Watch: Pant Sneaks Into Opponent Team's Huddle, Leaves Fans In Splits

A hilarious moment was captured on Day 4 of the Duleep Trophy match between India A and India B in Bengaluru. Before the start of the final day's play, India B star Rishabh Pant decided to poke fun at the India A players with a hilarious act. As India A captain Shubman Gill was giving a speech to the players, Pant sneaked his way into the team huddle. While Gill and some of the players were unfazed by Pant's shenanigans, pacer Avesh Khan decided to have a conversation with the India B star.

Look who was there in the India A huddle before the start of the day's play #DuleepTrophy| @IDFCFIRSTBank

Follow the match https://t.co/Oke5l0BJpq pic.twitter.com/MxL8Pv05dV

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) September 8, 2024

Here's how internet reacted:

— The Pullshot (@The_pullshot) September 8, 2024

Agent Rishabh Pant

— Adi (@playerof11) September 8, 2024

Real imposter

— Rohit.Bishnoi (@The_Kafir_boy) September 8, 2024

Meanwhile, India B were closing in on a victory after reducing India A to 132/6 at Tea. KL Rahul was batting on 50 while Kuldeep Yadav was also not out on a score of 6.

Yash Dayal made early inroads with the ball after India B were bowled out for 184 in the second innings. Dayal claimed the wickets of Mayank Agarwal, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel to put India A on the backfoot.

On Day 3, a counter-attacking 61 by wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, where he showed glimpses of his best self with the bat, helped India B extend their lead to 240 runs against India A at stumps.

On a day on which 14 wickets fell, Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar led the way for India B to take a first-innings lead of 90 after bowling out India A for 231 in 72.4 overs. In their second innings, India B lost three wickets quickly - two of which were taken by Akash Deep.

Under pressure, Pant stitched a stand of 72 runs off 55 balls for the fourth wicket with Sarfaraz Khan (46 off 36 balls) and went to get his first fifty on return to red-ball cricket. But with him and Nitish Kumar Reddy falling in the last 30 minutes meant India A got something to smile, even though India B have a big lead in hand now.

In the morning, resuming from 134/2 in 35 overs, India B found early success as Yash Dayal strangled Riyan Parag down leg, with Pant moving across to his left to complete the catch. Saini came in to trap Dhruv Jurel lbw, followed by Washington Sundar getting some sharp dip and turning to castle a paddle-sweeping K.L Rahul.

Shivam Dube was in hit-and-miss mode during his stay at the crease, before edging to a second slip off Mukesh, who then trapped Kuldeep Yadav lbw. Tanush Kotian showed some fight, but an inside edge popping to the short leg off R Sai Kishore ended his resistance. After Mukesh had Akash caught at short leg, Kishore ended India A's innings in 72.4 overs by castling Khaleel Ahmed.

(With PTI Inputs)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/5WoLv6z
via IFTTT

Governor Directs Mamata Banerjee To Replace Kolkata Top Cop: Report

In the wake of the people's uproar demanding justice for the deceased woman doctor, West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose on Sunday directed CM Mamata Banerjee to hold an immediate emergency Cabinet meeting and discuss the issue, a Raj Bhavan source said.

Governor Bose has also stated that the state government should decide on the people's demand to replace Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal.

"Governor Bose has directed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss people's demand for justice for the deceased woman doctor," the source told PTI.

Governor Bose is on record that the government cannot evade responsibility and remain silent on the disturbing developments in the state, he said.

"According to the governor, the state should function within the Constitution and the rule of law. The ostrich-like attitude will not pay and the state must address the public demand to remove the Police Commissioner of Kolkata," the source said.

The body of an on-duty trainee doctor, who was raped and murdered, was found in the seminar room of state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide outrage.

Protests were held by common people daily in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal.

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

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/sc4bniA
via IFTTT

Inside Shilpa Shetty's Ganesh Chaturthi Festivities With Family

Shilpa Shetty documented moments from her Ganesh Chaturthi festivities at home and shared it on social media. She posted a video of herself along with husband Raj Kundra and daughter Samisha. Shilpa, dressed in her festive best, captioned the post, "Ganpati Bappa Morya. Opening our hearts and doors to welcome Bappa. Favorite time of the year. She added the hashtags #HappyGaneshChaturthi, #GanpatiBappaMorya, #Grateful and #Blessed to her post. Take a look at Shilpa Shetty's post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

Shilpa Shetty loves to go big on festivals. On Janmashtami, she shared a video of her son Viaan and she captioned it, "Happy Janmashtami."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

Sharing this clip, Shilpa captioned it, "Happy Raksha Bandhan, my heart and my soul." Check it out:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

The actress was last seen in Rohit Shetty's Indian Police Force with Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. Before that she was seen in the film Sukhee, co-starring Kusha Kapila. She will also be seen in KD - The Devil.

On the work front, Shilpa Shetty was also seen in Sabbir Khan's Nikamma. She was also seen as one of the judges on the TV reality shows Super Dancer Chapter 4 and India's Got Talent 10. She stepped into Bollywood with the 1993 thriller Baazigar and is best-known for her performances in films such as Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Dhadkan, Life In A...Metro, Apne, to name a few.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/6lt9UWa
via IFTTT

Is Covid Going Around Again? New Variant May Lead To Severe Surge: Report

As it spreads quickly throughout Europe, a recently discovered Covid-19 subvariant called XEC is drawing the attention of health authorities globally. XEC was first discovered in Germany, but reports of it have since spread to the Netherlands and other parts of Western Europe. Physicians and scientists are keeping a close eye on XEC, as it appears that it may eventually overtake the current dominant subvariant, KP.3.1.1. Right now in the US, this subvariant is the most common strain.

According to a California-based physician speaking to the Los Angeles Times, XEC is "just getting started" and may take several weeks to months before it begins to significantly impact global and domestic case numbers. While XEC is "definitely taking charge" and appears to be the next prominent variant, experts caution that it will likely be months before it reaches high levels of prevalence.

Also Read | Explained: What Are FLiRT Covid Variants, Are They More Dangerous?

According to the Los Angeles Times, while XEC has shown up in the United States, its prevalence is low, and it is not being individually tracked on the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's variant tracker website. A lineage must be estimated to circulate above 1% nationally over a two-week period for it to be tracked.

The expected midyear wave began in May, when the winter's dominant subvariant, JN.1, gave way to a number of subvariants nicknamed FLiRT-a cheeky name based on the letters of two key mutations, F456L and R346T, Topol said.

Then, "the FLiRT eventually gave way to new variants that had even more growth advantage," Topol said.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/4uPgDY7
via IFTTT

"No Scope For Change": Chief Minister After Haryana BJP List Upsets Leaders

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today made it clear there will be no change in the candidates' list announced by the BJP for the assembly election scheduled on October 5.

The Chief Minister's comment comes after the BJP announced its first list of 67 candidates, following which the party faced protests from minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa, who were not given tickets. Both have resigned.

Mr Saini said everyone should put to rest any speculation about tweaks in the candidates' list. He said everyone wants a ticket, but the "lotus" can be given to only one person.

"It is natural for ticket-seekers to get angry. But they will be persuaded," the Chief Minister said at a party meeting in Rohtak.

Haryana Energy and Jails Minister Ranjit Chautala, 79, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, said he took a decision after a meeting with his supporters and will now enter the contest as an iIndependent.

Former minister Karan Dev Kamboj also stepped down as the state BJP's Other Backward Classes (OBC) Morcha chief after he did not get a ticket.

Despite Mr Saini's attempt to downplay the events, former minister Savitri Jindal, who had quit the Congress and joined the BJP in March, days after her son and industrialist Naveen Jindal had also joined the BJP, said she will fight from Hisar, even as an independent.

After quitting the party, Mr Napa met former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at his house in Delhi, and later joined the Congress.

"No one has left the party... Karan Dev Kamboj and Lakshman Napa are our senior leaders... we will make them understand," Mr Saini said.

The BJP is aiming for a hat-trick in Haryana, but faces a tough challenge from a resurgent Congress which is looking to cash in on the anti-incumbency factor.

Mr Saini is the BJP's chief ministerial face for the assembly polls. The counting of votes for the elections to the 90-member assembly will take place on October 8.

In Gurugram, after Mukesh Sharma was announced as BJP candidate, party leader and aspirant Naveen Goyal revolted and resigned. Mr Goyal, state convener of the BJP's business cell and head of its environment protection department, has now decided to contest as an independent.

Along with him, more than 150 party officials and workers announced they are leaving the party.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/ad5Brzw
via IFTTT

Case Against ITLF Leader Over Alleged Conspiracy To Start Manipur Violence

A police case has been filed against a key member of a Kuki group that's leading the call for a separate administration carved out of Manipur over allegations that he conspired to start large-scale violence on May 3, 2023.

The first information report filed by a resident in the state capital Imphal against Ginza Vualzong, the spokesperson of the Churachandpur-based Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), alleged Mr Vualzong on April 23, 2023 announced his plan to start a "war against the State".

"... His instigations and provocations have culminated into the large scale violence which immediately erupted on May 3, 2023 by the violent rioters who started burning forest offices/beats since April 28, 2023 and Meitei villages since the early hours on May 3, 2023," the FIR stated.

The FIR stated that before ethnic clashes began in the first week of May 2023, Mr Vualzong on April 23, 2023 in a post on social media and a website about the Kuki tribes announced "it's better to demand a Union Territory or join Mizoram."

"... We must fight the Meitei hegemony once and for all. Since after this issue, another will come up... We will never be happy with the Meiteis. Those who love Meiteis should go to Imphal," Mr Vualzong said in the post, according to the FIR filed under at least 11 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

"... He is the brain behind the ITLF for anti-national activities. The accused person being the media and publicity secretary of the ITLF has issued many releases and notifications, openly instigating the public especially the Kuki-Zo and village volunteers against the Meiteis, state government and the central government," the FIR stated.

Mr Vualzong was "present at the burning site of the so-called Anglo-Kuki War Memorial Gate on May 3", an incident which was "taken by the Kukis as the igniting point of the violence," the FIR stated.

NDTV has seen a copy of the FIR. Mr Vualzong has not yet given a statement on the police case.

BJP MLA vs MLA Over Call To Ban ITLF

The FIR comes three days after an MLA of the ruling BJP in Manipur called for banning the ITLF for allegedly taking financial aid to buy lethal drones, bombs and ammunition. "... I seek for the organisation namely ITLF to be declared as a banned organisation," BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh, who is from the valley-dominant Meitei community and son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, had said.

A BJP MLA from the Kuki tribes, Paolienlal Haokip, defending the ITLF as a "respected civil society organisation" had written to Home Minister Amit Shah condemning Imo Singh's statement. Mr Haokip also asked the Union Home Minister to have the purported audio tapes linked to Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh investigated under the Supreme Court's watch. Mr Haokip was among the 10 Kuki MLAs who wrote to the Centre seeking for a separate administration, just days after May 3, 2023.

The Kuki tribes have alleged the purported audio tapes - which the Biren Singh government calls "doctored" - proved the Chief Minister set the Manipur crisis into motion.

The latest FIR against the ITLF member, however, alleged the Manipur violence was planned by Mr Vualzong and groups such as the ITLF.

Kuki civil society organisations, the 10 MLAs, and nearly a dozen Kuki-Zo insurgent groups that have signed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement (a ceasefire of sorts, yet to be renewed) - all of them have been demanding nothing less than a separate administration, bringing them together on a common platform - the Kuki MLAs want what the members of the Kuki armed groups under the SoO agreement want, and their civil society groups also want what the MLAs and the SoO agreement signatories want.

The SoO groups have been in talks for a separate administration - a political settlement - for many years before May 2023, and so the claim by some Kuki leaders that the violence led to their call to break away from Manipur was a lie, since the intention for separation was always there, two leaders in the Manipur government had told NDTV, requesting anonymity.

There are many villages of the Kuki tribes in the hills surrounding the Meitei-dominated valley. The clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis - a term given by the British in colonial times - who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, has killed over 220 people and internally displaced nearly 50,000.

The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/hN2OxoD
via IFTTT

Covid Funds Misappropriated, Files Missing: Fresh "Scam" In Karnataka

The MUDA scam that had been occupying headlines in Karnataka has been pushed aside by a new scam - alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of crores meant to fight Covid during the BJP rule in the state led by then Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa - raising allegations of tit-for-tat scams. A preliminary report on the matter by Justice John Michael  D'Cunha was discussed by the cabinet today, which apparently mentioned many other irregularities.

Of these, sources said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made three crucial observations at the meeting. 

He said the judge has made very serious observations about hundreds of crores of rupees being misappropriated. The report has also said that there are many files missing that weren't placed before him despite his repeated requests, sources said.  

The overall spending during Covid in the state was to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore. While no figure was mentioned officially, sources indicated that around Rs 1000 crore was siphoned off.

The report is expected to be finalized within the next six months and can even be tabled during the winter session of parliament. The government has extended the tenure of the committee by six months, so it can submit the final report.

Sources said the 1000-page multiple-volume interim report will now be analysed by officers and submitted to the government in less than a month.  

Asked about the scam versus scam allegations, Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said it is "unfortunate" that whenever an important report comes it is termed eye for an eye. 

"MUDA is less than two months old. The Cunha committee was appointed a year back. How can you bring that analogy here? It was an administrative measure". 

The Cunha report is seen as a boon to the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whom the BJP has been trying to corer over the MUDA scam. Mr Siddaramaiah has gone to court challenging the Governor's clearance to prosecute him in the matter.

The alleged scam is linked to irregularities in land allocation by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority or MUDA. There have been allegations that the allocation of compensatory land parcels to BM Parvathi, Siddaramaiah's wife, far exceeds the value of the land given in exchange.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/8NfSXuk
via IFTTT