Infinix Smart 8 Pro With 50-Megapixel Camera, 5,000mAh Battery Launched

"Infinix Smart 8 Pro has been silently launched by the company. The latest addition to the Smart 8 series is equipped with a 50-megapixel rear camera and sports a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 500 nits. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G36 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM and runs on Android 13 (Go edition). The handset packs a 5,000mAh battery that can be charged at 10W.  While the company is yet to reveal the price of the Infinix Smart 8 Pro, the details of the smartphone published on Infinix's website confirm that the handset will be available with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of inbuilt storage. It will go on sale in Galaxy White, Rainbow Blue, Shiny Gold, and Timber Black colour options. We can expect to hear more about pricing and availability of the handset in the coming days. The dual SIM (Nano) Infinix Smart 8 Pro runs on Android 13 (Go edition) out-of-the-box. It sports a 6.66-inch HD+ (720x1,612 pixels) IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of peak brightness. The phone is powered by a Mediatek Helio G36 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Infinix has equipped the Smart 8 Pro with a 50-megapixel rear camera with an f/1.85 aperture, along with an unspecified AI lens with an f/2.0 aperture that might be used to collect depth information. On the front, the phone has an 8-megapixel selfie camera.  You get up to 128GB of storage on the Infinix Smart 8 Pro that can be expanded up to 2TB via a microSD card slot. Connectivity options on the handset include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Sensors on board include a gyroscope, e-compass, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. The phone is equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W wired charging. The Infinix Smart 8 Pro measures 163.60x75.60x8.5mm and weighs 189g."

Sreeja Akula Wins WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024, Capturing First Global Table Tennis Title

At WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 in Texas, USA, Indian table tennis player Sreeja Akula achieved a significant milestone in her career by winning her maiden international championship.Leading Performance in the Championship In the final, Sreeja Akula faced the dangerous Lily Zhang of the USA, ranked No. 46 in the world and a three-time Olympian. Sreeja took the first spot on the podium with a commanding 3-0 (11-6, 18-16, 11-5) victory over Lily Zhang. The 30-minute-plus final demonstrated Sreeja's dominance in the match.Sreeja's Thoughts on the Victory Sreeja said, "I am immensely pleased, and my efforts got me where I wanted to be," expressing her happiness and contentment. Being a member of the mixed doubles team that is currently winning the Commonwealth Games, she highlighted how important it was for her to win this first international championship. While acknowledging the difficulties she had in the quarter-finals and semifinals, Sreeja focused on her tenacity in defeating competitors with better rankings.Way to Win: Overcoming More Skilled Rivals During his route to the title, Sreeja defeated opponents with higher rankings in some noteworthy victories. She defeated Jiangshan Guo of the USA in the semi-finals by a narrow 3-2 score (9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9). Another outstanding performance occurred in the quarterfinals as first seed Amy Wang of the USA, rated 37th, was upset by Sreeja by a score of 3-2 (11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 6-11, 11-9).Previous Victories in the Competition Prior to the championship round, Sreeja demonstrated her abilities by defeating world number 122. Yao Tang of the USA defeated Stephanie Ouellette of France 3-0 in the round of 32. Her perseverance and consistency were shown by these wins throughout the competition.Corpus Christi, 2024: WTT Feeder to host an Indian contingent Manav Thakkar and Harmeet Desai, two Indian athletes, competed in the tournament while Sreeja Akula reveled in her success. In the men's singles competition, Thakkar advanced to the semifinals and Desai to the quarterfinals. Even though they did not win any titles, their participation demonstrated India's rising stature in the world of table tennis.Having Knowledge of the WTT Feeder Series Lower-ranked and grassroots players rely on the WTT Feeder Series as a critical platform for regular international competition. This series, which comes after the Contender, Champions, Grand Smashes, and Cup Finals events, offers up-and-coming talent great exposure and chances. The success of Sreeja Akula in the WTT Feeder Corpus Christi 2024 shows how important these platforms are for developing and promoting table tennis talent.  

Day 2 Box Office Collection for Fighter: Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshans eyes The ₹100 crore club

Day 2 of Fighter Box Office Collection: The film, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was released on January 25, one day ahead of Republic Day. During the second day of the national holiday, the movie gained momentum and earned over 1.5 times its opening day total.During its two-day run in theaters across all languages, "Fighter" brought in a net collection of ₹61.5 crore in India, according to film industry tracker Sacnilk. On Republic Day, the movie earned ₹39 crore in net revenue. On the day of its release, it brought in ₹22.5 crore in India across all languages.Fighter Box Office Collection Day 2: During its two days in theaters, the movie "Fighter" has made a net collection of ₹61.5 crore in India. On Friday, its Hindi version had an overall occupancy rate of 41.57%.After making a reasonable (albeit not very impressive) Rs 24 crore on the first day, the big-budget Hrithik Roshan flick Fighter truly took off on the second day. Due to favorable buzz about the film's airborne action sequences, Fighter's profits on its second day of release—which fell on Republic Day holiday—are predicted to have soared by more than 70%. This raises the domestic two-day total of the film to Rs 61 crore. The anticipated amount for the domestic launch weekend is between Rs 120 crore and Rs 150 crore.Siddharth Anand's patriotic action film Fighter follows the lives of a few Air Force fighter pilots during a conflict. Supporting roles go to Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in addition to Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. According to Sacnilk, Fighter reported occupancy rates of 41% for the 2D standard version and 42% for the 3D edition. For both of the film versions, evening performances drew the majority of viewers. Chennai recorded occupancy of over 80% of its capacity, but Mumbai and the Delhi NCR area reported occupancy of roughly 50%. Fighter is not being marketed as a pan-Indian film, despite current trends. The first-day box office receipts for the film did not quite match the high expectations that Hrithik has set for himself recently (his two previous films with Siddharth Anand had larger debuts); nonetheless, they did signify a return to form for the actor, who was thought to have underperformed in his last film, Vikram Vedha. Fighter will beat the roughly Rs 80 crore that Vikram Vedha completed its domestic run with on day three alone.War remains Hrithik Roshan's highest-grossing movie to date, taking in over Rs 470 crore worldwide after earning Rs 53 crore the previous year. After its premiere at Rs 27 crore, Bang Bang made over Rs 350 crore globally. Siddharth, Deepika, and Anil Kapoor recently wrapped their successful film projects. The most recent film in which Anil appeared was the controversial hit Animal, whereas Siddharth and Deepika worked together in the Shah Rukh Khan movie Pathaan.  

Is Bobby Deol, the birthday boy, able to rule over companies this year?

We are living through a Bobby Deol comeback. We consulted experts on his 55th birthday to see if his growing fame would allow him to add some brands to his collection this year.The foot-tapping song "Jamal kudu" was drowned out by a chorus of whistles and hoots when Bobby Deol made an appearance in the Sandeep Reddy Vanga film Animal, which was running a little over two hours.Despite having no dialogue in the movie, Bobby, who played the silent adversary Abrar Haque, managed to steal the show—even from Ranbir Kapoor, the leading man, if we may say so. The actor is still popular today, as seen by the large number of fan-made edits and Instagram reels.The Bobby Deol comeback is now complete with Animal, although it took 28 years to develop following his unremarkable 1995 feature Barsat premiere.Years ago, the story was very different. Bobby's career appeared to plateau in the early 2010s following a string of ups and downs, and it required a scandal to catapult him back into the public eye.He was given the sarcastic moniker "Lord Bobby" and a tribe of mock followers known as Boobians after a DJing disaster in 2015 that somehow worked in his favor. "Well, I'm really appreciative of that title. People used to be unaware of me, but after hearing my songs, they started creating memes based on them. He once said to a media outlet, "Those memes eventually became so popular that people started thinking about Bobby Deol."Memes helped Bobby stay current and garnered enough attention for him to land a part in MX Player's Ashram, for which he received a lot of praise.Today is Bobby's 55th birthday. We questioned experts on his birthday about whether his growing fame would allow him to add some brands to his portfolio this year. Appropriate for endorsements? Bobby has only a few unremarkable companies to his credit and his endorsement career is nothing to write home about thus far. Considering his three decades in the profession, it's particularly startling. After searching the internet, we were able to locate a few uncommon advertisements featuring Bobby Deol.However, Brand Bobby seems to be in terrific shape and has some advantages considering his recent surge in popularity. "He is an amazing figure because he overcame all obstacles to make a successful comeback. He had a little part and minimal screen time, and he didn't even have any conversation, but he made the most of it. "During the process, he served as a reminder that a single, well-utilized opportunity can truly mean the difference between hardship and prosperity," says Nisha Sampath, a brand strategist and the creator of Bright Angles Consulting LLP. According to Pooja Choudhury, Senior Copywriter (Entertainment), White Rivers Media, "he's a celeb who is in sync with the times." "He's open to opportunities and willing to try new things in his responsibilities. He's a highly malleable artist who can have a big impact on the audience in his own unique way because of all these qualities, she continues. Given these advantages, businesses would want to work with him, Sampath added, especially while his most recent songs are still fresh in fans' minds. "But long-term collaborations will depend on his ability to continue his comeback journey and continue delivering memorable performances," she stated.with only one tap!" claimed Choudhury. Sampath notices motorbikes, SUVs, and designer labels in his  

Lumen Supports Runway to Carry Out Change

                Lumen Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: LUMN) (hereinafter referred to as "Lumen" or the "Company") announced today that it has reached a revised and restated transaction support agreement ("TSA") with a broader set of creditors. These creditors now account for more than $12.5 billion of the Company and its subsidiaries' outstanding debt and commitments, as well as more than 70% of the total amount of Lumen and Level 3 debt that is maturing through 2027.Compared to the agreement originally announced on October 31, 2023, a far bigger group of creditors covering a greater portion of Lumen's capital structure supports the updated TSA announced today. Among other things, the TSA will give the Company access to a new revolving credit facility with an estimated value of $1 billion, extend debt maturities to largely 2029 and beyond, and offer $1.325 billion in new long-term debt financing. Lumen anticipates fulfilling the few remaining closing conditions in order to finalize the transactions that the TSA has in mind by the first quarter of 2024. The wide support shown by stakeholders and creditors for Lumen's growth strategy and turnaround plan is evident across the company's capital structure."This deal gives the company a significant window of opportunity to meet its capital structure and financial objectives, marking another encouraging development in the Lumen turnaround story. When the TSA transactions are finalized, Lumen will have a great deal of flexibility as we carry out our transformational plan to disrupt the telecom industry, stated Lumen's president and chief executive officer, Kate Johnson.In conjunction with the completion of such transactions, Lumen intends to make certain term loan transactions available to all holders. In accordance with Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the transactions pertaining to certain notes of the Company and Level 3 will be carried out through private negotiation. In connection with the completion of such transactions, the Company does not intend to make such transactions available to all holders. After the TSA transactions are completed, Lumen may evaluate possible follow-on transactions with debt that is not participating. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, which was submitted to the SEC today, and the investor relations page of Lumen, located at https://ir.lumen.com, both contain more information. The Company's financial advisor was Guggenheim Securities, LLC, and its legal advisor was Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.Concerning Lumen Technologies Worlds are connected via Lumen. By swiftly, securely, and easily connecting people, data, and applications, we are sparking growth. At Lumen, we leverage the strength of our network in all we do. Our capabilities span across metro connectivity, long-haul data transfer, edge cloud, security, and managed services to fulfill the demands of our clients both now and in the future.  

By2029, the media, advertising, and entertainment vertical will represent a $17.9 billion opportunity.

ResearchAndMarkets.com now offers the "Generative AI Market by Technology, Component, Application, Industry Vertical, and Region 2024-2029" report.The expected effects of the generative AI industry are evaluated in this research across multiple domains, such as ChatGPT in software, general-purpose platforms, IoT systems, and embedded consumer products. In addition to discussing the potential applications and use cases in several business verticals, the research also examines the underlying relationship between generative AI and AGI, ASI, and strong AI, as well as the influence of enabling technologies like 5G, business 4.0, MEC, self-driven networks, and others.A few of the report's findings: Through 2029, North America will dominate the worldwide generative AI market. Through 2029, the top industry vertical for generative AI will be healthcare. Through 2029, API-enabled solutions will have the fastest rate of growth (CAGR of 47%). By 2029, generative AI services will have grown to a $2.5 billion market at a 43.9% CAGR. By 2029, the media, advertising, and entertainment sector will represent a $17.9 billion potential.Artificial intelligence that can create unique and novel data or content, including literature, music, or graphics, is known as generative AI. Generative AI use algorithms to produce new data that did not previously exist, in contrast to other forms of AI that are intended to identify and categorize existing data. In order to accomplish this, the data is analyzed for patterns and relationships, and new content is created in response to those patterns.New models and architectures are being developed to enhance the diversity and quality of generated content as a result of the rapid advancement of technology. The use of technologies like GANs, transformers, and VAEs made it possible to create generative models that are more intricate and lifelike. To guarantee the moral and equitable use of technology, there were still issues to be resolved in areas like bias and data privacy.The growing requirement for automation and the expanding use of generative AI across a range of industries are driving the industry. Large datasets and the development of deep learning algorithms have also contributed to the market's expansion.  

Netflixs password crackdown worked. It could have more tricks to lure subscribers.

Netflix added almost 30 million subscribers in 2023 after cracking down on password sharing in May.Customers balked at the idea, but in the end Netflix prevailed.AdvertisementWhen Netflix announced it was mulling a ban on password sharing a few years ago, subscribers immediately balked. Many threatened to ditch their subscriptions, screaming #CancelNetflix, while others followed through and decisively closed their accounts.Nobody liked the idea. I certainly didn't. But let's be honest: We knew this had to happen.For years, Netflix turned a blind eye to password sharing, even winkingly encouraging it on social media. But that was when Netflix was in an exponential growth phase that carried the company to its 2021 share price high of more than $690. In 2022, Netflix reported losing subscribers for the first time in more than a decade — about 200,000 accounts in the first quarter of that year and close to 1 million in the second.Couple those losses with the fact that the streaming landscape had become much more crowded than it was in 2007 when Netflix first started offering its library online. Think Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, and others. So, say you're one of Netflix's co-CEOs: You see your company is bleeding subscribers, your competitors are circling you like vultures, and, at the end of the day, you're beholden to your shareholders.And wow, look, an internal analysis report drops on your desk. It reveals that there are about 100 million households around the world who are accessing Netflix without a paid account, including a cheap Business Insider reporter leeching off his ex.In the third quarter of 2023, Netflix reported that it added 8.8 million subscribers, vastly exceeding expectations. The fourth quarter numbers yielded even better results: 13.1 million global subscribers for a total of more than 260 million, Business Insider's Lucia Moses reported. That's a gain of nearly 30 million over 2022. Two moves likely helped Netflix boost those numbers, according to Jadrian Wooten, an economics professor at Virginia Tech who writes the newsletter Monday Morning Economist.While Netflix was preparing its password-sharing crackdown, it introduced an ad-based subscription at about $7 a month, which was $3 less than its cheapest ad-free offering at the time and slightly cheaper than a Hulu account. The company also provided an option for households to add users to their existing accounts for about $8 a month. "So that was sort of a move that was done both to geographically expand to other countries and offer a cheaper version, but it also introduces sort of this second tier for people who were sharing an account, and they could then bump down to that next part," Wooten told BI. "So the idea is they wouldn't pay for a full account on their own, but maybe if they lost access, they would drop down to that ad-tier part."  

Sussanne Khan Says "Fabulous Mega Movie" About Hrithik Roshans Fighter

New Delhi: Hrithik Roshan's latest film, Fighter, is currently showing in theaters. Sussanne Khan, an interior decorator and Hrithik Roshan's ex-wife, and her sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan saw the film Fighter in Mumbai prior to its premiere. She referenced the movie on her Instagram stories on Thursday. "Big congratulations to Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone." "Excellent mega movie," she continued. Former spouse of Sussanne Khan was actor Hrithik Roshan. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2014. They were wed in 2000. Hrehaan and Hridhaan, two sons, are raised by them. Actor-musician Saba Azad is presently Hrithik Roshan's girlfriend. The pair is often spotted together. Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi are among the actors in Fighter, in addition to Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan. In Fighter, Rishabh Sawhney portrays the antagonist.   Critics gave the movie varying reviews when it first came out. Cinema critic Saibal Chatterjee gave the movie 2.5 stars out of 5 and stated, "Hrithik Roshan does his best to lift the film as high as he can," in his NDTV review. Within a world dominated by men, Deepika Padukone is a rock star and totally comfortable. The film gains a certain level of gravitas from Anil Kapoor's restraint. However, Fighter needed a more menacing antagonist."   Regarding work, today saw the release of Hrithik Roshan's Fighter in theaters, which also stars Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. Prior to that, he appeared with Saif Ali Khan in Vikram Vedha. The actor's upcoming projects include War 2, in which Jr. NTR co-stars.  

Shark Tank India: Deepinder Goyal of Zomato is compared to Ashneer Grover online after he questions a contestant

This week saw the release of Shark Tank India's third season on Netflix. In a couple of days, fans of the show have started to draw comparisons between a current judge, Zomato Founder Deepinder Goyal and BharatPe's former MD Ashneer Grover, who was one of the judges in the first season of the show. This came after Mr Goyal was seen grilling pitchers in one of the clips shared by the official social media handle of the show.The business owner can be seen in the video asking the competitors about the grammar they used in their presentations. He talked about the value of accuracy and how, in a work setting, small mistakes can have a significant impact on decisions. "Why does the phone number you mentioned have nine digits instead of ten?" he asked the participant at one point in the video. He added that the Shark Tank India pitchers should have paid more attention to the details, especially since they knew they would be presenting to potential investors on national television. He even remarked that job seekers are often rejected based on even the smallest grammatical errors on their resumes.   Meanwhile, Ashneer Grover was often seen as the strict and straightforward investor on the show in the first season, who never hid away from giving proper feedback and pointing out faults in the business models. Since being shared, the clip has amassed many reactions online with some users calling the Zomato Founder "soft Ashneer Grover" and "Ashneer Grover lite".   "Deepinder Goyal from Zomato is a fantastic addition to the Shark Tank. Could be the next Ashneer Grover," said a user.   Another added, "The way he pointed out the small faults in that 'WTF fitness' was amazing, he is a soft Ashneer Grover."   Yet another person commented, "He's not wrong, in my opinion. I've been a part of multiple pitch decks and have showcased my pitch in front of influential investors. It's so important to be precise and accurate with your presentation and to go into the specifics."Ahhhhhh. So we have a new Ashneer now?" said someone. "Really, the phone number thing is a major error. The rest appears to be reasonable criticism, albeit a bit too detailed. But those are minor details that can be ignored if the product or business plan is truly exceptional," said someone.One person commented, "Talking to the entrepreneurs taking part in Shark Tank India in such a disrespectful way is really offensive. This manner of speaking is undoubtedly worse than Ashneer Grover's." "Many aspire to emulate @Ashneer_Grover for his popularity, but it's essential to recognize that no one can fill his shoes," a user on X tweeted.        

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OnePlus 12 launch today: Check expected price, features, other specifications

The company has also confirmed the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered OnePlus 12R. The OnePlus 12R also gets some upgrades compared to the OnePlus 11R. OnePlus is set to launch its latest flagship smartphones, the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12R, today. The event, dubbed “Smooth Beyond Belief,” will kickstart at 7:30 PM in India. Users who have bought passes for the event can witness it from the venue, Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, while the rest can virtually experience it via YouTube.  The hero product of OnePlus’s launch event will be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered OnePlus 12. The OnePlus 12 is expected to be a massive upgrade over its predecessor and will offer features like a 4th Gen Hasselblad camera system, a 5,500 mAh battery, and wireless charging. The device is also confirmed to include one of the brightest 2K resolution AMOLED screens with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is also confirmed that the OnePlus 12 will receive four years of major software updates. The company has also confirmed the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2-powered OnePlus 12R. The OnePlus 12R also gets some upgrades, featuring a metal frame with an overall design and build quality similar to the OnePlus 12. In addition to the smartphones, OnePlus will also unveil the OnePlus Buds 3. The Buds 3 is expected to offer better audio quality and noise cancellation capabilities when compared to the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro.  According to the information provided by tipster Abhishek Yadav, the OnePlus 12 is anticipated to debut with a base price of Rs 64,999. Meanwhile, the variant with 16GB RAM is projected to have a price tag of Rs 69,999. The OnePlus 12R is said to be available for purchase in February. Besides this, another tipster, Ishan Aggrawal, has revealed that the upcoming smartphones will come with bank deals, trade-in bonuses, and no-cost EMI options. He also mentioned that the initial 1,000 orders will be rewarded with gifts, a discount of up to 50 per cent on the protection plan, and a Rs 3,000 reduction on the OnePlus Pad.  

Finally, Deepika Padukone Makes Long-Awaited Appearance At Fighter Promotion

New Delhi: Deepika Padukone, who had been absent from all previous Fighter promotional events, turned heads on Tuesday at an event for the movie alongside co-stars Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor, and director Siddharth Anand. At the event, Deepika Padukone was spotted looking stunning in jeans and a casual white sweatshirt. She also posed for multiple pictures with her co-stars, Hrithik and Anil. For the unversed, Deepika Padukone plays Squadron Leader Minal Rathore in the film. Fighter marks her first film with Hrithik Roshan and third film after Pathaan and Bachna Ae Haseeno with director Siddharth Anand. Director Siddharth of Fighter had previously discussed Deepika's nonattendance at the movie's promotional events. Siddharth Anand stated to Bollywood Hungama, "We have adopted this as a promotional strategy." Deepika will appear everywhere starting tomorrow. Many assumptions are made about things. Deepika was supposed to come for the trailer launch, but she was under the weather. And now she is going to be everywhere; our strategy is such.”   He went on, "One of the main highlights is Deepika and Hrithik's pair." And to see both of them (together) excites me much as a filmmaker. Thus, it is possible that even the audience is anticipating (her). As the release date approaches, you'll start to see them. Also, we didn't want too much of Hrithik and Deepika before the release. We wanted people to enjoy them on the big screen. We didn't want that saturation.”  

Zee Entertainment Neutral; goal of Rs 200: Motilal Oswal

Zee Entertainment research report by Motilal Oswal Following almost two years of discussion, Sony has ended its merger cooperation agreement (MCA) with Zee and is requesting a termination payment of USD 90 million from the business for allegedly breaking the terms of the deal. Zee has declared that it will consider all of its alternatives, including taking legal action. Unexpectedly, it made reference to Mr. Punit Goenka, MD and CEO of Zee, agreeing to step down—a major point of dispute between the two groups. We therefore reduce our assessment of the stock to Neutral.Prospects The stock would be worth INR167 per share, nevertheless, if we assume that OTT's profitability will not materially improve and attribute 15x on FY26E PAT of INR10.7b (which accounts for a slight improvement in the linear TV sector and corrections for recent one-offs). With a TP of 200 (18x on one-year future P/E), we downgrade the stock to Neutral as a result.Disclaimer: Moneycontrol.com's investing gurus, brokerage firms, and rating agencies offer their own opinions and suggestions; the website's management does not share these viewpoints. Users are advised by Moneycontrol.com to consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.  

North Indias hard weather and fog causing havoc

Veteran BCCI administrator Ratnakar Shetty says the board need to follow the advice of the technical committee headed by Sunil Gavaskar from ten years ago and refrain from holding any First-Class matches in the northern region of the nation between December 15 and January 15.The current Ranji Trophy included two matches at Jammu's Hostel Ground. Due to low visibility, only 107.3 overs were bowled in eight days. On the first three days of the second round match between Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir, only two overs could be played.There are other parts of the country suffering from the visibility-impairing fog besides Jammu & Kashmir. There were just 42 potential overs in the Haryana vs Rajasthan first-round match at Lahli. Merely 159.3 overs were bowled in the first round encounter between Chandigarh and Railways at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh, while only 26 overs could be played in the third round match between Gujarat and Chandigarh.The Ranji Trophy has been interrupted by the winter fog in northern India once more, leaving coaches and players to wonder why the matches are being played in low visibility and frequently damp outfield conditions.There have been overs and even days without a ball being bowled in matches over the first several rounds of the Ranji season, including the current third round in Delhi, Meerut, Chandigarh, Jammu, Lahli, Kanpur, and Mullanpur. The BCCI has been unable to come up with a workable solution for this long-standing issue.Teams have once again provided the Indian board with a list of potential fixes in case the crucial points are missed before the schedule is finalized for the upcoming campaign. Sunil Joshi, the head coach of Uttar Pradesh and a former spinner for India, believes that home games for the respective teams should be played later in the tournament and that north India should be left off of the schedule during the dead of winter."Look, in big tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, teams suffer losses if the matches are not completed," Joshi stated to ESPNcricinfo. "My recommendation is that, in situations where there is a lot of fog (or smog, in certain cases), north Indian teams should play their home matches in February, when the fog usually clears off. You'll be able to observe how many games during the previous two rounds were impacted by poor visibility or fog."In the most recent round, three matches—Uttar Pradesh vs. Bihar in Meerut, Punjab vs. Tripura in Mohali, and Chandigarh vs. Gujarat in Chandigarh—saw not a single ball bowled on the opening day, and Services vs. Jharkhand in Delhi, at the Palam stadium near the airport, began more than an hour late. Similar to this, during the first two rounds, there were time losses in the following matches: Uttar Pradesh vs. Bengal in Kanpur; Railways vs. Punjab in Mullanpur; Jammu & Kashmir vs. Delhi in Jammu; Chandigarh vs. Railways in Chandigarh; Jammu & Kashmir vs. Himachal Pradesh in Jammu; and Services vs. Rajasthan in Delhi. Late arrivals also had an impact on matches in Patna and other eastern Indian cities.Two of these matches, J&K against Delhi and Haryana vs Rajasthan, resulted in no innings being finished. Evidently, there were points lost or not won, which will affect the teams' ability to advance to the following round. The Rajasthan coach, Anshu Jain, stated, "It would have been better if our matches in north India were held after January." In their debut match, played in Rohtak, Haryana, there were only 42 overs played. In their second match, they played 277.1 overs in Delhi against Services. This has already impacted two of our matches. Everyone is aware that fog exists in northern India during this season of the year. This would not have been an issue if we had been playing at our home  field in Jaipur, where the players would have had more opportunities to spend time on the field rather than in the pavilion. "I'm not advocating that the Ranji Trophy begin in October. That time, it was really hot, so this will make Even though the weather is constantly changing, it's widely accepted that it clears up towards the end of January, which makes it simpler to finish 90 overs a day in north India. "The Ranji Trophy cannot be held earlier as the [T20] Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and [one-day] Vijay Hazare Trophy are now held earlier due to the IPL auctions," Rajat Paliwal, the captain of the Services, stated. "Yes, it is preferable if the matches take place in south or west India throughout the first three rounds. We lost every day by 15 to 20 overs in our most recent encounter. Jammu saw very few overs being played, while the Delhi match (Arun Jaitley Stadium) was also impacted." Since it's India's premier first-class tournament and winning the Ranji Trophy is still highly regarded despite the IPL and other events, the other teams' concerns are still genuine. Whether a solution exists or not, nobody enjoys losing points that could be earned through lawful means.  

Fashion behemoth H&M removes an advertisement following allegations that it sexualized minors

Swedish company issues an apology after an internet criticism to an Australian commercial campaign.The Swedish retail behemoth H&M has removed an ad for school uniforms following accusations that it sexualized young girls."Make those heads turn in H&M's Back to School fashion" was the slogan of an Australian ad campaign that showed two young girls wearing school uniforms.A representative for H&M stated on Monday, "We have removed this ad." "We sincerely apologize for any offense this has caused, and we are investigating how we present campaigns in the future."Following accusations on social media that the clothing line was sexualizing young girls, the decision was made. Melinda Tankard Reist, an Australian author well-known for her anti-pornography campaigns, stated in a post on X that "the little girls’ parents generally prefer heads don’t 'turn' when others see their daughters walking to school, on a bus, or in class. ""Why would you want to support the notion that young females should flaunt their appearance, physical attributes, and sense of style? Could you perhaps speak with your marketing staff and come up with something that doesn't highlight the difficulties pre-pubescent girls already have in thriving in a society that elevates "lookism" as a desirable quality?This outcry is the most recent in a string of disputes concerning the advertising tactics of fashion labels. A commercial that featured a model standing among debris and mannequins covered in shrouds was pulled by Zara last month due to criticism on social media from people who felt it was insensitive to the victims of the Gaza War.The high-end fashion brand Balenciaga, located in Paris, issued an apology last year for advertisements that showed kids clutching teddy bears dressed like slaves and a copy of a Supreme Court ruling upholding the prohibition on child pornography.  

Regarding her split from Joe Manganiello, Sofia Vergara said, "He wanted kids, and I didn't."

New Delhi: In July of last year, actors Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara announced their divorce. The Modern Family actress revealed the cause of her divorce from Joe in a recent interview with the Spanish publication El Pais. In the interview, Sofia Vergara stated, "Well, I recently got divorced from my second husband, actor Joe Manganiello, with whom I spent ten years." My husband was younger and wanted children, and I didn't want to become an elderly mother, so our marriage ended. I think it's unfair to the infant. That's no longer for me, but I respect those who do it." With her former spouse Joe Gonzalez, Sofia gave birth to a son named Manolo. "I'm ready to be a grandmother, not a mother," Sofia continued. "I had a son at 19, who is now 32." Thus, when love presents itself, he must bring [his own] kids. It's just the natural course of things that I'm almost menopausal. I have to let my son take care of the baby when he becomes a father for a little while before returning it to him and moving on with my life."  

Hanu-Man Box Office Collection Day 10: Teja Sajja's Film Breaches ₹ 200 Crore Mark

Hanu-Man, directed by Prasanth Varma, is leaving a lasting impression on moviegoers. The movie, which starred Teja Sajja, did well in its opening weekend, and the numbers from the second weekend suggest that it will continue to do well. While sharing an update about the box office collection of Hanu-Man, Bollywood trade analyst Taran Adarsh expressed, “When box office numbers do the talking.” In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, the film critic wrote, “Hanu-Man maintains an exceptional hold in weekend 2…The holiday in several states today [Mon] should further boost its biz…” Sharing the box office figures, Taran Adarsh added, “[Week 2] Fri ₹  2.05 crore, Sat ₹  4.02 crore, Sun ₹  5.25 crore. ₹ 34.24 crore in total. #India biz. Note: Hindi version. #Boxoffice #Telugu version in #NorthIndia [Week 2]: Fri ₹  9 lakh, Sat ₹  15 lakh, Sun ₹  18 lakh. Total: ₹ 2.19 crore.”   Similarly, trade analyst Monabala Vijayaban also shared a detailed note about Hanu-Man's box office collection. On day 10, the film, based on a man who gets superpowers by the grace of Lord Hanuman, collected ₹23.91 crore, as per Manobala's tweet. With this, the Prasanth Varma film has entered the ₹200-crore club, with the total standing at ₹209.06 crore. In his post, Manobala said, “Hanu-Man hits ₹200 crore. Becomes the first film of 2024 to enter this elite club. The

Saif Ali Khan Undergoes Tricep Surgery In Mumbai: "This Is A Part Of The Wear And Tear Of What We Do"

New Delhi: Actor Saif Ali Khan of Dil Chahta Hai had surgery at Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital. The 53-year-old actor had surgery on his triceps to treat an old injury that flared up during a filming action scene. Saif Ali Khan provided an update on his health, saying, "This injury and the subsequent surgery are a part of the wear and tear of what we do. I am so grateful to have such wonderful surgical care, and I appreciate everyone's love and concern." The Bollywood actor, who has a long list of credits, most recently appeared with Kriti Sanon and Prabhas in the movie Adipurush. Kareena Kapoor is an actress and Saif Ali Khan's wife. Their two sons are named Taimur and Jeh.Saif Ali Khan made an appearance on Karan Johar's talk show Koffee With Karan last month alongside his mother and seasoned actress Sharmila Tagore.  From Saif's early mischievous activities to Sharmila Tagore's "Putra Moh," the episode proved to be popular. Saif talked candidly about his early days in the business during one of the segments. Saif was first questioned by Karan Johar about why he was removed from Bekhudi. Saif revealed details about how director Rahul Rawail took his place in the 1992 movie, saying, "Well, actually Rahul Rawail had signed Kamal Sadanah first." and then I took his place, believing that maybe this kind of casting is a little... Putting the blame on him was not something I desired. Maybe he removed me from the film ,There were two proposals. And after this, obviously, they kind of dried up. And I was told by Rahul Rawail. This is it, he declared. No one will collaborate with you. I have to admit that he had a sadistic streak. Since he found that kind of enjoyable," Saif Ali Khan continued. Sharmila Tagore responded by saying that she had even attempted to persuade Rahul Rawail, but he had already made up his mind.    

Vibrants Comedy festival Full Golmal is presented by Bangla Cinema.

Updates on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: Overseeing the primary rites will be a group of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit, while PrimUpdates on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of dignitaries are expected to attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' event for Shri Ram Lalla on January 22.The idol of the god Ram, made by Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple. Covered in a veil, the idol's first photo was revealed on Thursday at the placing ceremony in the Sanctum Sanctorum.In the meantime, the Congress declined Lord Ram Lalla's invitation to his "Pran Pratistha" event. Senior Congressmen Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Sonia Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge have 'declined' the invitation to the significant Ayodhya ceremony.Three prominent members of the Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, have 'declined' to attend the major function at Ayodhya.LIVE updates at Ayodhya Ram Mandir's inaugural: On Monday at noon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. Following the ceremony, he will give a speech to the attendees of the event.According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), representatives of all significant spiritual and religious sects in the nation will attend the Pran Pratistha celebration.