BJP president JP Nadda and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement that the Opposition was fighting against the Indian state. Gandhi made the remark at the inauguration of the Congress's new headquarters, where he also criticized the BJP and its ideological parent RSS. BJP leaders have accused Gandhi of having close links with "urban naxals" and trying to break and divide India. They also highlight Congress's history of compromising the nation's integrity for power and call on the people of India to reject Gandhi and his ideology.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three Indian-made naval vessels, including a destroyer, a frigate, and a submarine, highlighting the country's growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing. During his address, PM Modi emphasized the importance of protecting territorial waters, ensuring freedom of navigation, and securing trade routes. He also highlighted India's expanding role in the global defence sector, noting the country's increasing exports and partnerships. The commissioned vessels, equipped with advanced technology and significant indigenous content, reflect India's growing ambition in strengthening its naval capabilities.
In a recent by-election held at the BCCI's Special General Meeting, Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia were elected as the new secretary and treasurer, respectively. BCCI president Roger Binny praised their appointments and expressed confidence in their administrative and financial skills. BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla also welcomed the new appointments, stating that they are the perfect choices for their new roles. The overwhelming support from state associations also shows a collective commitment to taking Indian cricket to greater heights.
After much anticipation, BCCI finally names Devajit Saikia as the new Secretary, replacing Jay Shah. The former domestic cricketer's appointment is seen as a potential move towards developing Indian cricket at the grassroots level. With the current state of the Indian team in turmoil and controversies surrounding the team, all eyes are on Saikia to bring a much-needed change and address key issues such as the lack of quality fast bowlers and the underperformance of star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the England series will be the ultimate test for the newly appointed Secretary.
The state of Gujarat has taken precautionary measures to handle cases of HMPV, a respiratory virus, after one case was detected in a two-month-old boy two weeks ago. Three civil hospitals in Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, and Rajkot have created isolation wards with a total of 45 beds to handle any potential health emergency. The health department has also issued an advisory to the public to prevent the spread of the virus. However, according to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, there has been no alarming surge in respiratory illnesses in the country.
The Indian Health Ministry is taking action as the number of HMPV cases rises to five, with two patients in Tamil Nadu and none so far in Maharashtra. The 2019 outbreak began with two infants in Bengaluru but only one remains hospitalized. The respiratory illness has flu-like symptoms such as common cold, sore throat, and fever and the ministry has directed state health officials to monitor any SARI or ILI cases. Haryana's health minister has issued an advisory for civil surgeons in regards to respiratory diseases including HMPV.
As China experiences an outbreak of Human Metapneumovirus, also known as HMPV, health officials in Telangana, India have issued a list of precautions for the public, despite no reported cases in the state. The respiratory virus, which primarily affects children, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly, can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including mild cold-like illness and more serious respiratory conditions. However, the Indian health agency has assured that there is no cause for alarm and that the country does not need to worry at this time.
The decision of Rohit Sharma being 'rested' for the fifth Test in Sydney has led to uproar in the Indian cricket community. At 37 years old, this may be the end of Sharma's Test career. The retirements of Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20Is and the mid-series retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin have sparked a transition phase in Indian cricket. Reports state that there was a communication breakdown between the skipper and the head coach, leading to Sharma's exclusion.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap shares his thoughts on the impact of streaming services on the creative landscape of the Indian film industry. In an interview, he speaks out against the pressure to prioritize subscriber numbers over quality content and the diminishing influence of big screen experiences. Kashyap also discusses his plans to work with South Indian filmmakers and his disappointment with the current state of the Hindi film industry.
India's state broadcaster Prasar Bharti launched a new OTT platform called Waves, available for free on the Play Store. Along with popular shows like Ramayan and Mahabharat, Waves also offers a unique streaming experience with games, shopping, and educational content. As a government-run platform, Waves also provides exclusive content such as FTII and NFDC films and live streams of aartis from the Ram Mandir. With its wide range of content, Waves aims to disrupt the existing private OTT players and provide a convenient alternative for Indian consumers.