Oil marketing companies (OMCs) have announced a price cut of Rs 33.50 for 19 kg commercial LPG cylinders, effective August 1. In Delhi, the revised retail price will be Rs 1,631.50. However, there is no change in the cost of 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinders. This marks yet another adjustment in a series of reductions over recent months. On July 1, the price of commercial LPG was slashed by Rs 58.50, bringing it down to Rs 1,665 per cylinder. Prior to that, OMCs had reduced prices by Rs 24 in June, Rs 41 in April, and Rs 7 in February. March had seen a marginal hike of Rs 6. The latest cut is expected to ease the financial burden on small businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and street food vendors that rely heavily on commercial LPG for their daily operations. While domestic usage accounts for nearly 90% of India’s total LPG consumption, the remaining 10% serves commercial, industrial, and automotive sectors. Domestic LPG prices tend to remain stable despite frequent revisions in commercial rates. According to an earlier report of The Economic Times, the average price of India’s crude oil basket fell to $64.5 per barrel in May 2025—its lowest in three years. This drop is expected to reduce LPG-related losses for OMCs by around 45% in the coming fiscal year. Since domestic gas pricing is linked to 10% of the crude oil basket, fluctuations in global oil rates significantly influence local fuel economics. India has seen rapid growth in household LPG adoption, with connections doubling over the last decade to reach nearly 33 crore households as of April 2025.
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Thursday, July 31, 2025
BJP Leader's Takedown Of Rahul Gandhi, Silent Thumbs Up For Shashi Tharoor
The number of Shashi Tharoor's sympathisers and admirers in the BJP shows an uptick as his disagreements with senior Congress leadership pile up. His latest supporter is Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai, who in a post on X today, drew a comparison between him and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over their comments on trade with the US and Donald Trump's imposition of 25 per cent tariff.
While Mr Gandhi asserted that the Indian economy is "dead", Mr Tharoor's response was nuanced. Mr Annamalai, while being vociferous in his takedown of Mr Gandhi, made his approval of Mr Tharoor's comments clear.
"I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's Interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters," read Mr Annamalai's post on the issue.
"When the world acknowledges India as the only bright spot on an otherwise dark horizon, here is the leader of the opposition who feels otherwise. LoP Thiru Rahul Gandhi avl continues to wear ignorance like a badge of honour. He is blind to India's rise, yet ever eager to echo foreign voices that undermine it," he added.
I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's Interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 31, 2025
When the world acknowledges India as the only bright spot on an otherwise dark horizon, here is the… pic.twitter.com/qejp39fAFF
Mr Tharoor said India has other options besides the US. "If we can't compete in America, we may have to diversify our markets outside of America. We are not out of options. If America is completely unreasonable with its demands, we have to move elsewhere. That is the strength of India; we are not a totally export-dependent economy like China," he said.
On the trade negotiations between the US and India, he said, "It is a challenging negotiation. We are negotiating with many countries. The US is not the only negotiation. We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal with the UK, and we are talking with other countries also... If a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away".
What had initially started as Shashi Tharoor's rift with the Kerala Congress has spread and a strong message came from Delhi when the career diplomat who had worked with the UN was not picked for the Centre's all-party delegations for the international outreach on Operation Sindoor.
It did not help when Mr Tharoor, in the run-up to the visit and after, was vocal with his support for Operation Sindoor.
While the Congress did not stop him from leading a team to the US, there have been criticism, there was speculation that the party was less than pleased after he was not picked to speak in the special debate in parliament about the operation. Sources, though, had said that Mr Tharoor was asked if he would speak and he had declined.
But earlier this week, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda took a dig at the Congress, saying the party is not allowing its own member and the noted orator to speak in Lok Sabha.
Even PM Modi took a dig at the Congress over this during his response to the discussion, speaking of "some (being) stopped from speaking in parliament" and "those who consider themselves the sons of Congress become unhappy if you praise India".
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Wednesday, July 30, 2025
"Ridiculously High": Hyderabad School's Rs 2.5 Lakh Fee For Nursery Goes Viral
A photo showing the fee structure of a private school in Hyderabad went viral on social media as it mentions that the annual fee for the nursery is Rs 2,51,000. Anuradha Tiwari, founder of the Dharma Party of India, shared the fee structure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which sparked debate over educational affordability and transparency for middle-income families in India.
Class- Nursery
— Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) July 30, 2025
Fees - Rs 2,51,000/-
Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month.
What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee? pic.twitter.com/DkWOVC28Qs
"Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month. What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee," she wrote in the caption.
Also Read | How Much Does It Cost To Study MBBS In Russia, Philippines, Kazakhstan
As per the school's fee structure, the fee for pre-primary I and II is Rs 2,42,700 annually. Meanwhile, the fee for classes 1 and 2 is Rs 2,91,460 annually.
Some netizens have expressed frustration over the high fees, questioning the logic behind such charges for early education. Meanwhile, some suggested simply avoiding such institutions.
"If one cannot afford the fees, don't send your kids to this school. Simple and straight," a user said.
"This entire process has become a sort of scam. Certain things need to be regulated effectively," another said.
"India needs to reform its education policy because the Board exams are easy, and competitive exams are hard, so then comes private coaching, and because of the private coaching, India's education fees and inflation are very high. A large number of people go to private coaching institutes, and private coaching institutes do as they want and increase the fees as per their own wish," a third user commented.
Nasr School hasn't responded to the online criticism.
Also Read | Maharashtra Woman Duped For Rs 1 Lakh In Currency Exchange Fraud: Cops
Recently, Ashish Singhal, co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn, discussed a similar issue of rising school fees for primary classes as he highlighted a report which stated that the fees are increasing by 10-30% every year, outpacing middle-class income growth.
In a LinkedIn post, Mr Singhal claimed that school expenses now consume nearly 19% of household income, and parents are even taking EMIs for kindergarten fees.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Cop Makes Mumbai Woman Wear Seat Belt, It Saves Her Life 15 Minutes Later
A couple survived a serious accident in the city thanks to a traffic policeman who had asked them to wear a seatbelt only fifteen minutes earlier.
The small act of vigilance earned constable Pravin Kshirsagar gratitude of the couple and a pat on the back from the Mumbai police commissioner.
Kshirsagar stopped Gautam Rohra and his wife on Saturday when their car reached the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), and pointed out that Rohra's wife was not wearing a seatbelt. She promptly put it on.
Later, as the couple were driving towards Andheri in heavy rain, Rohra lost control of the car while going down a slope.
The vehicle overturned twice and suffered significant damage, but both Gautam and his wife escaped with minor injuries as they were wearing seatbelts.
The couple later visited the BKC traffic outpost to thank constable Kshirsagar and his colleagues.
Gautam Rohra also shared the incident on social media, praising the Mumbai traffic police for their vigilance and life-saving intervention.
Police commissioner Deven Bharti too praised the constable in a post on X.
"Proud of PC Pravin Kshirsagar's timely intervention, his small yet crucial reminder helped save a life," the commissioner wrote.
"This accident is yet another stark reminder of how something as simple as wearing a seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death!" Bharti said.
Mumbai Traffic police tweeted, "We Don't Just Fine, We Also Ensure You Remain Fine! All it took was a seatbelt and PC Pravin Kshirsagar's small advice to save a life from a horrific accident."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Monday, July 28, 2025
Sunday, July 27, 2025
WTC Table After India vs England 4th Test: Shubman Gill And Co At...
India pulled off a gritty draw against England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday after a superb rearguard action. The Shubman Gill and Co., who had been 0-2 in their second innings, finished on 425 for 4 in reply to England's first-innings 669, with Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar all making hundreds before the teams shook hands in the final session on the last day. The result of the match, however, didn't impact the positions of India and England in the World Test Championship points table. The hosts remained at the third position while the visitors too held the fourth spot.
England still lead this five-match series 2-1 ahead of next week's finale at the Oval.
The Indian batters, including KL Rahul (90 off 230), Gill (103 off 238), Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out off 185) and Washington Sundar (101 not out off 206), showed terrific resilience to save the game for the side. This happened after England took a first-innings lead of 311 runs and then sent Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan back to the hut with India having zero runs on the board.
This match was a personal triumph for England captain Ben Stokes as he became just the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test, his 141 on Saturday following a haul of 5-72 in India's first-innings 358.
Stokes is now only the third cricketer in Test history to have both scored 7,000 Test runs and taken 200 wickets after outstanding West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.
But he appeared to be in pain while bowling Sunday, repeatedly clutching the top of his leg -- a worrying sign for England given the all-rounder's history of hamstring trouble.
England's Joe Root, meanwhile, leapfrogged former Australia captain Ricky Ponting into second place in Test cricket's list of all-time leading run-scorers while making 150 -- his 38th hundred at this level.
(With AFP Inputs)
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WCL Live: India Eye Solid Start After Bopara Helps Eng Set 224-Run Target
India Champions vs England Champions, WCL 2025 Live Updates: Desperate for a win, both India Champions and England Champions are playing against each other in the 13th game of World Championship of Legends in Leeds. India Champions captain Yuvraj Singh won the toss and opted to bowl first against England Champions. Varun Aaron dismissed Phil Mustard to provide India Champions an early wicket but Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara played solid knocks to put England in control. Bopara even went on to smash his century (110 in 55 balls), helping England post 223 for 3. India Champions eye a solid start in the chase of 224 runs. (Live Scorecard)
India Champions vs England Champions, World Championship of Legends match Live Updates -
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Saturday, July 26, 2025
Friday, July 25, 2025
Root Scripts World Record Surpassing Bradman, Becomes Batter With Most...
England's star batter Joe Root continues his terrific form in Test cricket. The right-handed batter smashed a sensational century on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test against India at Old Trafford, Manchester. The ton helped Root script a new world record, surpassing Australia great Don Bradman. Root became the player with most Test centuries against an opponent in home Tests. He now has 9 Test hundreds against India at home. Root has broken the record of Bradman, who had eight against England.
Root on Friday surpassed Australian legend Ricky Ponting's tally to become the second highest run-getter in the history of Test cricket and next in sight of the England batter is Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar who continues to head the list.
On the third day of the fourth Test against India here, Root first leapfrogged legendary Indian Rahul Dravid and South African great Jacques Kallis' aggregate of runs in a space of eight balls and then went past Ponting by steering the ball behind point for a single as the Old Trafford crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Ponting had scored 13378 runs in 168 matches at an average of 51.85, while Tendulkar continues to top the list with 15921 runs.
It was apt that Ponting was in the commentary box when Root went past him. The 34-year-old Root began his Test career with a 73-run knock on debut during England's tour of India back in 2012 at Nagpur.
"Congrats, Joe Root. Magnificent," a delighted Ponting, doing commentary alongside Ravi Shastri, hailed the Yorkshire man.
Root is playing in his 157th Test.
It was some sight as England skipper Ben Stokes, who was also in the middle, raised his bat even before Root could take off his helmet and acknowledged the cheers and applause from the crowd and the players Earlier, Root entered the history books by breaking the record of most Test centuries against India with his 12th hundred against the Asian giants, against whom he has played in 34 Tests so far.
Root had equalled Australian Steve Smith's record (11 centuries) in the third India-England Test at Lord's last week by scoring a hundred (104 runs from 199 balls) in the first innings.
Overall, the ton at Old Trafford was his 38th in red ball format as he joined former Sri Lanka star Kumar Sangakkara at fourth place in the list of centurions in the game's longest format.
Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45) and Ponting (41) are ahead of him in the hundred's list.
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Thursday, July 24, 2025
Slight Turn, Then Gone: Tractor Swept Away On Flooded Road In Odisha
After heavy rains triggered a flood-like situation in an Odisha town located on the banks of the Mahanadi, the state's largest river, a tractor overturned and was swept away, dragged into the swirling waters by the strong current in the flooded area.
The driver and another person in the tractor narrowly escaped as they managed to jump off just in time and swam to safety.
The incident occurred on the Manamunda-Sagada Road near the Kurumunda canal in Boudh district, about 224 km from the capital Bhubaneswar. The road was submerged under nearly four feet of floodwater due to heavy overnight rainfall.
According to reports, the Kurumunda canal overflowed during the night, with nearly five feet of water flowing over a small bridge.
Locals blamed the incident on poor infrastructure and the lack of barricades or warning signs.
Meanwhile, officials have urged commuters to avoid the route until water levels recede and have also issued safety advisories, especially for low-lying and flood-prone areas.
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Wednesday, July 23, 2025
5 Characters We Will Miss In Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Reboot
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot is returning to the small screen on July 29. The show, which is an integral part of India's popular culture, is creating a strong buzz with Smriti Irani AKA Tulsi Virani's grand return. Ahead of the show's premiere, let's have a quick look at the characters who will be MIA from the reboot version.
Baa (Sudha Shivpuri)
Sudha Shivpuri, with her affectionate charm, made the character of Baa one of the most loved ones from the show. Baa was the eldest member of the family, symbolising charm and wisdom. The character died a few episodes before the end of Kyunki Part 1. In real life, Sudha Shivpuri died in 2015.
Savita Virani (Apara Mehta)
Tulsi's mother-in-law Savita Virani was one of the strongest characters in the show. Her character also died in season one. She asked Tulsi to kill her by turning off the ventilator. Apara Mehta rose to fame with Ekta Kapoor's cult show.
Gautam Virani (Sumeet Sachdev)
Sumeet Sachdev played Tulsi's elder son in the show. From Gomzy to Gautam - the character made a fanbase on his own while navigating the journey. He will also be missing from action from the reboot version.
Payal (Jaya Bhattacharaya)
One of the most evil characters in the show, Payal, was popularized by Jaya Bhattacharya. She tried every possible way to cause harm to Tulsi. Jaya Bhattacharya worked for seven years for the show. The reboot version will probably have a new villain. We will miss you, Jaya.
Ansh (Akashdeep Saigal)
Tulsi killed her son Ansh, as he couldn't follow her ideals of truth and honesty. The OG bad boy of Indian television, Ansh, played by Akashdeep Saigal, won't be a part of the new season.
A bunch of new faces will also join the action in the new version. Rohit Suchanti, Shagun Sharma, Aman Gandhi will be a part of the show.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot will premiere from July 29, 2025, at 10:30 pm on StarPlus and will be available to stream online on JioHotstar. The series is produced by Ekta Kapoor and her mother, Shobha Kapoor, under the banner of Balaji Telefilms.
Also Read | Meet The Fresh Cast Of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi Reboot
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Tuesday, July 22, 2025
"Apologise": Court As Cop Gets Husband, Father-In-Law Jailed In False Cases
An IPS officer has been asked to issue an unconditional public apology to her former husband and in-laws for the "physical and mental agony" they underwent after she filed multiple criminal cases against them during a marital dispute. While ordering this, the Supreme Court also cancelled all the ongoing cases.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih also dissolved the marriage since the couple were separated since 2018. The court ordered that their daughter will stay with her mother and the husband and family members will be able to meet her.
In its verdict, the court said the husband had to spend 109 days and his father 103 days in jail due to criminal cases filed by the wife. "What they have suffered cannot be compensated in any way," the court said, ordering the officer to tender a public apology.
"The woman and her parents shall tender an unconditional apology to her husband and his family members, which shall be published in the national edition of a well-known English and a Hindi newspaper," said the judges.
This apology shall also be published and circulated on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other similar social media platforms within 3 days of the order, the judges said. It would not be construed as an admission of liability and shall have no effect on the legal rights, obligations or consequences arising under the law.
The court also asked the woman "not to use her position and power" or that of her colleagues to initiate any proceedings against the husband and his family. The husband was warned not to use her apology in any manner either.
The woman had filed separate criminal cases against the husband and his family and a parallel one in the family court for divorce and maintenance. Her husband too, had filed tit-for-tat cases. Besides, there were cases filed by third parties.
Both husband and wife had filed an application in the Supreme Court to transfer the cases to their respective jurisdiction.
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Philippines to pay 19% tariff: Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the Philippines will pay a 19% tariff rate following the conclusion of a trade deal with the United States. "It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff," Trump said after Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos visited the White House.
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Monday, July 21, 2025
Indian Techie Claims Boss Made Work Life A "Mess" For Rejecting His Proposal
An Indian tech professional has alleged that her European manager, who is married, began targeting her professionally after she rejected his romantic advances. In a viral Reddit post, the woman claimed that her married boss started delaying her salary and micromanaging her, turning her professional life "a mess." The employee, who works remotely for a small 10-employee company, alleged that her European manager confessed to having romantic feelings during a one-on-one call earlier this year. After she rejected him, he reportedly began throwing tantrums, negatively impacting her work life.
"Turns out he got hurt & told somebody, and that somebody moulded his mind or something, that he should let me go, that now this boss is throwing all sorts of tantrums at me, questioning my every move, work, etc. He even remarked, she doesn't work, just clocks in on time. I don't know if the person suggested letting me go emotionally, or if this boss just doesn't have enough balloons to own his feelings & is trying all sorts to get me out of the job because I broke his heart. I just want to keep things professional," the post read.
See the post here:
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community on Reddit
The woman further alleged that her manager displays jealous behaviour, particularly when she interacts with male colleagues. He frequently checks in on her when she's offline, questioning her well-being. Professionally, she has faced challenges, including delayed salaries, tasks outside her role, and public reprimands for mistakes she didn't make, suggesting that he's using work-related issues to express personal resentment.
"Apparently, he may have developed feelings as early as December, and instead of handling it maturely, he's now making things difficult for me professionally. Earlier, he had given me a couple of days off without deducting leave — I thought it was because of my performance and loyalty, but now I wonder if it was something else," he added.
Due to her current role's flexibility, which allows her to spend more time with her family, she's unable to consider switching jobs despite the toxic work environment. "I've held on to this job mainly because it's remote, gives me flexibility with family responsibilities, and is financially efficient (lower taxes, etc.). But this emotional back-and-forth is becoming unbearable. The job market is not great right now, so switching is tough," she added.
Many expressed solidarity with her and criticised the company's handling of the situation. One user said, "The best thing for you to do would perhaps be to prepare for packing your bags from here and joining somewhere else. Since he is your boss, even POSH will not be taken seriously because HRs work for companies and not for employees. I know what I am suggesting sounds like running, but we are just bunnies in this world, and we gotta act in our interests. Start preparing and switch if possible."
Another commented, "Pick up your stuff and leave the company, now it will become more toxic than ever with this in, protect your mental wellbeing."
A third added, "Job switch is the only option. That is the sad reality."
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Sunday, July 20, 2025
India Star Out Of England Tour As Injury Troubles Continue To Mount: Sources
India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is set to be ruled for the remainder of the ongoing England tour. This comes as another blow for Team India ahead of the Manchester Test, starting July 23, with pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep also doubtful for the game at Old Trafford having picked up injuries while training. Sources have told NDTV that Reddy has been ruled out for the remaining matches as he has suffered a knee injury while training at the gym, with scans later revealing a ligament tear.
So far, Reddy has played played two matches after missing out the opener in Leeds. His performances have been far from impressive.
In the second Test at Edbaston, he scored a solitary run in both the innings and also failed to pick up a wicket.
In the third Test at Lord's, with Reddy managed 43 runs across both the innings and picked up three wickets.
The sources also confirmed that Reddy skipped the nets on Sunday, alongside Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar.
On Sunday, the Indian players and head coach Gautam Gambhir met with the Manchester United players at the Red Devils' training facility.
During the meet-up, Team India vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant gifted a signed bat to Manchester United football team captain Bruno Fernandes.
India's right-arm seamer Mohammed Siraj was also bowling to a Manchester United defender, Harry Maguire. However, Reddy was nowhere to be spotted.
Anshul Kamboj has been added to the squad as an injury replacement and was spotted with the rest of the Indian team as they met Fernandes and co.
Recapping the Lord's Test of the ongoing series, an unfortunate dismissal of Mohammed Siraj at the hands of Shoaib Bashir, with the ball rolling back into the stumps after a landing on the pitch, marked the end of India's stubborn resistance at Lord's, with Ravindra Jadeja left stranded following a heartbreaking 22-run loss.
India lost the match despite dominating England for large parts of the game, with Jasprit Bumrah being one of the standout performers. He took seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings.
(With ANI Inputs)
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Why Was India vs Pakistan WCL 2025 Match Cancelled - Explained
A veterans' cricket match in Birmingham involving India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends was cancelled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to be a part of it citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The second edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tournament, which is co-owned by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn, started on June 18 at Edgbaston here and is scheduled for an August 2 final. World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh is the captain of the India Champions, while the squad also features the likes of Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Varun Aaron among others.
The WCL organisers shared a statement on their X account, detailing the decision of cancellation and said their intention while conducting the match was to recreate some "happy memories." "After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.
"But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions," the WCL statement read.
The Pakistan team has in its ranks captain Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal among a host of yesteryear players.
The organisers also apologised for "unintentionally causing discomfort" to Indian legends.
"Hence, we have decided to call off the India-Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans," it read.
Former India opener Dhawan also shared a statement on X, announcing his stand not to participate in the match against Pakistan.
"This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025," read his statement.
Dhawan made it clear that he has taken the call in view of the current "geopolitical" situation between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack and the ensuing Operation Sindoor carried out by the country.
Operation Sindoor had led to a brief military showdown between the two arch foes before India agreed to halt its operations on Pakistan's request for a cease fire. "In view of the current geopolitical situation and the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration.
"We respectfully request the league's understanding and cooperation on this matter," he said in the statement.
Off-spin legend Harbhajan, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Yusuf, who is also a Member of Parliament, and Irfan too have conveyed their decision to boycott the match against Pakistan, though they are yet to issue a statement in this regard.
The players received a lot of flak on social media for agreeing to the play against the Pakistan team.
India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the inaugural edition of the six-team legends tournament last year in Edgbaston.
While India does not engage with Pakistan in any bilateral sporting activities because of the existing geopolitical scenario, the two nations often meet each other at various levels of competitions featuring Olympic sports.
In fact, the Indian government has given its approval for Pakistan's participation in several major events to be hosted in India this year, including the Hockey Asia Cup (August), Junior Hockey World Cup (November–December), Junior Shooting World Cup (September), and the World Para Athletics Championships (October).
The reason being that any move to block Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, would have been a violation of the Olympic charter, which is like a constitution for the Olympic Movement.
Rule 44 of the Charter specifically prohibits National Olympic Committees from excluding athletes based on "racial, religious or political reasons". Failure to grant visas can lead to "international isolation and loss of hosting rights for future events." In cricket, India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral series, limiting their face-offs to global ICC events such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy.
A hybrid hosting model was introduced during this year's Champions Trophy, under which India played its matches at a neutral venue — Dubai — while the rest of the tournament was held in Pakistan.
Following that precedent, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo during the Women's ODI World Cup this year. The tournament is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
However, the men's Asia Cup, tentatively set for September in the T20 format, remains in uncertainty as venue for the India-Pakistan clash is yet to be identified.
The BCCI has said unequivocally that it will not attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting, intended to thrash out a working model, if it is held in Dhaka.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Saturday, July 19, 2025
American Woman Reveals 10 Ways India Changed Her Life: 'Since Coming Here...'
An American woman living has gone viral on social media after she shared a list of ways in which her life had changed since coming to India four years ago. Content creator Kristen Fischer took to her Instagram to share a video, listing 10 reasons for the transformation as she adapted to Indian culture.
Ms Fischer said these changes, which included turning vegetarian, learning to cook Indian food and bargaining whilst shopping, had enriched her life. In the video, she could be seen enjoying her stay in the country with her daughters, wearing sarees as well as riding the Delhi Metro.
Here are the 10 things Ms Fischer listed in her viral video:
- I have learned to cook many different types of Indian food.
- In the USA I never used public transportation, everyone just has their own car. But in India, I use it all the time.
- I have started to wear Indian clothes. I love the fashions and the feel of the clothes here.
- No more week-old produce...now I buy fresh and locally sourced food from street vendors.
- I became a vegetarian, and it is surprisingly easy here. India offers so much variety to vegetarian food.
- I drive a scooter. In the USA scooters are actually illegal on most roads so nobody uses them.
- One of the most notable changes I made after coming to India was learning to speak Hindi.
- I send my kids to a private school in India and I believe they are getting a great education.
- I go bargain shopping at outdoor markets. I love the feeling of bargaining prices and getting good deals on things.
- I have fully adapted to the jet spray and, let me tell you, I am never going back.
Watch the video here:
As the video went viral, social media users lauded Ms Fischer for adapting to the Indian lifestyle and being receptive to the changes in her life.
"Ruskin Bond came from England and stayed in India. Has written so much. You are the new Ruskin Bond," said one user while another added: "Cheers to you for making the transition in India joyfully and absorbing the culture with positivity."
A third commented: "Thanks for all the respect you've shown for our country."
In a previous video, Ms Fischer, a mother of four, said she does not "regret" her decision to set base in India, where she has met incredible people and seen amazing places.
"We moved our family to India 4 years ago and haven't regretted it a bit. In these past 4 years I have met some amazing people, seen some incredible places, had some awesome food, and changed my heart forever," said Ms Fischer.
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Friday, July 18, 2025
Why India's airlines draw passenger flak
Flights are a part of life for many even in India, especially those who commute between cities daily or several times a week. Although statistically minimal, glitches do happen in these trips, from delays, long queues and baggage mishandling to bad service, shabby infrastructure and, most annoying of all, 'technical issues'. But there are two compounding factors across all airlines: lack of or inadequate responsiveness and training of people-facing staff.Last week my flight from Delhi to Kolkata underlined that conclusively. We boarded on time, doors shut on time, the pilot made a cheery announcement about our imminent takeoff and estimated arrival in Kolkata. But our aircraft, by then proceeding towards the runway, suddenly turned to the left and halted at a parking bay on the apron. Then the captain announced a 'technical issue', a statement fraught with dread given what happened last month in Ahmedabad.He said it would soon be corrected but it was just the opposite. The airstairs stood around for quite a while before linking with the plane for engineers to board. Then the cabin crew drew the curtains, making everything even more mysterious-and scary. With no updates from the cockpit as two hours went by, passenger unease kept rising. Many inquisitive ones kept walking up the aisle to investigate. And then a senior bureaucrat along with two colleagues insisted on deplaning.Passengers then became even more restive: why would government officials want to get off unless there was something seriously wrong, they thought. With no information or reassurance forthcoming from anyone in the know, anxiety kept growing. More passengers went to the front, some to inquire, others to argue and some to just watch the 'tamasha'. Periodically, one would return to relay the latest, but still no timeline on takeoff, or the seriousness of the fault.Finally, the captain did speak: to announce a change of aircraft! A junior airline employee said we would not go to the terminal but be taken straight to another aircraft. He was wrong. We were disgorged there and taken through cramped security check counters and thence to another departure gate where water, juice and tubs of rajma-chawal arrived. But there was no manager, just frazzled juniors and several delayed text messages about the new departure times.By then it was three hours past our scheduled take-off time and the elderly as well as children were clearly stressed, and their carers even more so. Here, words of reassurance from a senior manager would have calmed nerves all round, but there was silence. Self-appointed passenger 'leaders' therefore subjected junior staffers to tongue-lashings, some justifiable, but most just instances of venting emotions. Finally, it was time to board again: same cabin crew, different pilots.When we took off from Delhi, it was already two hours past the time we were originally scheduled to have landed in Kolkata. By then passengers were all on backslapping terms, bonded by anxiety; it was as if friends were going on an adventure together. The pilot was more communicative this time, apologising and reassuring us that we would be in Kolkata in two hours-and we were. But the saga would have been much more bearable with adroit communication.The world's best airlines are those that score high on passenger experience based on punctuality and efficient, empathetic, responsive staff. Also, captains do not just pilot planes, passengers look to them for information and reassurance. This trip scored low on all counts. Budget or full fare, Indian airline managements' attitude towards customers is standoffish and ground staff are clueless about standard procedures. India has changed hugely; why haven't airlines?
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"Yeh Andar Ki Baat Hai": Uddhav Thackeray On D Fadnavis' 'Offer'
Uddhav Thackeray has responded to an 'offer' by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that has sparked huge speculation.
The two former allies - one who headed the Shiv Sena before it broke into two factions, and the other from the BJP - made comments that appeared like signalling for something significant.
Mr Fadnavis, however, cleared the air. It was a joke, he said, referring to his comment that "Uddhav ji" has the scope to reunite with the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
"Uddhav ji, there is no scope (for a change in government) till 2029. We do not have the scope to come to the other (Opposition's) side. You have the scope to come here, and it can be thought about. We can think about it differently," the chief minister had said.
To a question by reporters on Friday, Mr Fadnavis said, "Why do you take our jokes seriously? Even Uddhav ji has said it was said in a lighter note. Don't take our tension. We (Mahayuti) are capable and competent."
Mr Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT), also met the chief minister on Thursday, a development that led to a buzz over something in the works.
Later, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya Thackeray said his father met Mr Fadnavis to discuss the Marathi language issue, which has been in the news in recent times.
Mr Thackeray met Mr Fadnavis in the chamber of legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde. Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray was also present in the meeting that lasted for about half-an-hour.
On Friday, when reporters asked Uddhav Thackeray about Mr Fadnavis' offer, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, "Before speaking to you, I was speaking to the print media. I spoke about the chaddi baniyan gang. Chaddi baniyans also have an advertisement - yeh andar ki baat hai."
The "chaddi baniyan" reference was to a comment by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar who in the assembly said the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has fostered a culture of violence, misgovernance and corruption, turning Maharashtra into a "20 per cent commission" state.
"While koyta gangs (gangs wielding 'koyta' knives) wreaked havoc in Pune, the ruling party has its own chaddi baniyan gang who resort to violence if things do not go their way," Mr Wadettiwar said.
The undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray parted ways with longtime ally BJP after the 2019 assembly election over a dispute on sharing the chief minister's post.
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He Changed Colours Like Chameleon: Eknath Shinde On Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday hit out at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of betraying his ally Devendra Fadnavis in 2019.
Replying to the opposition's last week's motion in the legislative council, Mr Shinde said, without naming Mr Thackeray, that Mr Fadnavis made "40-50 calls" after the alliance of the undivided Shiv Sena and BJP retained its majority in the 2019 assembly elections.
But there was no response (from Thackeray) to the BJP leader's calls, said Mr Shinde.
"Maharashtra has never seen a chameleon changing colours so fast. He went with those whom he once considered lowly," Shinde said in an apparent reference to Thackeray joining hands with the Congress after severing the alliance with the BJP.
It was because of his (Shinde's) request that Fadnavis had agreed to cede the post of Mumbai's mayor to the Shiv Sena in 2017 after the Sena won 84 seats and the BJP 82 in the civic polls, Shinde said.
"But he (Thackeray) betrayed Fadnavis in 2019 (by walking out of the alliance)," he added.
Mr Shinde also claimed that while he and rebel Sena MLAs supporting him were camping in Guwahati in 2022 after rebelling against Mr Thackeray, the latter approached him for reconciliation, and at the same time told the BJP leadership in Delhi not to support the rebel group.
Notably, Mr Shinde's reminder of Mr Thackeray 'betraying' Fadnavis and the BJP in 2019 came a day after the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief met the Maharashtra Chief Minister. A day earlier, Mr Fadnavis, in a tongue-in-cheek remark in the House, had asked Mr Thackeray to come over to the ruling side.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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WCL Live: Mustard, Bell Keep Two-Down England Champions Going In Chase
Pakistan Champions vs England Champions Live Updates, World Championship of Legends 2025: Phil Mustard and Ian Bell aim to keep two-down England Champions going in the chase of 161 runs against Pakistan Champions at at Edgbaston, Birmingham. James Vince and Alastair Cook are back to the hut. Earlier, Pakistan Champions posted 160 for 9 in 20 overs. Mohammad Hafeez scored 54 and Aamer Yamin slammed 27 not out off 13 but other Pakistan batters failed to impress. Liam Plunkett and Chris Tremlett were pick of the bowlers with two wickets each. England Champions captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and opted to bowl first. (Live Scorecard)
Here are the Live Score and Updates from Pakistan Champions vs England Champions, World Championship of Legends 2025 game -
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Thursday, July 17, 2025
Airtel’s revenue market share hits nearly 40%
Bharti Airtel's revenue market share (RMS) touched a record around 40% in FY25, growing 178 basis points on-year, for its mobile services business even as its vice chairman Gopal Vittal called for further "tariff repair" for a sustainable return on capital employed. Airtel's strong revenue growth was supported by an improved portfolio mix, continued premiumisation and tariff repair across our mobile pricing plans, the company said in its annual report released Thursday.During FY25, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal drew an annual remuneration of Rs 32.55 crore, an increase of 0.89% over the previous fiscal. Vice Chairman and Vittal, also the managing director, drew an annual salary of Rs 20.2 crore, a 9.14% increase over last year. The company paid Rs 37,300 crores in license fee and spectrum usage charges to the state exchequer. It additionally paid Rs 28,900 towards spectrum obligations, including annual and prepayment of past spectrum dues in FY2025."Over the past five years, Airtel's contribution to the Exchequer is nearly Rs 2.5 trillion, reflecting our commitment to national development," chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said in the annual report.Airtel's revenue grew 17.9% on-year in FY25 to Rs 1.25 lakh crore with an EBITDA of Rs 57,909 crore, resulting in a lifetime-high revenue market share. "In mobility, we delivered a record-high revenue market share of ~40 percent and added over 9.3 million newcustomers in FY 2024-25," vice chairman and managing director Gopal Vittal said in the report.The second-largest telecom operator had added 24 million net 4G/5G customers in FY25 even as its ARPU (average revenue per user), a key performance metric, increased by Rs 36 to Rs 245 during the period."Our focus remains on growing our postpaid base, driving smartphone upgrades and expanding international roaming penetration," Vittal said.He added that while the much-awaited tariff repair took place in July 2024, there is need for further repair to ensure sustainable improvement in return on capital employed. Chairman Sunil Mittal said Airtel's coverage across the country further expanded in FY25 with the deployment of over 20,000 network sites and over 44,000 kilometers of fiber."I am also pleased to share that your Company is fully ready to transition to a standalone 5G network. This will happen when 5G becomes the mainstay wireless technology, while we continue to conduct pilot testing," Mittal said.Airtel closed the previous fiscal with over 135 million 5G users, compared to 72 million last year, reflecting rapid adoption and network expansion, the company said. The telco offers 5G services through a non-standalone architecture, which it said was a calculated decision resulting in significant savings in capex and network operating expenses. "This has enabled Airtel to deliver 5G services at the lowest TCO (Total cost of ownership)," Mittal said.Airtel's Africa business faced macroeconomic headwinds but delivered a resilient performance in FY25. "The business continued its steady growth momentum , recording underlying constant currency revenue growth of 21% and EBITDA growth of 18%," Mittal said. "Airtel Africa’s balance sheet remains healthy, with comfortable leverage. The majority of debt is now denominated in local currencies, effectively mitigating exposure to forex volatility," he added. The company's broadband business also gained momentum in India, adding 2.4 million new broadband customers, driven by its launch of fixed wireless services (FWA) in more than 2,500 cities. Airtel also achieved record high market share in the DTH (Direct to Home) industry, despite industry headwinds. "We are making structural changes to our DTH business by eliminating subsidies, which will benefit cash flow," Vittal said.Airtel's B2B segment, however, saw slow overall growth, Vittal said, due to the company's deliberate shift away from low-margin, commodity business.Airtel had 13,593 permanent employees and 71,861 non-permanent workers as of March 31, 2025.
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"These Are Not 2 People On Tinder Date": Expert Defends Dreamliner Pilots
Serious pilots in India who are closely watching the unfolding events linked to the investigation into the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner are upset about the whole situation due to a perceived slant towards blaming the pilots, a top aviation expert and a pilot himself told NDTV on Thursday.
Captain Sam Thomas, who heads the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), said two things are bothering serious experts who have been tracking the investigation - speculation, and alleged absence of any qualified expert in the report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
"As far as speculation is concerned, we are okay with the media speculating. We believe speculation is a good part of investigative journalism. However, we object to pilots or so-called pilots or so-called experts who came on board and speculate," Mr Thomas told NDTV.
"On day one, they said it's a bird hit. On day two, they said it's an overloaded airplane. On day three, they said something else. What we are objecting to is why did you call them on day four? You called them on day five, six, till such time that they insinuated this is something the captain has done with a motive to end his own life, which is farthest from the truth," Mr Thomas said.
He said they don't believe the report "is completely Indian controlled", that it seemed like "a dictated sort of letter".
"And you released that in the middle of the night. You cannot even get the full form of FADEC correctly. And you cannot get the issue date of [pilot] Sumit's licence correct. How do I expect you to go through the entire report? I don't want to see past those three lines. And you have released one line selectively at the order of somebody. Now, we don't know who said to whom. And there is a tonality to a conversation. These are not two people on a Tinder date. So please be responsible," Mr Thomas said.
He said they would like to go through the entire report or the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) to throw better light, rather than using people who are non-technical and from a non-civilian background.
On a report by the Wall Street Journal that appeared to question the pilot's actions, Mr Thomas said it is likely the American newspaper has been "fed that information".
"... And it's our fault. It's not their fault. If I were to be heading this committee, I would have sat there and given a piece of paper to each of those NTSB and Boeing investigators and said, 'sign this, whatever goes out of this room goes out through me and not through anybody else. If you cannot maintain that confidentiality, get out of here'," Mr Thomas said.
"[But] they have set the narrative in such a calculated manner that no matter what proof I give you, they will still nail the pilot. They have already done that. Half the world thinks that, and half the world thinks Indian pilots are morons. This has happened because of the shoddy investigation and the shoddy way things have proceeded in India."
He referred to the Boeing 737 MAX controversy over the MCAS-linked crashes.
"... With the 737 Max crash, what about the first crash? If you had woken up at that time and had a conscience, you would have said, hey, I need something to set my airplane. All right. You kept quiet. Unfortunately, the Ethiopian accident happened.
"Luckily, the Ethiopians were much more intelligent than all of us. They did their in-house investigation and that's when it came out that you could not avoid the existence of MCAS, which is a renegade system that crashes your airplane. So there are many, many vested interests, not just one. Let's not just look at the OEM or some investigating body. Everybody who is not telling the truth has something to gain. And this is the narrative that is being told," the veteran pilot told NDTV.
The Air India Boeing 787 crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 260 people.
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Wednesday, July 16, 2025
ICC Punishes England For Slow Over-rate vs India, Shastri Says: "Focus On..."
With England being docked two points in the WTC rankings for slow over rate during their thrilling win at Lord's, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said the Ben Stokes-led side can make up for their points deduction if their focus remains on winning matches. On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said two points have been cut from England's World Test Championship (WTC) tally and have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee. Subsequently, England's tally in the WTC standings has dropped from 24 to 22 out of 36 points, with their points percentage going from 66.67 per cent to 61.11 per cent.
As a result, England has slipped from second to third position in the WTC points table, with Sri Lanka now overtaking them to claim the second spot, and be just behind table toppers Australia.
In context of this, Shastri also pointed how in 2019-21 WTC cycle, Australia were docked four points for their ordinary over rate against India in the 2020 Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
“It hurts as Australia found out in the first cycle of the World Test Championship. They had a slow over rate against India and it cost them the second place and Zealand qualified for that final. So you've got to be fully aware about all this. There'll be certain games where they'll probably make up for it,” said Shastri in a video posted on ICC's Instagram account on Wednesday.
With this still happening at the nascent stage of their WTC cycle 2025-27, Shastri feels England will have a lot of chances to win games and get points which can offset the loss of those two points – starting from the fourth Test against India, which begins on July 23 in Manchester.
"But I think more than the over rate, you have to think of winning. If you focus on winning, then come the last six months, you can probably try and adjust, see how you can get those two points back or something of that sort. But you've got to win, that's more important. Because if you keep winning, that won't matter," he added.
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"Won't Keep A Single Rupee" Singer On Radhika Yadav's Music Video
Independent artiste Inaam Ul Haq, who featured in a music video with tennis player Radhika Yadav, today shared a post on Instagram about the backlash he has been receiving after her death. Ms Yadav was allegedly killed by her father, and as per one of the many theories around the motive of the murder, she was killed over the music video, 'Karwaan'. The claim was earlier rejected by Inaam, who said the 25-year-old told him that her father liked the music video.
Today, he shared that many people were saying that he is "gaining fame because of what happened to Radhika. That my song Karwaan is trending, and I'll earn from it."
The video went viral after Radhika Yadav's murder.
The singer said that he "will not keep a single rupee" from the money he would be earning from the song: "Whatever I receive from Karwaan - whether monthly royalties from or revenue, I won't keep a single rupee".
The video is by Inaam, produced by Zeeshan Ahmad and released under the LLF Records label a year ago.
He said every payment for the song will "go towards helping the poor, feeding the hungry, supporting the helpless, and doing something meaningful".
"If even one sincere prayer comes from someone I've helped, and it brings peace to her soul, that's more than enough for me. This isn't about numbers. Not about fame. Just a small gesture in someone's memory," he said.
"I've always worked with honesty and respect. I never wanted attention this way. And I never will. Rest in peace, Radhika. You'll always be remembered," he added.
Earlier, Inam-ul-Haq, had said that he had no connection to her murder and had not been in touch with her after the video shoot.
Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead at point-blank range by her father Deepak Yadav at the family's double-storey home at Sushant Lok area in Sector 57, Gurugram on July 10.
He reportedly confessed to the police that he shot her because he was often taunted for living off her income.
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Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Dravid's Son Samit Goes Unsold In T20 League Auction, Padikkal Top Buy At...
The fourth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) T20 auction saw Indian international batter Devdutt Padikkal lead the charts as the most expensive player of the day, picked up by the Hubli Tigers for Rs 13.20 lakh. Abhinav Manohar and Manish Pandey followed closely behind, attracting bids of Rs 12.20 lakh each from the Hubli Tigers and Mysuru Warriors, respectively. Among the bowlers, Shivamogga Lions went big for pacer Vidwath Kaverappa at Rs 10.80 lakh, while Bengaluru Blasters shelled out Rs 8.30 lakh for strike bowler Vidyadhar Patil, underlining the premium on wicket-takers this season, as per a press release from KSCA.
Earlier, it was reported that Rahul Dravid's son Samit was part of Category C, designated for junior state players, in the auction. However, in the final list of sold players he was absent.
— Karnataka Sports Fans (@karnataka_sport) July 15, 2025
Mysuru Warriors placed a strong emphasis on all-rounders with the addition of K Gowtham for 4.40 lakh, while Yashovardhan Parantap was roped in for 2.00 lakh. The Warriors further bolstered their bowling with the signing of last season's joint leading wicket-taker Kumar LR (1.50 lakh), left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty for a hefty 4.70 lakh, pacer Venkatesh M (2.00 lakh), and Gowtham Mishra (2.25 lakh) as well. They further reinforced the top order with promising wicketkeeper-batter Harshil Dharmani (3.20 lakh).
Bengaluru Blasters had a slow start with no signings in Category A. Their first move came with the acquisition of Chethan LR for 5.10 lakh, a notable pick, having fetched the highest price in last season's auction. They secured strike bowler Vidyadhar Patil for 8.30 lakh. They continued to stack their batting with the fluent Rohan Patil (2.70 lakh) and spent big on spin by securing Rohan Naveen for 4.25 lakh, followed by the exciting 16-year-old Madhav Prakash Bajaj for 3.15 lakh.
Hubli Tigers, holding the biggest purse going into the day, made big moves with the signings of Padikkal and Abhinav Manohar. The experienced Mohammad Taha was brought in to strengthen the top order for 4.60 lakh, while young pacer Samarth Nagaraj joined the ranks for 3.20 lakh.
Gulbarga Mystics targeted key roles with precision. They brought in wicketkeeper-batter KV Siddharth for 6.10 lakh to shore up the middle order and added right-arm fast bowler Monish Reddy for 4.65 lakh, giving their pace unit a boost. The Mystics were the most active in the final phase of the auction, scooping up last season's top wicket-taker, Lavish Kaushal, for 7.75 lakh and Nikin Jose for 1 Lakh.
Shivamogga Lions also made a significant investment in young all-rounder Aneeshwar Gautam for 8.20 lakh. They reinforced their squad with the addition of experienced Anirudha Joshi (3.60 lakh), and leg-spinner Deepak Devadiga (1.20 lakhs).
Mangaluru Dragons were active from the outset, leading their haul with the high-profile signing of Shreyas Gopal for 8.60 lakh. They showed faith in Melu Kranthi Kumar, splashing 5.60 lakh on the all-rounder. They reinforced their bowling with seasoned pacer Ronit More (3.40 lakh) and Abhishek Prabhakar for 3.07 lakh and also added batting options in Sharath BR (2.20 lakh) and Shivraj S (6.55 lakh). They brought in wicketkeeper Adarsh Prajwal for 3.25 lakh, rounding off their haul.
Each team will make two more additions to their squads with players from their respective catchment areas. The players marked with (*) are retained players.
Mysore Warriors Squad: Karthik S U* (0.50 lakh), Karthik CA* (4.20 lakh), Prasidh Krishna* (2.00 lakh), Karun Nair* (6.80 lakh), Manish Pandey (12.20 lakh), Gowtham K (4.40 lakh), Yashovardhan Parantap (2.00 lakh), Venkatesh M (2.00 lakh), Harshil Dharmani (3.20 lakh), Lankesh KS (0.50 lakh), Kumar LR (1.50 lakh), Goutham Mishra (2.25 lakh), Shikhar Shetty (4.70 lakh), Sumit Kumar (1.00 lakh), Dhanush Gowda (0.50 lakh), Kushaal M Wadhwani (0.50 lakh), Sharath Srinivas (1.00 lakh), Shamanth SM (0.50 lakh)
Bengaluru Blasters Squad: Mayank Agarawal* (14.00 lakh), Shubhang Hegde* (4.30 lakh), Suraj Ahuja* (1.00 lakh), Naveen MG* (2.30 lakh), A Rohan Patil (2.70 lakh), Chetan L R (5.10 lakh), Mohsin Khan (1.00 lakh), Vidyadhar Patil (8.30 lakh), Siddharth Akhil (0.50 lakh), Madhav Prakash Bajaj (3.15 lakh), Rohan Naveen (4.25 lakh), Kruthik Krishna (0.50 lakh), Advith M Shetty (0.25 lakh), Bhuvan Mohan Raju (0.25 lakh), Rohan M Raju (0.25 lakh), Niranjan Naik (0.25 lakh), Prateek Jain (1.00 lakh), Ishaan S (0.50 lakh)
Gulbarga Mystics: Luvnith Sisodia* (7.20 lakh), Pravin Dubey* (6.80 lakh), Vyshak V* (8.80 lakh), Smaran R* (3.15 lakh), Siddharth KV (6.10 lakh), Monish Reddy (4.65 lakh), Lavish Kaushal (7.75 lakh), Prithviraj (0.69 lakh), Harsha Wardhan Khuba (0.25 lakh), Sheetal Kumar (0.25 lakh), Jasper EJ (0.50 lakh), Mohith BA (0.50 lakh), Faizan Raiz (0.25 lakh), Sourab M Muttur (0.25 lakh), SJ Nikin Jose (1.00 lakh), Prajwal Pavan (0.50 lakh), Younus Ali Baig (0.25 lakh), Likhit M Bannur (0.80 lakh)
Hubli Tigers Squad: Manvanth Kumar L* (1.00 lakh), Shrijith KL* (2.10 lakh), KC Cariappa * (4.20 lakh), Karthikeya KP* (1.20 lakh), Abhinav Manohar (12.20 lakh), Devdutt Padikkal (13.20 lakh), Mohammed Taha (4.60 lakh), Vijayaraj B (0.50 lakh), Prakhar Chaturvedi (0.50 lakh), Sankalp SS (0.50 lakh), Samarth Nagaraj (3.20 lakh), Rakshith S (0.50 lakh), Nithin Shanthaveri Nagaraja (0.25 lakh), Yash Raj Punja (0.25 lakh), Ritesh L Bhatkal (1.00 lakh), Shreesha S Achar (1.05 lakh), Nathan Joachim Francis Dmello (0.25 lakh), Nischith Pai (0.50 lakh)
Shivamogga Lions Squad: Vasuki Koushik * (5.90 lakh), Nihal Ullal* (2.10 lakh), Hardik Raj* (5.80 lakh), Avinash D* (5.40 lakh), Vidwath Kaverappa (10.80 lakh), Anirudha Joshi (3.60 lakh), Aneeshwar Gautam (8.20 lakh), Dhruv Prabhakar (0.50 lakh), Sanjay Ashwin C (0.50 lakh), Anand Doddamani (0.50 lakh), Sahil Sharma (0.25 lakh), Deepak Devadiga (1.20 lakh), Bharath Dhuri (0.25 lakh), Rohit Kumar K (0.25 lakh), Tushar Singh (1.05 lakh), Darshan MB (1.10 lakh), Maribasava Chandrashekhar Gowda (0.25 lakh), Sireesh Balgaar (0.25 lakh)
Mangaluru Dragons Squad: Paras Gurbax Arya* (0.50 lakh), Macneil Hadley Noronha* (5.00 lakh), Lochan S Gowda* (0.55 lakh), Abhilash Shetty* (6.30 lakh), Sharath BR (2.20 lakh), Ronit More (3.40 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (8.60 lakh), Melu Kranthi Kumar (5.60 lakh), Sachin Shinde (1.00 lakh), Aneesh KV (1.00 lakh), Thippa Reddy (0.80 lakh), Aaditya Nair (1.10 lakh), Aadarsh Prajwal (3.25 lakh), Abhishek Prabhakar (3.07 lakh), Shivaraj S (6.55 lakh), Pallav Kumar Das (1.00 lakh).
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Monday, July 14, 2025
Trump Threatens "Very Severe Tariffs" On Russia If No Ukraine Deal
US President Donald Trump on Monday told Russia to resolve its Ukraine war within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions as he laid out plans for new infusions of weaponry for Kyiv.
"We're very, very unhappy" with Russia, Trump told reporters as he met with NATO chief Mark Rutte in the White House.
"We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100 percent," said Trump, adding that they would be "secondary tariffs" that target Russia's remaining trade partners -- thereby seeking to cripple Moscow's ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions.
Trump and Rutte also unveiled a deal under which the NATO military alliance would buy arms from the United States -- including Patriot anti-missile batteries -- and then distribute them to Ukraine to help it battle Russia's invasion.
"This is billions of dollars worth of military equipment is going to be purchased from the United States, going to NATO... and that's going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield," Trump said.
Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, said Ukraine would get "massive numbers" of weapons under the deal.
Trump launched a bid at rapprochement with Putin shortly after starting his second term in January, as he sought to honor his election campaign promise to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.
His pivot towards Putin sparked fears in Kyiv that he was about to sell out Ukraine, especially after Trump and his team berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in February.
'Assassin'
But Trump has shown growing anger and frustration with Putin in recent weeks as the Russian leader, instead of halting his three-year invasion, instead stepped up attacks.
Trump added of Putin on Monday: "I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy."
Last week, Trump had teased an announcement on Monday on Russia. He then announced on Sunday that he would send vital Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine to help it fend off escalating barrages of Russian attacks.
Washington has also U-turned from an announcement earlier this month that it would pause some arms deliveries to Kyiv.
Rutte's visit to the White House is the first since the former Dutch prime minister described Trump as "daddy" at a NATO summit in The Hague in June.
Moscow has unleashed record waves of drone and missile strikes over the past few weeks, with the number of Ukrainian civilians killed or wounded in June hitting a three-year high, according to UN figures.
Trump's announcement on Monday came as his special envoy Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv to meet Zelensky.
Zelensky hailed the "productive meeting", saying they had discussed "strengthening Ukraine's air defense, joint production, and procurement of defense weapons in collaboration with Europe."
The Ukrainian leader also said he was "grateful to President Trump for the important signals of support and the positive decisions for both our countries."
'Better late than never'
One Ukrainian soldier deployed in the war-scarred east of the country, who identified himself by his call sign Grizzly, welcomed Trump's promise of fresh air defense systems.
"Better late than never," he told AFP.
"Because while we are here defending the front line, our families are unprotected. Thanks to the Patriots they are giving us, our families will be safer," the 29-year-old added.
Russian forces meanwhile said on Monday they had captured new territory in eastern Ukraine with the seizure of two villages, one in the Donetsk region and another in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Its forces also killed at least three civilians in the eastern Kharkiv and Sumy regions on Monday, regional Ukrainian officials announced.
In Kyiv, Zelensky also proposed a major political shake-up, recommending economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko take over as the country's new prime minister.
Svyrydenko said on social media that Ukraine was facing a "crucial time."
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Sunday, July 13, 2025
Watch: Stokes Caught Yawning During 3rd Test. Shastri Says "Take Your..."
A funny moment was witnessed on Day 4 of the third Test between India and England at Lord's, London. Host team captain Ben Stokes was spotted yawning when the play was in progress on Sunday. Unaware of the fact that the camera was panned towards him, the England captain was relaxing while sitting on the chair. It happened when Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett were batting in the first session of the day. "Morning Ben. Take your time," said former India captain Ravi Shastri as he and his fellow commentators erupted in laughter.
Watch it here:
"Morning, Ben" pic.twitter.com/rR3NCD9hVD
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 13, 2025
India pacer Mohammed Siraj made the ball talk on a deteriorating pitch, reducing England to 98 for four at lunch on day four of the third Test in London on Sunday.
England captain Ben Stokes (2 batting off 13 balls) and Joe Root (17 batting off 40) were in the middle at the break.
After a drama filled last over on day three, the intensity remained high on the field with not much to separate both teams at the start of day four. Considering the deteriorating nature of the surface, a target in the range of 250-300 would be a big challenge for the team batting last.
Siraj, who thrives on a heated battle with the opposition batters, was fired up after removing Ben Duckett from the Pavillion End.
He changed his line a shade to target the stumps and was rewarded with another wicket Ollie Pope.
With the bowlers getting more assistance from Nursery End, Siraj bowled his heart out from down the hill. His spell of seven overs got him two wickets for just 11 runs.
Bumrah opened the bowling alongside Siraj and troubled Zak Crawley once again after the latter survived his fiery one over burst on Saturday.
The odd ball was jumping from length at the Nursery End, and Bumrah got one to take off that hit Crawley's bat handle, adding to the excitement at a packed Lord's.
Shubman Gill replaced Bumrah with Nitish Reddy and, following his two-wicket over in the first innings, the batting all-rounder got rid of Crawley for the second time in the match.
With wicket-keeper backing up, Reddy pitched one up and Crawley went for the drive only to be pouched at gully by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was finally able to hold on to a catch.
With the ball doing enough from both ends, Harry Brook thought (23 off 19) attack was the best form of defense, picking Akash Deep for two ramp shots before unleashing a six over mid-off.
However, Akash kept attacking the stumps in the following over and was rewarded when Brook missed a sweep for his middle stump to be shattered, leaving England at 87 for four.
(With PTI Inputs)
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Saturday, July 12, 2025
NRIs Conduct 'Ganga Aarti' On Canadian Riverbank, Social Media Divided
The Indian community in Canada held a grand Ganga Aarti on the banks of Credit River in Mississauga earlier this week. The NRIs organised the rituals to recreate the iconic aartis performed in India, especially in Varanasi, Rishikesh and Haridwar. According to the Indian Consulate in Toronto, the event was organised by Radio Dhshum with Consul Sanjeev Saklani among the attendees.
"Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti, a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga, organised by Team @RadioDhishum," the consulate captioned the post whilst sharing photos from the event.
Consul Sanjeev Saklani represented the Consulate at the Ganga Aarti, a soulful evening of divine chants and pious mantras at the banks of the Credit River at Erindale Park, Mississauga organized by Team @RadioDhishum.@HCI_Ottawa @MEAIndia @diaspora_india pic.twitter.com/DO2ceopVVw
— IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) July 8, 2025
A video shared by an Instagram user, Priyanka Gupta, showed the customs performed during the event.
"Out of all these 10 years in Canada, yesterday we have experienced the best evening , something magical unfolded. not on the ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar, but right here in Canada," wrote Ms Gupta.
"Living abroad doesn't mean letting go of who we are. In fact, it deepens the bond. The soulful chants of “Har Har Gange” echoing across the park, and devotees gathered in traditional attire, we witnessed the sacred Ganga Aarti, a slice of India, recreated with devotion thousands of miles away," she added.
Social media reacts
As the video went viral, it received mixed reactions from the social media users, with a section lauding them for celebrating the traditions, while others stating they might be polluting the local river.
"What a beautiful coverage. We are so overwhelmed hearing this," said one user, while another added: "Har har Gange. What a feel through this reel."
A third commented: "Are you guys serious????? Ganga in Canada???? You are insulting the actual Ganga in this way. And if you love this much, then come to India again."
A fourth said: “Stop this please. This is not even the Ganga River to perform Ganga Aarti. Next, people will start Kumbh Mela here."
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