The NASA Hubble Space Telescope has delivered an incredible new image of the spiral galaxy IC 1954, located approximately 45 million light years from Earth in the Horologium constellation, also known as The Clock. Seen at a diagonal tilt, IC 1954's bright core and sweeping spiral arms give it the appearance of a cosmic pendulum. This galaxy is filled with star-forming regions, visible as glowing pink patches in the image, offering a deeper insight into the formation of stars within galaxies.
Combined data from three advanced telescopes
The new observations of IC 1954 significantly improve upon earlier images. The inclusion of H-alpha data, highlighted by red regions in the image, marks the areas where hydrogen is abundant and stars are actively forming. These glowing areas, spread across the galaxy's disc, were explained by the European Space Agency (ESA) in a statement. They mentioned that some astronomers suggest the bright ‘bar' across the galaxy could be an energetic star-forming zone positioned over the galactic centre.
The remarkable detail in the image was made possible by the combined efforts of three powerful telescopes. Alongside the Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile also contributed to this observation.
Together, these instruments are studying over fifty nearby galaxies, offering a comprehensive view across radio, infrared, optical, and ultraviolet wavelengths. This data is essential for understanding how matter moves through interstellar dust and gases in galaxies, aiding in the understanding of galaxy evolution.
The ESA also highlighted the importance of Hubble's ultraviolet and optical capabilities in observing young stars and clusters. These wavelengths capture the most active periods of star formation. The data gathered by Hubble will be instrumental in furthering research on how stars evolve, building on the foundation set by the James Webb Space Telescope's ongoing science missions.
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid LIVE Updates, La Liga 2024-25: Real Madrid face cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid at the Civitas Metropolitano on Monday. Real Madrid are without Kylian Mbappe for this after the France captain picked up an injury midweek against Deportivo Alaves. Mbappe, who arrived on free contract in the summer, has scored five league goals already this season. In his absence, the onus will be on Vinicius Jr, who is the top contender to win this year's Ballon d'Or. Atletico, on the other hand, have given starts to both Alexander Sorloth and big money signing Julian Alvarez at the top. Englishman Conor Gallagher is another summer arrival who starts for Diego Simeone's men.
Here are the Live Updates of Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid, La Liga 2024-25 match -
France has submitted the final price offer to India for the 26 Rafale Marine Jet deal just ahead of the scheduled visit of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the country.
Defence sources told ANI that the best and final price offer has been submitted to the Indian authorities by the French side for the project and a significant price reduction has been given after tough negotiations in the proposed contract.
India and France are negotiating the deal for buying 26 Rafale Marine jets which are going to be deployed on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and different bases.
The two sides had also held negotiations last week when a French team was in the national capital for finalizing the discussions with India.
The deal is scheduled to be taken up for discussion during the India-France Strategic Dialogue where the Indian NSA is scheduled to meet his French counterparts from tomorrow in Paris.
The deal is important for the Indian Navy as it is looking at strengthening its maritime strike capability.
India has also approved deviations in the letter of request, which is the tender document equivalent in government-to-government deals, like the integration of the indigenous Uttam radar in the jets for the Indian Navy.
Sources said that the integration would have taken a longer time of around eight years along with a high price to be paid to the French side for doing so.
India had also asked France for integration of indigenous weapons on the plane. This includes the Astra beyond visual range missiles along with the Rudram anti-radiation missiles.
The sources added that the price for the deal has been based on the agreements over rate it inflation to be taken into account and would be using the previous deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force as the basis.
Some of the Indian Air Force requirements have also been incorporated in the naval deal which will include around 40 drop tanks and a small number of work stations for the planes.
The Indian side is also going to get more number of long-range air-to-air Meteor missiles and with the anti-ship weaponry in this project planned to be concluded before the end of this financial year.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The orders for the drug were generated through WhatsApp, supplies were initiated and delivery made; but the delivery person and the final receiver never saw each other. In fact, people in the demand and supply chains operated like unrelated units.
Shahi Mahatma aka Shashi Negi, an apple trader in the upper Shimla region, ran an interstate 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) racket for five to six years, avoiding enforcement agencies by ensuring the dots were always so wide apart that they could not be connected to reach him. Negi remained the only common link between the demand and supply chain in his 'chitta'.
But he ran out of luck on September 20, a day after the police made this year's biggest haul of drugs in Shimla - 465 grams of 'chitta' from Kharapathar.
"Links of the accused Mudasir Ahmed Mochi, a resident of Bhatpura village in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir (who was arrested on September 19) were established with Shahi Mahatma alias Shashi Negi and the kingpin was arrested," SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI on Saturday.
Mr Gandhi said Negi and his 40 associates were supplying drugs in Rohru, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Theog areas of Upper Shimla under the garb of his apple business, and he had links with Nigerian drug gangs in New Delhi, gangs in Haryana and people in Kashmir.
Explaining the modus operandi of Negi's gang, Mr Gandhi said he made sure the drugs being delivered changed hands four times before getting to their destination. He had hired different sets of unrelated people for bringing in demand, supplying drugs and receiving payments.
He himself never used to come in direct contact with any of the partners, Mr Gandhi said.
The demand for drugs was generated in WhatsApp groups and, after verification of the drug user, it was sent to Negi, who had another team to supply the drugs.
At the time of the final handover too, the delivery person would keep the drug in an isolated place and share a video with the buyer, who would pick it up from there, Mr Gandhi said.
As for the money, it reached Negi's Dhan Laxmi account in Solan after travelling through various bank accounts, police said. And the people whose accounts were used during these transactions never knew it was drug money.
A fund flow of Rs 2.5-3 crores was detected in the bank accounts of the accused in the past 15 months, the police said.
Before the arrest of Negi, the police had already registered five FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against nine persons who were part of the drug racket, police said, adding that, so far, 25 associates of the gang have been arrested.
The social integrated intelligence network system involving local residents as informers helped in the registration of 650 cases and arrest of 1,100 drug peddlers, including 205 interstate dealers, in Shimla district in the past 18 months, said Mr Gandhi.
For impact assessment, police will increase intensive patrolling and the reach of social networking. Education institutions and large public places will be kept under surveillance to prevent such drug peddlers, he added.
Love, Sitara opens with a Kerala wedding, with Sobhita Dhulipala's Tara in the middle of an unabashed introduction to her dysfunctional family. Outwardly portraying a delusionally happy picture of an ideal bunch, Tara's family has perfected the art of casually masking the truth. It is a typical toxic Indian family that runs on hypocrisy and harbours several hushed secrets, enough to tear it apart.
Tara isn't exactly leading a perfect sticking-to-the-plan life herself, though. In the second scene itself we find her panicking in a clinic after finding out that she is pregnant, appalled at the discovery that contraception works only 95 percent of the time. Flooded with emotions, she makes an impromptu marriage proposal to her chef boyfriend, Arjun (Rajeev Siddhartha), with whom she shares a turbulent romantic history – conveniently hiding the truth about her pregnancy. The couple decides to have their wedding at Tara's childhood home in Kerala the same month. Thus begins a complicated circus of secrets, sleuthing, and moulding truths.
The flawed romance here isn't just restricted to the lead pair. Every romantic relationship in the film is flawed. The house helps are wedded off to drunkards and favourite aunts are wrapped in illicit affairs with married men. The film presents a disturbing array of inappropriate couples, laying bare the sad reality of a lot of Indian marriages.
Love, Sitara is a satirical mockery of romantic relationships. It exposes the faults straightaway, without beating around the bush much. The film excels in exposing the hypocrisy that pervades society, where people publicly condemn others for the very same secrets they hide themselves. With unflinching honesty, Love, Sitara reveals the flaws and double standards that often underline our most intimate connections.
What I particularly liked was director Vandana Kataria's attempt at a balanced portrayal of traditionalism and modernity. It is one of the few recent films where the two co-exist and point out the very awkwardness of this paradoxical existence. It doesn't justify the modern hookup culture but questions the traditional marriage set up, as well. The film also steers clear from a stereotypical representation of Malayali households in North Indian cinema, where you see homes reduced to extended temples with rooms.
As for performances, Dhulipala has done a decent job at portraying a flawed, messed up, and selfish woman who cannot get her priorities straight. Tara isn't written in a way that'll move you or make you feel sorry for her and her self-invited troubles, but is a nice break from the stereotypical extremes of women represented on screen. You won't feel much sympathy for her, but that's perhaps the whole point.
Siddhartha and Virginia Rodrigues, however, give the best performances of them all. The two actors bring a calming presence to the otherwise chaotic lives around them. Their poise, as opposed to the hypocrites around them, is enjoyable and delightful. Siddhartha's cooking sequences are cathartic, and Rodrigues' composure in how she handles things is a highlight. Even though the screenplay doesn't offer much room to the two for a multi-layered performance, they shine in their roles.
Love, Sitara intends well and starts strong, but somewhat lacks in its overall execution. The themes of hypocrisy, facade, and infidelity are all touched upon, but the film skirts around the impact these might have on characters and story. Though there are a few powerful scenes, including the one where Rodrigues' character has a nervous breakdown after a disturbing revelation, the momentum keeps ebbing away over time.
The dining table conversations are particularly hard to watch. The laughter feels forced and jokes miss the landing. They feel more like the early morning sessions of laughter yoga than a usual family dinner. Even though the film banks on families' pretentiousness, these fake bursts of laughter become too much to take.
Love, Sitara has all the ingredients of a good film on paper, with a perfect flavour of the traditional and the modern and how both remain deeply flawed, but it lacks a finishing touch. It ends up feeling like a good first draft for a film, which has the potential of translating into to something more challenging and complex, but is released in a rush with its half-cooked ideas, instead. The film conveniently skips on how ugly infidelity can get. While I understand that Kataria might have wanted to keep the film from being too heavy or seeming like moral lesson on monogamy, the narrative nevertheless could have been more compelling if it reckoned with the realities of the relationship issues it brings up.
Some of the tropes seem ill-fitted and act as unnecessary fillers for the storyline, scattered across the film for decorative purposes. For instance, Arjun's dad, a retired military officer, is little more than prop, who was added to the film just as another example of a dysfunctional relationship. He is there just to scorn, give disappointed looks to his son, and wear a pretentious badge of superiority. The film could have, honestly, done well without him, or at least given him a few more meaningful scenes to justify his presence.
Contrarily, some of the character tropes were wonderful in their little presence but heavily underutilized. B Jayashree, for instance, plays Tara's savage grandmother. She is unapologetically herself, loves scanning though newspapers for funny obituaries, and knows when to put her foot down. Jayashree is a joy to watch in each of her scenes. However, even though her character seems important at first, she soon takes a backseat unexpectedly; as if the director forgot about her.
Despite its shortcomings, however, Love, Sitara is a decent take on familial dysfunction in Indian families, that effectively contrasts old-school and modern relationships, while never favouring one over the other. It's a film that shows a mirror to the hypocritical standards of society, which bemoans the unstable, relationship-hopping culture of young people, and yet has been conveniently accommodating inappropriate relationships, if kept a secret. It exposes how the lustful fallacies plaguing humans have been well veneered beneath the mask of idealism.
If only the film didn't shy away from taking on its subject matter with a little more grit, it would have likely made it to the year's favourites list of a lot of cinephiles, including me. Sadly, that's not the case. While Love, Sitara might not be as good as it could have been, it is an honest attempt at portraying the evolving dimensions of love and relationships, even if it doesn't scratch beneath the surface.
Star India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday achieved an elite feat as he became the first Indian to pick the most wickets in Asia in Tests. Ashwin achieved the milestone on the first day of the second Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur when he removed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 31 runs from 57 balls in the 29th over. In Asia, Ashwin bagged 420 wickets in Tests and holds the top place on the list. While, Anil Kumble stands in second place with 419 wickets in Asia. Harbhajan Singh holds the third place with 300 wickets in Asia. Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies. Following that, the 38-year-old appeared in 101 Test matches and 191 innings, where he picked 522 wickets.
Presently, in the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, India raced to a 1-0 lead following their remarkable 280-run victory in Chennai.
Coming to the match, India won the toss and decided bowl against Bangladesh in the Kanpur Test.
Zakir Hasan (0) and Shadman Islam (24) opened for Bangladesh, but failed to give a solid start as India pacer Akash Deep picked up two quick wickets to dismiss the opening pair of the visitors.
After losing two quick wickets Mominul Haque (40*) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) took control of the game and powered Bangladesh to 74/2 at the end of the first session.
Rain disrupted the second session, and the game was stopped for a few minutes.
Ashwin was the lone wicket-taker for India in the second session. He removed the Bangladesh skipper in the 29th over and gave India an upper hand on the game.
In the middle of the second session, the game was called off as rain played a spoilsport, and only 35 overs of play took place on Friday. At stumps, Bangladesh stood at 107/3 with Mominul Haque (40*) and Mushfiqur Rahim (6*) unbeaten of the crease.
Bangladesh Playing XI: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (WK), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed.
India Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (WK), KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Alabama is set to carry out the second execution in the United States using nitrogen hypoxia, a controversial method critics say is tantamount to torture. According to CNN, a previous attempt to execute Alan Eugene Miller, 59, using lethal injection was called off two years ago after state officials said they couldn't access his veins before the execution warrant expired. Now on Thursday, he will be strapped to a gurney where a respirator mask will be applied to his face through which pure nitrogen will be piped. The resulting oxygen deprivation will cause death by asphyxia.
Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has designated a 30-hour window beginning Thursday morning for the 59-year-old's execution to take place, CNN reported.
Miller has been in jail for more than two decades. He was sentenced to death in 2000 for the 1999 murders of Lee Holdbrooks, Scott Yancy and Terry Lee Jarvis. He had worked with each of the victims and became upset when he believed the three "spread rumours about him", according to the outlet.
On August 5, 1999, Miller shot two of the three men at Ferguson Enterprises in Pelham, Alabama. "I'm tired of people starting rumours on me," Miller said, armed with a pistol while walking out of his employer's office. He then shot Scott Yancy three times and Lee Holdbrooks six times. He then headed to his previous employer, Post Airgas, where Terry Lee Jarvis worked and shot him "a number of times".
Miller was later captured on the highway with "a Glock pistol with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the ammunition magazine," per CNN.
A forensic psychiatrist who testified for Miller's defence determined he was mentally ill and suffering a delusional disorder, leading him to believe the victims were spreading rumours about him. The psychiatrist concluded, however, that Miller's mental illness didn't meet the standards for an insanity defence in Alabama.
Notably, Miller's execution via nitrogen hypoxia comes nearly three years after Alabama officials tried to execute him by lethal injection, but failed because they could not access his veins within the required time limit. It also comes after a federal lawsuit filed by Miller over the use of nitrogen gas in his execution was settled last month.
The 59-year-old had challenged the state's nitrogen hypoxia protocol, claiming it could cause him undue suffering, thus violating his Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The terms of the settlement are confidential, though state Attorney General Steve Marshall touted it as proof Alabama's nitrogen gas execution method - which was used for the first and only time earlier this year in the execution of Kenneth Smith - is constitutional, as per the outlet.
"The resolution of this case confirms that Alabama's nitrogen hypoxia system is reliable and humane," Mr Marshall said in a statement.
Authorities were responding on Wednesday to a reported explosion at the Santa Maria Courthouse in California, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office amid reports that a suspect was in custody.
It was not immediately clear if there were any injuries
"Santa Maria Courthouse: report of an explosion. Please avoid the area. Scene has not been deemed safe. More info to follow," the sheriff's office said in a post on X.
Santa Maria Courthouse: report of an explosion. Please avoid the area. Scene has not been deemed safe. More info to follow.
A suspect was inside the court building and threw a bag in an arraignment courtroom that then exploded, reported the Noozhawk, a local online news outlet in Santa Barbara County, citing Superior Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker.
The suspect was in custody, the news outlet reported.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Proving that there really is no mountain high or treacherous enough, a team from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports has scaled an unnamed and unclimbed 20,942-foot high peak in the Gorichen range of the Eastern Himalayas in the Tawang-West Kameng region in Arunachal Pradesh, close to the border with China.
The 15-member team, led by an Army colonel, has named the peak "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" in honour of the 6th Dalai Lama, Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso.
Leaving from the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports (NIMAS) campus in Arunachal Pradesh's Dirang, the team led by Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal left to scale the peak on September 7 and the expedition took 15 days.
A statement released by the defence PRO said the peak was one of the most technically challenging and unexplored summits in the region and the team had to overcome immense challenges, "including sheer ice walls, treacherous crevasses, and a 2-kilometer-long glacier".
The statement said that by naming the peak after Rigzen Tsangyang Gyatso, NIMAS wanted to "pay tribute to his timeless wisdom and his profound contributions to the Monpa community and beyond". The Monpa tribe is one of the most populous tribal communities in the northeast.
An official said NIMAS has informed the Indian Mountaineering Foundation about the successful expedition and the process to ensure that "Tsangyang Gyatso Peak" is recognised on official maps is underway.
Faced with a couple aged between 75 and 80 years fighting a legal battle against each other for alimony, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday made a strong observation, saying it seemed that 'kalyug' (the age of darkness in Hinduism) has arrived.
Hearing a petition by the husband, Munesh Kumar Gupta of Aligarh, against a family court order in favour of his wife, Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery said the legal contest was a matter of concern and also tried to give advice to the couple.
Mr Gupta's wife had demanded alimony from him and the family court had ruled in her favour. The man challenged the order and, issuing a notice to the wife, the high court said it hoped that they would come to an agreement by the next date of hearing.
Sri Lanka's newly appointed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday signed the special gazette notification ordering the dissolution of parliament, officials said.
The dissolution will be effective from midnight Tuesday and the election will be held on November 14.
Dissanayake in the run-up to Saturday's presidential election said he would immediately dissolve parliament to order a snap poll.
The last parliament was convened in August 2020. The dissolution has come 11 months ahead of schedule.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Asteroid collisions with Earth are surprisingly common, with NASA estimating 48.5 tonnes of meteoric material entering our atmosphere daily. Most burn up, producing shooting stars. Although devastating asteroid impacts are rare in Earth's history, humanity has learned a crucial lesson from the catastrophic event 66 million years ago. The asteroid responsible for the dinosaurs' extinction was approximately six miles wide, but significantly smaller objects still pose a significant threat. In the face of potentially catastrophic asteroid impacts, scientists are racing to develop innovative solutions to protect our planet.
In New Mexico, scientists are exploring a futuristic solution to defend Earth against asteroid threats: harnessing X-ray blasts from nuclear explosions, the Guardian reported. Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque have successfully demonstrated a revolutionary method to deflect incoming asteroids using nuclear explosions. For the experiment, researchers harnessed the power of X-rays from a nuclear blast to vaporise the surface of a nearby asteroid.
The process works by unleashing an immense pulse of radiation, heating the asteroid's surface to tens of thousands of degrees. This creates a rapidly expanding ball of gas that can nudge the asteroid off its catastrophic course. By precisely calculating the blast's impact, scientists believe this technique can effectively push threatening asteroids away from Earth, potentially saving humanity from doomsday.
"The primary mechanism involves using X-rays to rapidly heat the target surface, causing it to vaporize and expand into the adjacent vacuum. The expanding gas pushes against the asteroid, transferring momentum (in the opposite direction)," authors of the study published Monday in the journal Nature Physics wrote.
Scientists noted that the nuclear option is for larger asteroids, particularly when time is short. Researchers believe this strategy can effectively deflect asteroids up to 2.5 miles wide, although this isn't a rigid limit.
“If there is enough warning time, one can certainly deflect larger asteroids,” Dr Nathan Moore, the first author of the study said.
Mr Moore and his team plan to conduct further experimental tests to refine the X-ray deflection technique, building on their initial success. Their goal is to enhance the method's effectiveness through additional laboratory experiments. Ultimately, they envision a space-based demonstration, similar to NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, to test the technique on a real asteroid.
Team India registered a thumping 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test of the two-match series on Sunday in Chennai. Bangladesh were chasing a mammoth target of 515 and on the fourth day, they got bundled out for 234. All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was the star performer as he first scored a powerful century with the bat and then went on to register a memorable six-wicket haul. With this win, India have gained an unassailable 1-0 lead in the series.
During the first match, a hilarious moment involving India skipper Rohit Sharma also came to light. On the fourth day, Rohit was seen flipping the bails at the striker's end. Later, he walked away and hilariously casted a spell on the stumps.
For the unversed, star India batter Virat Kohli is popular for switching bails during matches.
"It was a great result looking at what lies ahead for us. We are playing after a long time, but you are never out of cricket. We came here a week before, we had a good lead up to the Test match and we got the result that we wanted. (On Pant's hundred) He's been through some really tough times. The way he has managed himself through those tough times was superb to watch. He came back in the IPL, followed by a very successful World Cup and this is the format he loves the most. For us, it was never about what is he going to do with the bat, we always knew what he had with the bat and with the gloves as well. It was just about giving him the game time," said Rohit during the post-match presentation.
"Credit to him as well, he went on to play Duleep Trophy and got ready for this Test match and had an impact straightaway in the game. No matter what the conditions are, whether we play in India, whether we play outside, we want to build the team around that (strong bowling). Whatever the condition has to offer, we got to be ready for it. In the last few years, wherever we have played, we have managed to have that in our armoury, whether it is seam bowling options or spin bowling options," he added.
Both India and Bangladesh will be facing each other again from September 27 for the second Test of the two-match series in Kanpur.
Flipkart Billion Days Sale is approaching, and we cannot hold on to our excitement. The biggest festive sale from the e-commerce giant will bring amazing deals across various categories like mobiles, laptops, Smart TVs, fashion, and more. This also makes it the perfect time to swap your old and laggy smartphone with the latest and greatest one, all thanks to the lucrative offers and discounts on popular phones from renowned brands like Apple, Samsung, Motorola,realme,NOTHING,infinix ,vivo, POCO, and more on Flipkart.
But like anyone, you can get confused by the sheer amount of offers and deals on various smartphones during the Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale. So, to help you out, we have identified some stellar deals on popular models to help you make the right purchase decision. So, without further ado, let's take a sneak peek at the best and the most irresistible deals on mobiles during Flipkart's Big Billion Days Sale 2024.
Biggest Price Drop on Apple iPhone 15
Why stand in long queues when you can get the iPhone 15 model at the lowest price ever from the comfort of your home? Yes, the iPhone 15 models will be available at the lowest price ever during the upcoming Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale, making it the best time to buy the iPhone. However, this is not it. You can also get the iPhone 15 Pro model from Rs XX,XX9, which is a dream come true for the Apple fanboys. This, coupled with some attractive bank offers and exchange bonuses, will further sweeten this deal. So, pre-book this irresistible deal on the platform and be at peace.
Crazy Deal on Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G
Flipkart is offering the most significant price drop on the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G, making it one of the best deals you can get during the Big Billion Days Sale. The flagship smartphone from Samsung will be available for under Rs 30,000 during the sale, a dream deal for Samsung fanboys. The handset comes with a flagship pro-grade camera with 3X optical zoom. The Galaxy S23 FE 5G also brings a 50-megapixel rear camera and supports up to 8K video recording. Moreover, it also comes with a powerful gaming performance with Ray Tracing Support. All from 27,999* This is the best deal you can get during the Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale!
Top Mobile Deals Above Rs 30,000
If you are looking for a premium smartphone, then this is the perfect time to buy one. Flipkart's Big Billion Days sale will offer stellar deals on premium smartphones. Whether it be the iPhone 15 series, Galaxy S23 series, Pixel 8, or more, there is something for the customers at every price point.
Phone
MRP
Deal
Why buy?
Apple iPhone 15
Rs. 69,900
Rs xx,xxx
The best of Apple at lowest price ever. Best time to Buy an iphone.
Vivo T3 Ultra 5G
Rs. 31,900
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Great performance and a longer battery life
Google Pixel 8
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Samsung Galaxy S23 5G
Rs. 89,999
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Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus 5G
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Top Mobile Deals Between Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000
Looking for an upper mid-range smartphone that can offer reliable performance, boast a stylish design, and provide great features? The Big Billion Days 2024 sale will offer some crazy discounts and offers on various smartphones in this price segment. For the first time, we will see Galaxy S23 FE 5G to be available under Rs 30,000 during the sale period. Moreover, there are some great phones from Motorola and more.
Phone
MRP
Deal
Why buy?
Motorola Edge 50 Pro 5G (12GB/256GB)
Rs. 41,999
Rs 27,999
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Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G
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A dream deal for Samsung fanboys
Nothing Phone (2a) Plus 5G
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Top Mobile Deals Between Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000
If you are on the hunt for a mid-range smartphone that comes under the Rs 25,000 price bracket, we have some fantastic deals for you. Flipkart offers great deals on smartphones like Motorola Edge 50 Neo which is the only flat-screen display in Motorola Edge series. The device also offers a 144Hz 3D curved display with IP68 protection. We also have Vivo T3 Pro, bringing this segment a premium leather finish. Apart from this, phones like Motorola Edge 50 Neo 5G and more give plenty of options to consider during this festive season sale.
Phone
MRP
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Motorola Edge 50 Neo 5G
Rs. 29,999
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Vivo T3 Pro 5G
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POCO F6 5G
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Top Mobile Deals Between Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000
If you are in the market for an affordable smartphone under Rs. 20,000, the Big Billion Days 2024 offers incredible deals you will want to take advantage of. The Motorola Edge 50 Fusion 5g, Nothing Phone (2a) 5G, Motorola G85, Realme P2 Pro and Infinix GT 20 Pro are some of the best smartphones in this price range. Moreover, to further sweeten the deal, Flipkart will offer tempting discounts alongside an array of additional offers, including exchange bonuses, no-cost EMIs, and bank offers.
Phone
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Nothing Phone (2a) 5G
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Motorola G85 5G
Rs. 20,999
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Realme P2 Pro 5G
Rs. 25,999
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Fastest curved Display Phone
Infinix GT 20 Pro
Rs. 31,999
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Good-looking phone with a great performance
Top Mobile Deals Between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000
If you are searching for an affordable smartphone and want to spend at most Rs 15,000, then this segment is meant for you. Flipkart's Big Billion Days 2024 Sale brings massive discounts and offers on popular, affordable smartphones, including CMF Phone 1, Vivo T3X, Oppo K12X, and more. Check out these best deals below:
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Vivo T3X 5G
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Oppo K12X
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Realme 12x 5G
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Nothing CMF Phone 1 5G
Rs. 21,999
Rs 12,999*
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Pakistan pace great Shoaib Akhtar was one of the most lethal fast bowlers of his time. Known as the "Rawalpindi Express", Akhtar terrorised opposition batters with his raw pace, bounce and toe-crushing yorkers for nearly two decades. Akhtar, who played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 14 T20Is for Pakistan, retired from international cricket after the 2011 World Cup, owing to knee related issues. However, a video of Akhtar's lookalike, Imran Muhammad, has gone viral on social media. His reaction reminded fans of Akhtar, who is now enjoying a successful career in cricket punditry.
For the unversed, the video is from a Oman D10 League match between IAS Invincibles and Yallah Shabab Giants. The viral clip, which was posted by a user, highlighted the the uncanny similarity between the two cricketers.
Imran was 18 when he left for his village in Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Now 30, he fixes CCTV cameras in Muscat for a living, and also plays franchise league cricket in Oman.
After drawing curtains on his illustrious international career, Akhtar started a YouTube channel, where he gives reviews on International and league matches and Pakistani cricket.
Akhtar, who made his international debut in 1997, took 178 wickets in 46 Tests, the last of which was against India at Bangalore in 2007.
He bagged 247 wickets in 163 one-day internationals and also took 19 wickets in 15 T20Is.
"One of the main reasons for my retirement was that I am not able to wake up early anymore. I have been waking up at 6 am for the past 25 years. And then to bowl to the likes of Sachin and Dravid, they used to tire me all day. So this was one of the main reasons for my retirement - that I can't wake up early," Akhtar recently revealed.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday spoke with the parents of Anna Sebastian Perayil, the 26-year-old Ernst & Young employee who died allegedly due to extreme work pressure. Over a video call, he offered them his sympathies and said he will ensure the tragedy becomes a catalyst for change.
"I spoke with the heartbroken parents of Anna Sebastian, a bright and ambitious young professional whose life was tragically cut short by toxic and unforgiving work conditions," wrote Mr Gandhi in an online post, sharing a video of their conversation.
I spoke with the heartbroken parents of Anna Sebastian, a bright and ambitious young professional whose life was tragically cut short by toxic and unforgiving work conditions.
In the face of unimaginable grief, Anna's mother has shown remarkable courage and selflessness, turning… pic.twitter.com/XY9PXbYAIK
He also praised Anna's mother for showing "remarkable courage and selflessness" and speaking up despite personal loss in the larger interest of improving working conditions of professionals.
During their conversation, Mr Gandhi asked Anna's parents how the atmosphere was at her workplace - "Was it very toxic? What was going on?"
Her mother replied with a "yes".
"She (Anna) used to always say that they had very long working hours. They have to work continuously. Night, Saturday, Sunday. No restrictions. Children are made to work like that. Mainly the young employees, new ones. She had no time even for her personal things," she said while sobbing on the video call.
"She called me every night and she would say 'Amma, I can't speak, I'm dead tired. I am going to sleep.' Even when she came back from office, she just (used to) drop on her bed. So exhausted," she added.
Anna's mother went on to say that children are subjected to torture and made to "work like slaves".
"Rahul ji, what I have to say is, only in India, children are subjected to such torture. If it is outside India, will they ask their employees to work like this? They say we have received freedom in 1947, but our children are still working like slaves. Even now they are working like slaves. Children who study so hard to reach where they are, being put through so much slavery, why? Why are our children made to suffer like this?" she added.
Mr Gandhi asked them if they want him to raise the issue in parliament. They said yes.
"We are fully with you. However we can support your cause, we are happy to do it," he said, assuring Anna's parents that he will fight for this cause in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition.
Anna Perayil, a Chartered Accountant from Kerala who worked at EY India, died allegedly due to work-related stress, sparking a nationwide debate over work-life balance and corporate accountability.
In a statement on Wednesday, EY said that it is deeply saddened by Anna's untimely death and that it will continue to improve and provide a healthy workplace in its offices across the country.
The Union Labour Ministry has begun a probe into the circumstances that led to the EY employee's death.
Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill put on 167 runs in the second innings to give India a stronghold in the ongoing 1st Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Pant slammed his 6th Test ton, which put on him on-par with MS Dhoni as the wicketkeeper with most centuries for India in the format. Gill, on the other hand, registered his 6th score of 100 or more, following a duck in the first innings. However, Pant got a huge reprieve after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto dropped a sitter when the wicketkeeper batter was at 72.
The incident happened in the 49th over as the ball ballooned high in the air after Pant mistimed his pull. This led to a series of emotions from KL Rahul, who was sitting in the pavilion all padded up.
As the ball went in the air, Rahul left his chair in order to get ready for batting. However, fate had other ideas as Shanto dropped a sitter. Rahul had a wry smile on his face as he returned to take his seat.
Jab rishabh pant ki catch hawa me gyi to kl rahul ko laga out aur wo seat se khade hoke ane lag gye lekin catch chhut gyi aur unko phir se chair par baithna pada jaha siraj bhi has rhe the #INDvBAN#RishabhPant#KLRahulpic.twitter.com/e13Xb5BjP6
Pant, who made 109, and Gill, unbeaten on 119, put on 167 runs for the fourth wicket to ram home India's advantage in the second session after they bundled out Bangladesh for 149 on day two.
Pant, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, smashed the bowlers to every corner before a double off Shakib Al Hasan got him his sixth Test century.
The 26-year-old, who survived a near-fatal car crash in December 2022, took off his helmet and raised his bat to acknowledge a standing ovation from the weekend crowd.
He finally fell caught and bowled by spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz after his 128-ball knock that included 13 fours and four sixes.
Gill kept up the charge and raised his fifth Test ton before skipper Rohit Sharma called him and KL Rahul, on 22, back.
A corporate firm, is receiving widespread praise for its new "Birthday Plus One" leave policy. It allows employees to be off for an additional two days every year, one for a birthday and another for either a family member or a close friend.
The policy, introduced by company founder Abhijit Chakraborty, as a refreshing change in the corporate culture, where work is usually ahead of personal celebration, or maybe even synchronised with it, is an effort to address the same. Chakraborty, recalling the birthday leave request being disapproved early into his career, led off by stating that an employee should be allowed to celebrate without guilt.
"In one of my early roles, my boss once asked me, Why do you need a leave? I told him, It's my birthday. He shot me a strange look, as if a crime were committed," He noted on LinkedIn, "If it's someone's birthday, they deserve a gift. Not a leave deduction and weird reactions."
The post went viral online as the company announced the move, where most people welcomed the firm for its progressive approach to work-life balance as they celebrate a leave day during which a child or other loved one's birthday falls.
Chakraborty's post also reflects the company's commitment towards making a work-friendly space. He said that as the company grows further, possibly more birthday-related leave days will abound, furthering the dedication of the company towards employee happiness and personal milestones.
"India and Sri Lanka have to have a close economic relationship. The vision statement that Prime Minister Modi and I had issued mentions this," Mr Wickremesinghe, who is seeking another term as President, told NDTV.
Speaking further about areas of shared investment and development, Mr Wickremesinghe said, "India has a huge demand of renewable energy, as do we. That is an area we seek to strengthen ties. When the Singapore-India pipeline (via Andaman and Nicobar Islands) is complete, we too can look for opportunity in it."
Other significant area that he said Sri Lanka aims partner with India for is to enhance port infrastructure and to get more tourists from India. "We want to encourage more investments from India and more tourists from India. We are working together with India on infrastructure projects like the Trincomalee Harbour," he said.
Speaking about the social and cultural ties shared by the two countries, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said, "that has been happening for thousands of years". He also said that the two nations share very strong people-to-people ties and that it is the people's mutual regard and appreciation that is the bedrock of India-Sri Lanka relations. "There will always be some groups who may make anti-India remarks, what needs to be done is to minimise it. As far as the India-Sri Lanka friendship is concerned, it is decided by the people and they have already decided it. So, let's further strengthen (the bond)."
India's economy has "taken off", the Sri Lankan President told NDTV, adding that Sri Lanka would also like to benefit from it, after all India is "just 20 miles away" and the two nations have shared deep cultural and historical ties. Mr Wickremesinghe further said that "Sri Lanka will deal with China as well to fulfill its national objectives, but at the same time, we will always keep India's interests in mind."
After his appointment as the head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting opened up on his exit from the Delhi Capitals (DC) coaching setup, saying that his availability had become an issue and the franchise wanted him to operate as a full-time head coach. Ponting has been named the new head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) starting from IPL 2025, following his departure from Delhi Capitals two months ago, ending a seven-year stint with the franchise. Ponting becomes the third head coach in four seasons for Punjab Kings, who finished ninth in the 2024 IPL season. The team has not made the playoffs since 2014, when they were runners-up. One of Ponting's initial tasks will be to identify players for retention ahead of the next season, pending the finalisation of the IPL's retention rules.
Ponting's IPL journey began as a player with Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural 2008 season. He later joined the Mumbai Indians, where he relinquished the captaincy mid-season in 2013, allowing Rohit Sharma to take over and lead the team to their first title that year. Ponting continued in an advisory role in 2014 and served as head coach in 2015 and 2016.
In 2018, Ponting took over as head coach of the Delhi Capitals, guiding them to three consecutive playoff appearances from 2019 to 2021, including their maiden final in 2020.
After his tenure with the Delhi Capitals ended in July 2024, Ponting led the Washington Freedom to a title-winning campaign in the Major League Cricket (MLC).
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Ponting said that he managed to create a "family environment" during his stint with the Capitals.
"I felt like we created a really good family environment there. As I said, I understand what they want; they said to me that my availability was becoming an issue. And they wanted to pretty much have a full-time head coach. I could not commit to that, so I was disappointed that it ended, but I understand the direction they wanted to head going forward," said Ponting.
"Everyone that I have been there with, has had a great time. You have only to look at some of the social media posts that Delhi put out straightaway to understand that a lot of the people involved in the franchise were disappointed that I wasn't continuing as well. But the decisions were made," he added.
Ponting said that the pressure of winning a trophy weighs heavy on a coach, but he wants that pressure.
"That is the thing that makes coaching inviting to me. I like having that pressure. It is as close to getting back to playing as you can possibly get. From the moment I finished playing, when that competition stops in your life, it is really hard to replace that again. The closest thing I could find to playing was getting back in the cricket team's changing room being a coach and feeling like you are actually playing again. And coaching against guys that I might have played against and guys that are coaching that I played against--I want to beat them. Simple. A cricket changing room is where I'm supposed to be," he added.
Ponting acknowledged that he made a lot of great memories during his IPL journey, calling coaching MI an "awesome experience." He also said that DC changing room was a "special place" even without a trophy.
"But we made a couple of big slip-ups in our mega-auction a couple of years ago [2022] and even probably our player retentions, and that set us back quite a way. And even this year [2024], little things went against us again, with Rishabh [Pant, DC captain] being suspended for a game that we had to win. We missed the playoffs on run rate. Little things like that add up. The results in T20 games are decided by really small margins. And then our season can be defined by really small margins as well. And we have been on the wrong end of those for a couple of years at DC," he added.
On the evolution of coaching in the IPL, Ponting said that coaching has become more specific now and teams are covering every base by appointing coaches for different roles.
"So you have a lot of the best coaches in the world there at once. And when you have the best coaches and the best players, you are guaranteed to have high-quality cricket. What the IPL has done by having all of these coaches is, I think, the reason that India are actually as good as they are. There has always been that talent in India, but to have that talent around the best coaches for two or three months every year has helped them become better players," he added.
Ponting said that a lot of IPL franchises are trying to have a full-time coaching staff, something he considered not doing because he would not have been available during the off-season due to other commitments and family time.
Key performers for Punjab last season included Harshal Patel, who won the Purple Cap for the second time, and the uncapped Indian players Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.
The squad also features notable talents like left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, and a strong contingent of overseas players, including England's Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, and South African pacer Kagiso Rabada.
With the recent retirement of Shikhar Dhawan, identifying a new captain will also be a priority for Ponting and the team management.
Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar lauded all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for taking India from "despair to domination" with their counter-attacking partnership during the first Test against Bangladesh. Ashwin and Jadeja's rearguard performances salvaged India in the first innings of the first Test against Bangladesh, with both allrounders unbeaten at the end of the first day's play at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here. At stumps on day one, Team India were at 339/6, with Ashwin (102*) and Jadeja (86*) looking strong after an unbeaten 195-run partnership.
Tendulkar took to X and wrote, "From despair to domination! @ashwinravi99 and @imjadeja's knocks have turned the tide for India once again. This all-round brilliance is invaluable. Super partnership boys. #INDvBAN."
"@ashwinravi99's century paired with @imjadeja's inning turned the tide for India. Their determination and partnership were vital after that shaky start," wrote Anil Kumble.
.@ashwinravi99's century paired with @imjadeja's inning turned the tide for India. Their determination and partnership were vital after that shaky start.#INDvBAN
"Serious cricketers .. @ashwinravi99 & @imjadeja .. How often at home in India do they produce magic with the Bat .. !! They will no doubt follow with the Ball as well … #INDvBAN," wrote Vaughan.
Serious cricketers .. @ashwinravi99 & @imjadeja .. How often at home in India do they produce magic with the Bat .. !! They will no doubt follow with the Ball as well … #INDvBAN
Coming to the match, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first. The top-order collapsed and India was left at 34/3. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (56 in 118 balls, with nine fours) and Rishabh Pant (39 in 52 balls, with six fours) stitched a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, bringing India into the game. After India was reduced to 144/6, Ashwin and Jadeja (86* in 117 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes) stitched a 195-run partnership, ending the day at 339/6.
He befriended women online and asked them to marry him. And once he had earned the women's trust, he would disappear with their money. This was the modus operandi of Mukeem Khan, a conman who had cheated over 50 women across the country, including a woman judge who failed to see through his lies.
Khan, 38, a resident of Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch recently for extorting money from women on false pretexts.
He created multiple accounts on matrimonial websites with fake identities and trapped women in his intricate web of lies.
Khan told the cops he used to target Muslim women - unmarried, widowed and divorced - for marriage. He introduced himself as a government officer and enticed them with fake stories about his wife being dead and he being unable to take care of his daughter.
Khan, who is married and has three children, used to share photos of his wife and daughter with these women. He even met their families and fix the wedding date. Once he had earned their trust, he would ask for money to book marriage halls or for other wedding expenses.
And then, he would disappear.
During his interrogation, he revealed he had conned over 50 women across the country. A woman judge from Uttar Pradesh too was among his victims.
How it started
Khan created his first matrimonial website in 2020 - six years after his first marriage. It is where he found his first target - a Vadodara-based divorced woman with a five-year-old daughter - and proposed to marry her. She agreed.
Before leaving Vadodara, he faked a story about losing his wallet and took Rs 30,000 from her. He returned and started living with her, but the idea of earning easy money had him hooked.
In 2023, he married another woman - a widow - in Delhi with another fake story.
This continued - in different states, in different cities.
He received expensive gifts like mobile phones, jewellery and even two-wheelers from these women, and later sold those. If he couldn't manage to lure them into buying gifts for him, he would fake a story about his ATM card not working or a shortage of money.
In one such incident, he booked a two-wheeler as a gift for a woman, paying only a token amount. Citing shortage, he asked her to pay the rest, and disappeared during the first ride.
British rock band Coldplay will be performing in India as a part of the Music of the Spheres World Tour in 2025. The band will reportedly perform in Mumbai. More details are awaited. However, Bookmy show unveiled a short teaser of their upcoming concert on Wednesday on its Instagram profile. The post showcases a motion image of the announcement of Coldplay's performance in Mumbai. The post drew instant reactions. A fan wrote, "Let's goo!!!" Another fan wrote, "Wohooo!" Another comment read, "Can't wait to be there with my yellows for life." Take a look:
Coldplay previously performed in India in 2016 as a part of the Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai which also had a lineup of several other music artistes and bands. The festival was held to promote global development goals. The upcoming concert will mark Coldplay's first-ever solo performance in India. During their performance at the Global Citizen Festival in India, the band won the hearts of millions with their namaste (greeting). They hoisted the Indian flag as a part of their set.
Coldplay, as a part of the Music of the Spheres World Tour, has performed in Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America, and Australia in the last two years.
For the unversed, Coldplay is a British rock band, formed in 1997. The team members include vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey. The band is known for songs like All My Love, Amazing Day, Another's Arms, Broken, Charlie Brown, Death and All His Friends, to name a few.
A series of walkie-talkie explosions caught Lebanon unawares today, killing at least nine people so far. According to Lebanon health ministry, over 300 people have been injured. This comes a day after the explosion of thousands of pagers sent shockwaves across the country, killing 14 people and injuring a whopping 2,800.
Today's blasts happened across southern Lebanon as well as Beirut's suburbs. At least one of the blasts happened near a funeral organised by Hezbollah for a member who was killed in yesterday's pager blasts. A video of the incident was widely circulated on social media platforms.
Iran-backed Hezbollah said today that it attacked Israeli artillery positions with rockets in the first strike at its arch-rival since pager blasts wounded thousands of its members in Lebanon and raised the prospect of a wider Middle East war.
Here are the live updates on the walkie-talkie explosions across Lebanon:
AC Milan vs Liverpool LIVE Streaming: Arne Slot begins his tenure in the UEFA Champions League as Liverpool manager with a firm test away from home against Serie A giants AC Milan. Liverpool come into the game after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Having won one Champions League title - and reaching the final of a further two - under Jurgen Klopp, pressure is high on Slot. Milan have had a very mixed start to their Serie A season, winning just one of their opening four league games.
When is the AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match taking place?
The AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will take place on Wednesday, September 18 (IST).
Where will the AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match be played?
The AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be played at the San Siro, Milan.
What time will the AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match start?
The AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will start at 12:30 AM.
Which TV channels will live telecast the AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?
The AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live telecast on the Sony Sports network.
Where to follow the live streaming of the AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match?
The AC Milan vs Liverpool, UEFA Champions League 2024-25 group stage match will be live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.
(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)
Sean "Diddy" Combs used his fame as one of the biggest names in hip-hop to coerce women into engaging in demeaning sex acts as part of a decades-long scheme of sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a three-count federal indictment unsealed on Tuesday.
Starting in 2009, Combs used his vast media empire including his record label Bad Boy Entertainment to transport women, as well as male sex workers, across state lines to take part in recorded sexual performances called "Freak Offs" in which the music mogul would watch and masturbate, prosecutors said.
The 54-year-old rapper and producer was arrested in Manhattan on Monday night and is expected to appear in court before US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky at 2:30 pm EDT (1830 GMT) on Tuesday. Combs could face decades in prison if convicted of the three felony counts he faces: racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The charges were brought by the office of Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams, which is seeking to have Combs remain detained pending trial.
Combs enticed women by giving them drugs such as ketamine and ecstasy, financial support, or promises of career support or a romantic relationship, prosecutors said. Combs then used surreptitious recordings of the sex acts as "collateral" to ensure that the women would remain silent, and sometimes displayed weapons to intimidate abuse victims and witnesses, according to the indictment.
"The victims did not believe they could refuse Combs without risking their security or facing more abuse," Williams told a press conference.
The indictment contained no allegation that Combs himself directly engaged in unwanted sexual contact with women, though he was accused of assaulting women by punching them or throwing objects at them.
'A MUSIC ICON'
Marc Agnifilo, a lawyer for Combs, did not immediately respond to a request for comment after the indictment was made public, but on Monday night expressed disappointment with the decision to pursue an "unjust" prosecution of his client.
"Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community," Agnifilo said on Monday night. "He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal."
Combs is the highest-profile person in the music industry to face criminal charges for sexual misconduct since R. Kelly, the R&B singer. Kelly was sentenced to a combined 31 years in prison after being convicted in New York in 2021 and Chicago in 2022 on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and child sex crimes.
Also known during his career as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, Combs founded Bad Boy records and is credited with helping turn rappers and R&B singers such as Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G. and Usher into stars in the 1990s and 2000s.
His career and reputation have been marred over the past year. Last November, his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, an R&B singer known as Cassie, accused him in a lawsuit of serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape during their decade-long relationship. She agreed to an undisclosed settlement one day after suing, even as Combs denied her allegations.
Combs has since faced several other civil lawsuits by women and men who accused him of sexual assault and other misconduct. His lawyers have been fighting those cases in court. Federal agents raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami Beach, Florida six months ago.
BABY OIL, AR-15 RIFLES
Employees of Combs helped arrange the "Freak Offs" by booking hotel rooms and buying controlled substances and other items used during sex, according to the indictment.
Authorities found drugs and 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant during searches of Combs' homes in Miami, Florida and Los Angeles, along with AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers, according to the indictment.
The indictment did not specify how many women were alleged victims of the scheme.
The charges are not Combs' first brush with the law. He was acquitted in March 2001 of bribery and weapons charges in a criminal trial stemming from a nightclub shooting that left three people wounded.
The civil lawsuits that Combs faces include a case filed last week by the singer Dawn Richard, formerly of Danity Kane, who accused him of sexual assault, battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination and fraud.
Also this month, a Michigan judge ordered Combs to pay a $100 million default judgment to Derrick Lee Smith, who said Combs drugged and sexually assaulted him at a party almost 30 years ago. A lawyer for Combs said he would seek a dismissal.
Combs has also denied claims in a February sex trafficking lawsuit by Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who Combs employed as a producer on his 2023 release "The Love Album: Off the Grid."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
As India prepares to face Bangladesh in the first Test of their upcoming series, former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has recommended a bold strategy for the Indian team. Raina suggested that India should deploy a spin-dominant attack with three spinners and two fast bowlers for the match, which begins on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Raina's strategy is driven by the nature of the Chennai pitch, which he expects to favor spinners due to its black soil composition. He proposed selecting Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav as the spin trio, alongside fast bowlers Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah.
"I believe India should go with five bowling options, that is three spinners and two pacers. Mohammad Siraj has been doing very well in the past few years in Red ball cricket, we all know how good Jasprit Bumrah is, and what he has done for the Indian cricket team in the past few years barely any fast bowlers in the world of cricket has done. So with two pacers and Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav India should go ahead," Raina told IANS in the backdrop of the LLC press conference.
"Ashwin and Jadeja combination on Indian pitches is the most deadly combination so with the condition that Chennai pitch offers, the black soil, humid conditions and the winds they will just unsettle the opponents," he added.
India, currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with a 68.52 percent rating, is looking to solidify their position at the top. The series against Bangladesh is crucial as it precedes Test series against New Zealand and Australia.
Raina acknowledged that while his suggestion is based on pitch conditions and current form, the final decision rests with Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who will assess the best combination for the team.
Raina welcomed former teammates Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik to the third edition of the Legends League Cricket. "I would like to welcome Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik to the Legends League Cricket, we all have been playing cricket since 1998, and it's good that we will play cricket again."
The Legends League Cricket (LLC) is set to return for the third edition with former India stars Dinesh Karthik and Shikhar Dhawan, the two latest entrants taking part in the tournament, signed directly by the respective teams Southern Superstars and Team Gujarat.
Harbhajan Singh-led defending champions Manipal Tigers will take on the Konark Suryas Odisha (previously known as Bhilwara Kings) captained by Irfan Pathan at the Barkatullah Khan Stadium, Jodhpur on September 20.
In a bizarre incident in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district, a man took his quest for online fame too far. A video of the incident shows Mukesh Kumar lying motionless on a road in Kasganj, pretending to be dead. The 23-year-old's "lifeless" body was draped in a white bed sheet, with cotton stuffed into his nostrils and a flower garland around his neck, creating a disturbingly realistic scene. However, Kumar suddenly sprang to life, bursting into laughter as the video ended. The stunned onlookers realized they had been duped into witnessing an elaborate prank, and promptly altered the authorities.
As a result, Kumar was arrested by local police for causing public disturbance and mischief.The video was shared on X and captioned, ''In #UttarPradesh's Kasganj district, a young man pretended to die by lying down in the middle of a busy intersection. The police have arrested the 'reel star' Mukesh Kumar.''
According to Shri Rajesh Bharti, Additional Superintendent of Police, the incident occurred at the Raj Cold Storage area in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh. In a video, he said, ''The man has made a video by sleeping on the road and creating a shock through his video. Taking cognizance of this, we have arrested the man identified as Mukesh Kumar and necessary action will follow."
जनपद के थाना कासगंज स्थित राजकोल्ड चौराहे पर एक युवक द्वारा अपने को शव जैसा प्रदर्शित करते हुए रील शूट किये जाने के सम्बन्ध में श्री राजेश भारती, अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक कासगंज द्वारा दी गयी बाईट । pic.twitter.com/xowsDWmGcZ
Meanwhile, the stunt video has sparked widespread condemnation from social media users, who slammed Kumar for his insensitive and attention-seeking act. His reckless attempt at virality has sparked outrage and raised questions about the dangers of social media obsession.
One user said, ''Reel makers are ready to go to any extent,'' while another commented, ''I never thought people would stoop so low for views.''
A third wrote, ''The world is full of strange and crazy people, they should be given training to make good reels.'' A fourth added, ''This reel disease is increasing.'
A water storage facility breach at miner Vedanta Aluminium's unit in Odisha has impacted agricultural land, the company said on Monday.
The incident, which happened at Vedanta's Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha on Sunday, has alarmed environment experts who pointed out it was a serious matter as the toxic byproduct 'red mud' was involved.
The pumped water level, or PWL, has causticity in water, meaning it can corrode organic tissue by damaging skin, eyes and mucus membranes.
The water overflowed due to heavy rain, Vedanta Aluminium said.
Visuals of the industrial incident show process water lake downstream of a pond that appeared to have been formed by 'red mud'. A large volume of muddy red water was also seen flowing into open areas. The water covered the ground where some trees stood, and ran over other forms of vegetation.
'Red mud' is the waste generated in production of alumina from bauxite. It is also known as 'bauxite residue'.
A major environmental issue in handling or disposal of 'red mud' is the alkaline nature of waste that may pose risk of contamination due to seepage or overflow, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines for handling and management of red mud generated from alumina plants.
Historically, 'red mud' has been handled in slurry form and stored in ponds that have caused adverse impacts on the environment globally, including in India, the CPCB says in the guidelines.
There were no injuries or loss of livestock due to the flooding caused by the breach, a Vedanta spokesperson said in a statement.
"There is no disruption in our current operations and the refinery continues to operate in compliance with regulatory requirements. Additionally, there is no damage to our red mud storage facility," the spokesperson said.
