Fake Flipkart Delivery Boy Tries To Scam Customer, What Happened Next

A Bengaluru resident narrowly escaped a scam when a fake Flipkart delivery agent attempted to hand over a sealed box, claiming it contained an iPhone 15 ordered by his sister. In a Reddit post, he explained that her sister had paid in advance for the phone and opted for open-box delivery, allowing inspection before acceptance. However, the fake agent refused to open the box, raising suspicions. The resident began filming the conversation as evidence, documenting the agent's reluctance to allow him to check the package. The resident later verified the order status on Flipkart's website and contacted customer support to report the incident.

Just minutes after the fake delivery agent left, the official Flipkart delivery executive arrived at the resident's home with the actual package.

''My sister brought an iPhone 15 with VIP on Flipkart sale, it was an open box delivery. This loser (guy in white) came with a big package to deliver claiming that he can't do open box. We have to accept like as is. I refused he called some random people they said there is no facility like that,'' he wrote. 

''He was scared shitless because I recorded all this. Telling his partners in crime in kannada that I have recorded everything and all. I did not accept the package within two minutes other guy came to deliver a very small package and said that he will do the open box. We got the product because I recorded everything otherwise I am sure he would have gave me some random package,'' he added.

See the full post here:

Flipkart scammers beware
byu/taau_47 inbangalore

The Reddit post, which garnered hundreds of views, sparked a wave of comments from others sharing similar experiences of distrust with online marketplaces. Many users chimed in, recounting their encounters with fake delivery agents, while some praised the man's presence of mind.

One user wrote, ''Nice bro. Glad you knew something was off and recorded everything. It's very hard to trust Flipkart now. Their association with insane amount of scammers in all delivery pipeline is really scary. It's really disturbing yo know that Flipkart can't do or doesn't do anything about the scamming happening during the delivery.''

Another commented, ''Kudos to your presence of mind, I keep telling anyone as soon as something sus happens, pull out your phone and start recording. Make this an instinct. This is required in city that is corrupt to the bone like Bengaluru.''

A fourth added, ''Bro you made a pro move and saved from getting a brick.''

This incident highlights the importance of vigilance when receiving high-value deliveries. To prevent similar scams, it's essential to verify delivery details with the marketplace, opt for open-box delivery when available, and inspect packages carefully before acceptance.

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La Liga Live: Real Madrid Look To Break Derby Jinx; Match To Start Soon

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 -

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France Submits Final Price Offer To India For 26 Rafale Marine Jet Deal

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.)

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France Submits Final Price Offer To India For 26 Rafale Marine Jet Deal

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.)

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Apple Trader Runs Pablo Escobar-esque Drug Op, Evades Cops For Years

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. 

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Firing At Delhi Car Showroom, Shooters' Note Reads "Bhau Gang, Since 2020"

Over 20 rounds of bullets have been fired at a luxury car showroom in southwest Delhi's Naraina as part of an extortion attempt with the shooters leaving behind a slip, reading "Bhau Gang, Since 2020". No injuries have been reported.

The "Bhau Gang" mention is seen as a reference to wanted gangster Himanshu Bhau, who is believed to be in Portugal and sources said Rs 5 crore has been demanded from the owners of the showroom. 

The firing occurred on Friday at a showroom called 'Car Street Mini' on Naraina Road, barely a kilometre from the Naraina police station. Officials said at least 20 rounds were fired by three men who entered the showroom, causing panic in the area. A local police team reached the spot first, followed by Special Cell and Crime Branch officials.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Vichitra Veer said, "We received information about the firing at 7.30 pm. Our teams are investigating. Initial investigations point to there being three shooters. We are trying to identify and trace them."

The involvement of the Himanshu Bhau gang is suspected. 

A few months ago, a similar shooting was carried out at a car showroom in West Delhi's Tilak Nagar and the same gang was suspected to be behind the attack.
 

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Supreme Court To Hear Petitions Seeking Probe Into Row Over Tirupati Laddoos

After roiling the political arena for over a week, the row over animal fat allegedly being used to make the famed Tirupati laddoos will now be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday.

The petitions have been filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman YV Subba Reddy, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress Party. The party has been the focal point of attacks since Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed last week that animal fat was used to make the sought-after laddoos given as 'prasad' by the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati under the previous YSR Congress government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Both Mr Swamy and YV Subba Reddy have requested a court-monitored probe into the allegations. 

In his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed earlier this week, the BJP leader requested the Supreme Court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to file a detailed report on the ghee used for making the laddus and also sought a detailed forensic report. The state government had cited a report by a laboratory in Gujarat to claim that the ghee used in the laddoos contained traces of beef tallow, fish oil, and lard (pig fat). 

"There ought to have been checks and balances internally to supervise and verify and check the quality or the lack of it, of the suppliers supplying various ingredients to the temple which go into the making of the prasad," the petition said. 

YV Subba Reddy also filed a PIL seeking an independent special investigation team (SIT) monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe Mr Naidu's allegations. Mr Reddy, who has been at the forefront of his party's defence against the Andhra Pradesh chief minister's claims, has repeatedly said that no adulterated ghee was used in the making of the laddoos.

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Supreme Court To Hear Petitions Seeking Probe Into Row Over Tirupati Laddoos

After roiling the political arena for over a week, the row over animal fat allegedly being used to make the famed Tirupati laddoos will now be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday.

The petitions have been filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman YV Subba Reddy, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from the YSR Congress Party. The party has been the focal point of attacks since Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed last week that animal fat was used to make the sought-after laddoos given as 'prasad' by the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati under the previous YSR Congress government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Both Mr Swamy and YV Subba Reddy have requested a court-monitored probe into the allegations. 

In his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed earlier this week, the BJP leader requested the Supreme Court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to file a detailed report on the ghee used for making the laddus and also sought a detailed forensic report. The state government had cited a report by a laboratory in Gujarat to claim that the ghee used in the laddoos contained traces of beef tallow, fish oil, and lard (pig fat). 

"There ought to have been checks and balances internally to supervise and verify and check the quality or the lack of it, of the suppliers supplying various ingredients to the temple which go into the making of the prasad," the petition said. 

YV Subba Reddy also filed a PIL seeking an independent special investigation team (SIT) monitored by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe Mr Naidu's allegations. Mr Reddy, who has been at the forefront of his party's defence against the Andhra Pradesh chief minister's claims, has repeatedly said that no adulterated ghee was used in the making of the laddoos.

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"Cybersecurity Incident" Hits Wi-Fi Networks At UK's Largest Rail Stations

The public wi-fi network across around 19 railway stations managed by the UK's Network Rail have been hacked and remain inaccessible on Thursday as British Transport Police (BTP) investigate the cyber-attack.

Network Rail said a number of London stations, including London Euston and Paddington, and Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central were among those targeted. Passengers trying to log on to public wi-fi at the Network Railway-managed stations were hit with a screen with a message about terror attacks in Europe.

"Last night the public wi-fi at 19 of Network Rail's managed stations was subjected to a cyber security incident and was quickly taken off-line," said a Network Rail spokesperson.

"The incident is subject to a full investigation. The wi-fi is provided by a third party, is self-contained and is a simple 'click & connect' service that doesn't collect any personal data. Once our final security checks have been completed, we anticipate the service will be restored by the weekend," the spokesperson said.

Telent, the company that manages the wi-fi system, said the attack first reported on Wednesday evening came from someone running the wi-fi homepage and the matter is now being dealt with by the police.

"An unauthorised change was made to the Network Rail landing page from a legitimate Global Reach administrator account and the matter is now subject to criminal investigations by the British Transport Police (BTP)," reads the Telent statement.

BTP said it is working at pace with its investigation: "We received reports at around 5.03pm yesterday (Wednesday) of a cyber-attack displaying Islamophobic messaging on some Network Rail Wi-Fi services. We are working alongside Network Rail to investigate the incident at pace." Earlier this month, Transport for London (TfL) was hit by a cyber-attack which is feared to have potentially breached customers' details. A teenager from Walsall, West Midlands, was arrested in connection with the TfL hack.

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

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After AAP Vs Lt Governor, Election For Delhi Civic Body Panel Called Off

The latest flashpoint between Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Lieutenant Governor came to an abrupt halt late this evening as the election of a single Standing Committee member of the civic body, which VK Saxena was insisting on being held tonight, was called off.  After an all-evening drama that included an eleventh-hour press conference by senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, officials from Raj Bhavan said the election will not be held tonight. 

Pointing to the Lieutenant Governor's message that the election has to be held by 10 pm, Mr Sisodia had told reporters, "How can elections be held without councillors? AAP and Congress councillors have gone home". 

Then he added, "Elections on one hour's notice is unconstitutional'.

Election for the seventh member of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's Standing Committee - scheduled for today -- was deferred by Mayor Shelly Oberoi till October 5. Her move came after a row over security check of the councillors -- who were not being allowed even to carry their cellphones inside. The mayor had called it "undemocratic" and "unconstitutional". 

But Mr Saxena overturned it with an order that said the MCD Commissioner, Ashwini Kumar, is "directed to submit a report of conduct of elections of the sixth member of standing committee by 10 pm today".

"In case the Mayor is unavailable or refuses to preside over the meeting. the Deputy Mayor may be requested to preside over the meeting for conduct of elections," the order read. 

The Standing Committee of the MCD is responsible for taking most of its financial decisions. Currently it has three AAP and two BJP members. 

The appointment of a sixth member - pending for months - is expected to break the tie. With 12 members from zones already elected, it would take the tally to eight members for AAP and nine for the BJP in the 18-member Standing committee.

AAP has alleged that today's order was the Lieutenant Governor's tactic to tilt the balance of power towards the BJP.

In a statement, the BJP said it had asked the MCD Commissioner to hold the election as per law and directions of the Supreme Court. The party said it would file a contempt petition against the Mayor and Arvind Kejriwal tomorrow on Friday. 

This vacancy was created after BJP councillor Kamaljeet Sehrawat resigned following her election to the Lok Sabha from the West Delhi parliamentary seat earlier this year. 

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Biden Warns "All Out War" Possible In Middle East

US President Joe Biden warned Wednesday of the possibility of an "all-out war" in the Middle East but said he was hopeful a settlement was still achievable for the conflict-torn region.

Biden's comments as he appeared on ABC chat show "The View" came as Israel put troops on alert for possible entry into Lebanon and the war in Gaza grinds on.

"An all-out war is possible," Biden said when asked about the situation. "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region."

Biden appeared to raise the possibility of a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israeli strikes targeting the Hezbollah militia have killed more than 600 people this week.

"They have a possibility -- I don't want to exaggerate it -- there's a possibility if we can deal with a ceasefire in Lebanon that it can move into dealing with the West Bank as well," said Biden.

Israel has been carrying out deadly raids in the occupied West Bank since late August targeting what it says are Palestinian militants.

Biden added however that "we also have Gaza to deal with", as efforts stall to get a ceasefire deal to end Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza after the group's October 7 attacks.

"But it's possible and I'm using every bit of energy with my team to get this done. There's a desire to see change in the region," he said.

The US president also pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to drop his opposition to an independent Palestinian state to end the crisis.

"I don't agree with his (Netanyahu's) position. There needs to be a two-state solution," Biden told the show's all-women panel, led by US comedian Whoopi Goldberg.

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

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Explosion At Courthouse In California, Suspect Arrested: Report

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.

— PIO Raquel Zick (@SBSOPIO) September 25, 2024

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.)

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Yuvraj Called Him 'Best Domestic Bowler'. Star Was Snubbed After 2 Tests

Not many would remember Pankaj Singh. But back in 2014, the tall pacer, who played for Rajasthan in domestic cricket, made his debut for India in England. he played just two Tests and took two wickets. While those numbers may not be great, in First-Class matches he has 472 wickets (117 matches) while in List A he has 118 wickets (79 matches). In 2016, Pankaj Singh told ESPNCricinfo that Yuvraj Singh had referred to him as "best bowler in domestic cricket" after he got him out in Duleep Trophy. 

Pankaj is the fourth Indian fast bowler to reach 400 wickets in first-class cricket, according to the cricket website.

Pankaj again revisited the comment recently. 

"He is such a big player, Yuvraj Singh. He has known cricket really up close and well. He is even managing and helping so many youngster at this stage. So obviously agar unhone kaha hai, then kuch cheezein hongi (If he's said it, it probably means something)," he was quoted by Hindustan Times as telling India News.

Meanwhile, England bowling great Stuart Broad has looked back at arguably the lowest point of his cricket career, and made a rather hilarious admission about it. In one of the most iconic moments in T20 cricket, Broad was smashed for six sixes in an over by India's Yuvraj Singh during the 19th over of a match in the 2007 T20 World Cup. Looking back on it for the first time in 17 years, Broad admitted that Yuvraj could've hit seven sixes in a row were it not for a slip-up by the umpire.

Watching back the highlights of the over on Sky Sports, Broad cheekily said that it could've been seven sixes had the umpire noticed one of the balls being a no-ball.

After being hit for three sixes in the first three balls from over the wicket, Broad had chosen to bowl his fourth from around the wicket, hoping to get a different result. However, Broad bowled a full toss that Yuvraj whacked over point for six.

Looking back, Broad felt that the ball could've been called for a waist-high no ball, and then joked that Yuvraj could've hit him for a seventh six had it been called so.

"I've never watched that back, but I must admit, I got lucky to get away with a no ball," Broad told former England captain Michael Atherton on Sky Sports.

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Kajol Celebrates Mother Tanuja's 81st Birthday With A Gorgeous Photo Cake - See Pic

Kajol's strong penchant for fine food is not a secret. Being a die-hard foodie, the actress often treats her social media fanbase to several culinary outings. On Monday, September 23, 2024, she celebrated her mother and veteran actress Tanuja's 81st birthday. As we know, birthday celebrations are incomplete without a cake. Kajol decided to honour her mother with the perfect one. Sharing a couple of pictures on Instagram, she wrote, “If birthdays were flowers we would have flooded the table. Happy happy 81st aka 18 to our evergreen, crazy, beautiful goddess. Love you to the moon and back momma.” Kajol shared the same frame with her sister, actress Tanishaa Mukerji and Tanuja in the first snap. 

The second slide showcasing the unique birthday cake demands attention from cake lovers. The chocolate cake was decorated with pink and white flowers, chocolate and white chocolate icing and a few other adornments. On a block of white chocolate the words, “Gorgeous as always” were written with chocolate icing. A black and white photograph of Tanuja from her younger days was placed in the middle, giving a special touch to the cake.
Also Read: Farah Khan Celebrates Aditi Rao Hydari And Siddharth's Marriage With A Beautiful Cake

Take a look at the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol)

Kajol's Instagram is full of foodie moments. Back in August, Kajol organised a get-together involving many lip-smacking dishes. The meal might have been served somewhere between lunch and dinner, prompting her to invent an appropriate new word — lindner. In the picture shared on Instagram, Kajol was seen happily serving a range of food to the guests. Read on to know more.
Also Read: Gigi Hadid Celebrated Daughter Khai's 4th Birthday With A Star Wars-Themed Cake

Kajol's gastronomical adventures are a feast for the eyes. On her birthday on August 5, 2024, she relished yet another unique customised cake. Shaped like a round bag, the cake was adorned with edible needles and wool balls. Do you know that the cake stood as a testimony to Kajol's love for knitting? Here's the full story.

Kajol's foodilicious endeavours are always tempting and wholesome. We are eager to find out her next foodie adventure.

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Kajol Celebrates Mother Tanuja's 81st Birthday With A Gorgeous Photo Cake - See Pic

Kajol's strong penchant for fine food is not a secret. Being a die-hard foodie, the actress often treats her social media fanbase to several culinary outings. On Monday, September 23, 2024, she celebrated her mother and veteran actress Tanuja's 81st birthday. As we know, birthday celebrations are incomplete without a cake. Kajol decided to honour her mother with the perfect one. Sharing a couple of pictures on Instagram, she wrote, “If birthdays were flowers we would have flooded the table. Happy happy 81st aka 18 to our evergreen, crazy, beautiful goddess. Love you to the moon and back momma.” Kajol shared the same frame with her sister, actress Tanishaa Mukerji and Tanuja in the first snap. 

The second slide showcasing the unique birthday cake demands attention from cake lovers. The chocolate cake was decorated with pink and white flowers, chocolate and white chocolate icing and a few other adornments. On a block of white chocolate the words, “Gorgeous as always” were written with chocolate icing. A black and white photograph of Tanuja from her younger days was placed in the middle, giving a special touch to the cake.
Also Read: Farah Khan Celebrates Aditi Rao Hydari And Siddharth's Marriage With A Beautiful Cake

Take a look at the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol)

Kajol's Instagram is full of foodie moments. Back in August, Kajol organised a get-together involving many lip-smacking dishes. The meal might have been served somewhere between lunch and dinner, prompting her to invent an appropriate new word — lindner. In the picture shared on Instagram, Kajol was seen happily serving a range of food to the guests. Read on to know more.
Also Read: Gigi Hadid Celebrated Daughter Khai's 4th Birthday With A Star Wars-Themed Cake

Kajol's gastronomical adventures are a feast for the eyes. On her birthday on August 5, 2024, she relished yet another unique customised cake. Shaped like a round bag, the cake was adorned with edible needles and wool balls. Do you know that the cake stood as a testimony to Kajol's love for knitting? Here's the full story.

Kajol's foodilicious endeavours are always tempting and wholesome. We are eager to find out her next foodie adventure.

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US Scientists Demonstrate Method To Deflect Asteroids Using Nuclear Blast

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. 

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US Scientists Demonstrate Method To Deflect Asteroids Using Nuclear Blast

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. 

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Marxist Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka Wins Sri Lanka's Presidential Elections

Sri Lanka's election commission declared a previously fringe Marxist politician the country's president-elect on Sunday after a vote coloured by discontent over the island nation's response to an unprecedented financial crisis. 

Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the 55-year-old leader of the People's Liberation Front, won the presidency with 42.31 percent of the vote in Saturday's election, the commission said.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa took second place with 32.76 percent.

Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe -- who took office at the peak of the 2022 economic collapse and imposed tough austerity policies per the terms of an IMF bailout -- took a distant third with 17.27 percent.

Wickremesinghe has yet to concede, but Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said it was clear that Dissanayaka had won.

"Though I heavily campaigned for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision, and I fully respect their mandate for Anura Kumara Dissanayaka," Sabry said on social media. 

Dissanayaka will be sworn in on Monday morning at the colonial-era President Secretariat in Colombo, election commission officials said.

IMF deal

Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, with widespread public anger over the hardships endured since the peak of the crisis two years ago.

Dissanayaka would "not tear up" the IMF deal but would seek to modify it, a party politburo member told AFP.

"It is a binding document, but there is a provision to renegotiate," said Bimal Ratnayake.

He said Dissanayaka had pledged to reduce income taxes that were doubled by Wickremesinghe and slash sales taxes on food and medicines.

"We think we can get those reductions into the programme and continue with the four-year bailout programme," he said.

Dissanayaka's once-marginal Marxist party led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that left more than 80,000 people dead.

It won less than four percent of the vote during the most recent parliamentary elections in 2020. 

But Sri Lanka's crisis has proven an opportunity for Dissanayaka, who has seen a surge of support based on his pledge to change the island's "corrupt" political culture.

"Our country needs a new political culture," he said after casting his ballot on Saturday. 

Around 76 percent of Sri Lanka's 17.1 million eligible voters cast ballots in Saturday's poll. 

Dissanayaka's party sought to reassure India that any administration he led would not be caught up in geopolitical rivalry between its northern neighbour and China, the country's largest lender.

New Delhi has expressed concerns over what it sees as Beijing's growing influence in Sri Lanka, which sits on vital shipping lanes criss-crossing the Indian Ocean.

"Sri Lankan territory will not be used against any other nation," Ratnayake told AFP. 

"We are fully aware of the geopolitical situation in our region, but we will not participate."

Austerity rejected

Wickremesinghe sought re-election to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages during Sri Lanka's economic meltdown.

His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who then fled the country.

But Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures imposed under the $2.9 billion IMF bailout he secured last year left millions struggling to make ends meet.

Official data showed that Sri Lanka's poverty rate doubled to 25 percent between 2021 and 2022, adding more than 2.5 million people to those already living on less than $3.65 a day.

Thousands of police were deployed to keep watch over voting on Saturday.

A temporary curfew was imposed after polls closed, despite police reporting that there had been no violence during or after balloting.

No victory rallies or celebrations are permitted until a week after the final results are declared. 

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

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"No Stopping Bharat Now": PM, In US, Explains India's Huge Digital Leap

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he has always understood the potential and capabilities of the Indian community in the US, and for him, they have been strong brand ambassadors of India.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi talked of India's enormous diversity and adaptability of Indians when they go abroad.

"We belong to a country where there are dozens of languages and dialogues, all faiths and religions of the world and yet we are moving forward united," he said.

He praised India's digital revolution, calling it unparalleled anywhere in the world, citing implementation of UPI and 5G network.

"India's 5G network implementation is bigger than the US, and that too in only two years... Indians carry digital wallets... We have UPI, the world's largest digital payments system," PM Modi said.

He said the day is not far when made-in-India semiconductor will be sold across the world.

PM Modi spoke of the magnitude of India's general elections held earlier this year.

"Ab ki baar..." he said.

"Modi Sarkar, Modi Sarkar," the audience responded.

He said India's "namaste" has now become multinational, and has turned from "local to global". Praising the contributions of the Indian community overseas, PM Modi said Indians contribute to the most no matter where they are.

PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the US.

His address at the "Modi and US" programme is a historic event as 15,000 members of the Indian diaspora gathered from 42 states to welcome the Prime Minister.

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Marxist Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka Wins Sri Lanka's Presidential Elections

Sri Lanka's election commission declared a previously fringe Marxist politician the country's president-elect on Sunday after a vote coloured by discontent over the island nation's response to an unprecedented financial crisis. 

Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the 55-year-old leader of the People's Liberation Front, won the presidency with 42.31 percent of the vote in Saturday's election, the commission said.

Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa took second place with 32.76 percent.

Outgoing President Ranil Wickremesinghe -- who took office at the peak of the 2022 economic collapse and imposed tough austerity policies per the terms of an IMF bailout -- took a distant third with 17.27 percent.

Wickremesinghe has yet to concede, but Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said it was clear that Dissanayaka had won.

"Though I heavily campaigned for President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision, and I fully respect their mandate for Anura Kumara Dissanayaka," Sabry said on social media. 

Dissanayaka will be sworn in on Monday morning at the colonial-era President Secretariat in Colombo, election commission officials said.

IMF deal

Economic issues dominated the eight-week campaign, with widespread public anger over the hardships endured since the peak of the crisis two years ago.

Dissanayaka would "not tear up" the IMF deal but would seek to modify it, a party politburo member told AFP.

"It is a binding document, but there is a provision to renegotiate," said Bimal Ratnayake.

He said Dissanayaka had pledged to reduce income taxes that were doubled by Wickremesinghe and slash sales taxes on food and medicines.

"We think we can get those reductions into the programme and continue with the four-year bailout programme," he said.

Dissanayaka's once-marginal Marxist party led two failed uprisings in the 1970s and 1980s that left more than 80,000 people dead.

It won less than four percent of the vote during the most recent parliamentary elections in 2020. 

But Sri Lanka's crisis has proven an opportunity for Dissanayaka, who has seen a surge of support based on his pledge to change the island's "corrupt" political culture.

"Our country needs a new political culture," he said after casting his ballot on Saturday. 

Around 76 percent of Sri Lanka's 17.1 million eligible voters cast ballots in Saturday's poll. 

Dissanayaka's party sought to reassure India that any administration he led would not be caught up in geopolitical rivalry between its northern neighbour and China, the country's largest lender.

New Delhi has expressed concerns over what it sees as Beijing's growing influence in Sri Lanka, which sits on vital shipping lanes criss-crossing the Indian Ocean.

"Sri Lankan territory will not be used against any other nation," Ratnayake told AFP. 

"We are fully aware of the geopolitical situation in our region, but we will not participate."

Austerity rejected

Wickremesinghe sought re-election to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages during Sri Lanka's economic meltdown.

His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who then fled the country.

But Wickremesinghe's tax hikes and other measures imposed under the $2.9 billion IMF bailout he secured last year left millions struggling to make ends meet.

Official data showed that Sri Lanka's poverty rate doubled to 25 percent between 2021 and 2022, adding more than 2.5 million people to those already living on less than $3.65 a day.

Thousands of police were deployed to keep watch over voting on Saturday.

A temporary curfew was imposed after polls closed, despite police reporting that there had been no violence during or after balloting.

No victory rallies or celebrations are permitted until a week after the final results are declared. 

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

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Rahul's Goofy Reaction Viral As Pant Gets Lifeline En Route To 6th Test Ton

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 #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/e13Xb5BjP6

— CRICUU (@CRICUUU) September 21, 2024

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.

Bangladesh's chase of 515 is currently underway.

(With AFP Inputs)

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Rahul's Goofy Reaction Viral As Pant Gets Lifeline En Route To 6th Test Ton

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 #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/e13Xb5BjP6

— CRICUU (@CRICUUU) September 21, 2024

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.

Bangladesh's chase of 515 is currently underway.

(With AFP Inputs)

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What Lankan President, Seeking Re-Election, Said About India: 5 Key Quotes

1. "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.
2. 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."
3. 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.
4. 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)."
5. 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."

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What Lankan President, Seeking Re-Election, Said About India: 5 Key Quotes

1. "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.
2. 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."
3. 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.
4. 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)."
5. 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."

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"My Availability...": Ponting Breaks Silence On Split With Delhi Capitals

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.

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"My Availability...": Ponting Breaks Silence On Split With Delhi Capitals

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.

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"Israel Won't Be Able To...": Hezbollah Chief's Vow After Lebanon Blasts

• The attacks were a "massacre" that "could be a war crime or a declaration of war," he said, accusing Israel of having wanted to "kill no less than 5,000 people in two minutes".
• Lebanon lies north of Israel and daily fighting has resulted in the displacement of thousands of residents from its northern region and Israeli officials promised people to return to their homes.
• Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said, "The centre of gravity is moving northward -- resources are being allocated." Hezbollah is fighting Tel Aviv over its war in Gaza which has killed over 40,000.
• Hezbollah chief said, "They will not stop until the aggression on Gaza stops". It comes along with a warning to Israel that they will not be "able to return the people of the north to the north" unless they "stop the war in Gaza".
• Hezbollah is an ally of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been fighting a war in Gaza since its October 7 attack on Israel.
• Today, Lebanese state media reported that Israeli fighters broke the sound barrier over the capital Beirut, i.e., fighter jets went supersonic at the same time when the Hezbollah chief was speaking.
• Israel said two of its soldiers were killed near the border with Lebanon today, while Hezbollah claimed that 25 of its members were killed following explosions, news agency AFP reported. Lebanese media reported Israeli strikes and shelling on towns in its south.
• While Israel's war drags to its 11th month, pager and walkie-talkie explosions in its "enemy" in the north have opened another front triggering concerns of an all-out war.
• The New York Times spoke to three Israeli intelligence officers who said BAC Consulting, a Hungary-based manufacturer of pagers, was a shell company set up by Mossad to rig the devices at the source before shipping them to Lebanon.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned against any escalation of the war in the Middle East. "France and the United States are united in calling for restraint and urging de-escalation when it comes to the Middle East in general and when it comes to Lebanon in particular," he said.

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After EY Employee's Death, Deloitte Ex-Staffer Shares "Tough" Experience

Days after the tragic death of a 26-year-old Ernst & Young (EY) consultant Anna Sebastian allegedly due to “work stress”, a former Deloitte employee has come forward to share his own experience of toxic work culture in India's corporate sector. Jayesh Jain, from Indore, recounted his own experience, saying he could “totally understand what Anna would have gone through.”

Posting a series of screenshots on X, Mr Jain revealed how too much work impacted both his health and professional life. "With the EY case getting some attention, I want to share my experience at Deloitte," he wrote. "I'm attaching screenshots of chats with a teammate where we discussed work and our health at 5 AM."

The screenshots, timestamped as early as 5 AM, reveal the gruelling work schedule, with employees enduring 20-hour shifts but only able to log a maximum of 15 hours.

One message from 5:12 AM read, "I was also sitting here with a lot all the time for FI-HI doubts." At 4:08 AM, Mr Jain's colleague said, "Bahot ho gaya" (That's enough), and later suggested to "turn off the laptop". Another message from 5:07 AM shows Mr Jain's colleague saying, "I will definitely file a complaint."

The screenshots also revealed the employees' struggles to manage their work while dealing with health issues, as seen in messages like, "Mere se nahi hora bilkul: Chakkar aare hai" (I am not able to do it at all: I feel dizzy).

Showing empathy for Anna's family, Mr Jain wrote, "Always remember, you are just an employee number for them. But for your family, you are everything." The former Deloitte worker ended their post, saying, "Glad I was able to get out of there in time."

With EY case getting some lights. I would like to share my personal experience at Deloitte.

Attaching some screenshots of chats with my team mate - friend where we were discussing the work and our health at 5AM in the morning.

We use to work for around 20 hours and they won't… pic.twitter.com/EjtqWjhwSm

— Jayesh Jain (@arey_jainsaab) September 18, 2024

An X user commented, “It's happening due to no law to safeguard employee in india. These companies can not exploit employee overseas due to strong laws.”

It's happening due to no law to safeguard employee in india. These companies can not exploite employee overseas due to strong laws.

— Neeraj SRIVASTAVA (@neerajs15569427) September 19, 2024

Another user recounted a “scam”, saying, “My friend who is working in KPMG is asked to punch in only 9-10 hours and he is working more than 14 hours each day.”

My friend who is working in KPMG is asked to punch in only 9-10 hours and he is working more than 14 hours each day.

Alag hi scam hai and people have normalised it.

— Sachin (@CrypticReally) September 19, 2024

Someone else stated, “My teachers used to say that awareness will increase education and it will end exploitation. It is terrible to see most highly educated ones are systematically exploited to the hilt. Did education fail people or did people fail education?”

My teachers used to say that awareness will increase education and it will end exploitation

It is terrible to see most highly educated ones are systematically exploited to the hilt

Did education failed people or did people failed education?

— Pankaj Malviya (@malviyapankaj) September 19, 2024

Amid growing outrage over the death of Anna Sebastian, the Union Labour Ministry has announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Minister of State for Labour Shobha Karandlaje confirmed that the ministry is looking into allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment at the company. Anna's mother, Anita Augustine, has called on Ernst & Young's leadership to address what she describes as a culture that “glorifies overwork” while neglecting employee well-being. In a letter, she described her daughter's tragic death just four months into her first job and urged for changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future. 

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"Israel Won't Be Able To...": Hezbollah Chief's Vow After Lebanon Blasts

• The attacks were a "massacre" that "could be a war crime or a declaration of war," he said, accusing Israel of having wanted to "kill no less than 5,000 people in two minutes".
• Lebanon lies north of Israel and daily fighting has resulted in the displacement of thousands of residents from its northern region and Israeli officials promised people to return to their homes.
• Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said, "The centre of gravity is moving northward -- resources are being allocated." Hezbollah is fighting Tel Aviv over its war in Gaza which has killed over 40,000.
• Hezbollah chief said, "They will not stop until the aggression on Gaza stops". It comes along with a warning to Israel that they will not be "able to return the people of the north to the north" unless they "stop the war in Gaza".
• Hezbollah is an ally of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been fighting a war in Gaza since its October 7 attack on Israel.
• Today, Lebanese state media reported that Israeli fighters broke the sound barrier over the capital Beirut, i.e., fighter jets went supersonic at the same time when the Hezbollah chief was speaking.
• Israel said two of its soldiers were killed near the border with Lebanon today, while Hezbollah claimed that 25 of its members were killed following explosions, news agency AFP reported. Lebanese media reported Israeli strikes and shelling on towns in its south.
• While Israel's war drags to its 11th month, pager and walkie-talkie explosions in its "enemy" in the north have opened another front triggering concerns of an all-out war.
• The New York Times spoke to three Israeli intelligence officers who said BAC Consulting, a Hungary-based manufacturer of pagers, was a shell company set up by Mossad to rig the devices at the source before shipping them to Lebanon.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned against any escalation of the war in the Middle East. "France and the United States are united in calling for restraint and urging de-escalation when it comes to the Middle East in general and when it comes to Lebanon in particular," he said.

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IPL 2025 Mega Auction Date: Report Claims It Will Happen In...

The mega auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will be held in November end or early December, BCCI sources informed on Wednesday. The rules and regulations for the same will be released by Board for Cricket Council of India (BCCI) in a couple of days, they said. The Indian Premier League has held two large auctions in the past ten years, with four-year intervals in between. The first major auction was held in 2014, then in 2018--when the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings made their comeback after a two-year suspensions.

About developments related to the mega auction, sources close to BCCI confirmed to IANS that auction is likely to be scheduled in November end or early December . "IPL 2025 auction will take place in November end or early December this year. Rules of it will be out in couple of days," BCCI sources told IANS.

The 2021 mega auction was forced to be postponed by one year due to the Covid-19 outbreak. In both cases, teams added an extra year to the contracts of their players.

Like the 2022 auction in February and the 2023 and 2024 auctions in December, the upcoming IPL mega sale is most likely going to be a two-day affair.

In the last mega auction held in 2022, the IPL teams were permitted to retain up to four players. With the end of the three-year cycle approaching, there are differing opinions among franchises about the optimal number of retained players. While some teams argue for a larger retention cap, possibly up to eight players, others are comfortable with the existing limit of four or five.

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