence nepotism didn't play a part in his journey as an actor.

He said, "I think people know that I have kind of made my way into the industry. I started with supporting roles in films my brothers weren't involved with. My journey has been a public one. People saw my career develop slowly. By the time I did my first leading role, I had already done three supporting parts. So I think that journey is clear for people to see."

On being asked about his auditioning experiences, Aditya Roy Kapur emphasised that rejection is a part of the auditioning process however, he noted that the process in itself was never scarring for him.

Talking to Filmfare, Aditya Roy Kapur said, "If you want to be an actor, I think rejection is part of the process. You better get used to it. The early days of auditioning were pretty much a lot of no. I used to audition for a lot of stuff but it's not like I knew for sure that I wanted to be an actor. I was an RJ and I was happy.  I was never really into films. For me, it happened by chance. I used to go to certain auditions because people used to call me now and then. And I would audition because you never know what opportunities would come. But I don't think those early years scarred me a lot."

Besides work, Aditya Roy Kapur is also trending big time with regard to his rumoured relationship with actress Ananya Panday. It so happened that, Ananya Panday watched Greta Gerwig's Barbie over the weekend and she was accompanied by the usual suspect - rumoured boyfriend Aditya Roy Kapur.

An Instagram user shared a video in which she can be seen clicking selfies with Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur from a movie hall that was screening the film. "Major fan girl moment during the Barbie movie with Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur," the fan captioned the post.

Check out the video posted by the fan here:

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Over the weekend, Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur were pictured together in a car, presumably on their way to watch the Barbie movie. See the viral picture from the same night here:

On the work front, Aditya Roy Kapur was last seen in the web series The Night Manager. He was seen alongside Sobhita Dhulipala and Anil Kapoor in the project. On the other hand, Ananya Panday was seen in Liger opposite Vijay Deverakonda.

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