DoNER minister Scindia (File photo)

NEW DELHI: A day after a furore erupted over its decision to mandate pre-loading of state-run Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones, govt Tuesday said users are free to delete the application if they do not want to have it on their devices.Amidst concerns over violation of user privacy, communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised that the fears were unfounded and added that the app was to protect the users from cyber frauds.Scindia asserted that there is no chance of snooping or call monitoring through the app. “It is our responsibility to make this app reach everyone. If you want to delete it, delete it. If you don’t want to use it, don’t register it. If you register it, it will remain active. If you don’t register it, it will be inactive,” he told reporters outside Parliament.Sanchar Saathi order is for phone makers, not users: GovtCommunications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Tuesday said mobile users were free to delete Sanchar Saathi app if they wished. However, the department of telecom’s Nov 21 order mandates the pre-installation of the app on phones under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, and its further amendments. Not doing this will lead to action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 (as amended).Also, the govt order had instructed manufacturers to “ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible … and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted”.However, govt sources said the phrase is a direction to manufacturers, not a restriction on users.“It simply means manufacturers must not hide, cripple or pre-install a non-functional version of the app and later claim compliance. Nowhere it has been mentioned in the above clause that the Sanchar Saathi app cannot be uninstalled by the end user. It is up to the citizen if he wants to enable and register Sanchar Saathi or wants to uninstall it. Users remain free to uninstall or delete Sanchar Saathi if they do not wish to use it, as clearly clarified by the govt,” the govt sources said.The move has already seen critics find a parallel to a similar mandate issued by the Russian govt in Aug, requiring pre-installation of state-backed messaging app, MAX.The Union communications minister said there have been more than 1.5 crore downloads of the Sanchar Saathi app, over 2.7 crore fraudulent mobile connections have been disconnected, and around 20 lakh stolen phones have been traced.Attempt to snoop on citizens, says CongCongress called the directive on installation of Sanchar Saathi app in phones as another attempt by BJP to snoop on citizens, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge citing Modi govt’s “record” of “Pegasus snooping” when it “hacked” the telephones of opposition leaders, judges, journalists and even Union ministers. Kharge said, “Why does the Govt want to know what citizens talk about with their family and friends?” Demanding a rollback , AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said, “Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT directive is beyond unconstitutional.”Global mobile giants concerned over moveThe govt’s diktat to mobile phone makers to mandatorily pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app has raised alarm bells among top global players such as Apple, Samsung and Google. While not officially commenting on the matter, the companies are looking to take up the matter with govt representatives directly, while also raising it through industry body ICEA.“This is a violation of user privacy and also makes the devices susceptible on the cyber security front. We are concerned about this, and will take it up,” said an executive at one of the companies

NEW DELHI: With both teams taking key positives from the series opener in Ranchi, the second ODI between India and South Africa promises another high-octane contest. The three-match ODI series now moves to the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, where the hosts will look to seal the series on Wednesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The opening clash in Ranchi lived up to expectations, with India edging out South Africa by 17 runs in a thrilling finish. The spotlight once again fell on the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who stitched a memorable 136-run stand after an early setback. Their partnership laid the foundation for a strong total, much to the delight of a packed stadium.

Batting first, India posted a commanding 349/8. Kohli was the star of the innings with a sublime 135 — his 52nd ODI century — while Rohit contributed a fluent 57. KL Rahul also chipped in with a solid 60, and Ravindra Jadeja provided valuable late runs. Despite a mini-collapse triggered by Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch, India managed to put up a competitive target.South Africa’s chase began on the back foot as Harshit Rana struck twice in two deliveries, removing Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock. Arshdeep Singh then dismissed skipper Aiden Markram to leave the visitors in trouble. The Proteas showed resilience through Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, and Dewald Brevis, who built crucial partnerships. However, Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket spell proved decisive in breaking South Africa’s rhythm. Jansen’s explosive knock and Bosch’s fifty took the match deep, keeping the contest alive until the final over, but India held their nerves to secure a 1-0 lead.As the attention shifts to Raipur, one key question remains — will weather affect the fixture?

Will rain play spoilsport in 2nd ODI in Raipur?

The good news for fans is that weather conditions are expected to remain clear. Raipur is forecast to have zero chances of rain, with temperatures ranging between 28°C during the day and dropping to 15°C at night. According to AccuWeather, cloud cover may hover around 39%, but no rainfall is expected. However, the air quality index (AQI) will likely remain in the “poor” category.With ideal playing conditions predicted, fans can expect a full game — and potentially another thrilling showdown.

India vs South Africa 2nd ODI: Squads

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (c) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv JurelSouth Africa: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Rubin Hermann, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Prenelan Subrayen

NEW DELHi: Former head coach Ravi Shastri has delivered one of his most pointed critiques yet of India’s dramatic fall in Test cricket, declaring that both players and the team management must take responsibility for the decline. The former India head coach, who oversaw the team’s successful run alongside Virat Kohli, said he is deeply hurt by the sight of a side that once dominated home and away now suffering whitewashes against New Zealand and South Africa at home.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Shastri, speaking to Prabhat Khabar in a podcast teaser, was visibly frustrated while recalling India’s collapse in the Guwahati Test. “You tell me. What happened in Guwahati – from 100/1, you skip to 130/7? This team is not that bad either. They have this much talent at least. The players should take some responsibility too. You have played spin since you started playing cricket,” he said.

Asked whether he was defending new head coach Gautam Gambhir, Shastri was blunt. “I’m not protecting [him]. One hundred per cent he is responsible too. When am I saying anything otherwise?” he said. Then came his most striking comment. “Agar yeh mere saath hota, main pehla responsibility leta (Had this happened with me, I would have been the first one to take responsibility). But then, I wouldn’t have spared the players either in the team meeting.”The frustration stems from high standards Shastri’s own tenure had set. Between 2017 and 2021, India became the world’s best travelling Test side, winning two historic series in Australia, staying No. 1 for 42 months and losing only two matches at home under Kohli.

While Rahul Dravid revived the team after a slow start, leading India to home series wins and a second WTC final, that trajectory has stalled under Gambhir. India have managed just two Test series victories in 14 months — against Bangladesh and West Indies — while suffering heavy defeats in Australia and a draw in England.

Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur has hilariously responded to the ongoing dating reports linking her to star Indian cricketer Shreyas Iyer, choosing humour over confrontation to address the escalating buzz.

Fans speculate secret romance between Mrunal Thakur and Shreyas Iyer

The dating speculation had been simmering for weeks, largely driven by social-media chatter rather than any credible evidence. It originated on Reddit, where anonymous posts hinted that the actress and the Indian middle-order batter had been quietly spending time together. As these unverified claims circulated across platforms like X, Instagram and Facevook fan pages, the rumour mill picked up speed, prompting fans to draw their own conclusions.

This isn’t the first time Mrunal has been at the receiving end of speculative gossip. Earlier this year, she was linked to actor Dhanush after an enthusiastic online exchange and their appearance together at a film premiere. Though the conversation went viral, no official statement confirming or denying any connection was released by either party. The actress has consistently maintained her stance of keeping personal matters out of the public domain.

Mrunal Thakur’s smart and graceful response to the dating buzz

Mrunal’s recent Instagram post has been widely praised for its tact and humour. Rather than fuelling the gossip cycle, she chose a relaxed, relatable moment with her mother to convey that she remains unfazed by rumours.

“They talk, we laugh. P.S. Rumours are free PR and I love free stuff!” she captioned her post. The witty line immediately caught fans’ attention and was widely interpreted as her way of shutting down speculation without issuing a direct denial or confirmation.

The post not only diffused the chatter but also showcased Mrunal’s composed, humorous approach to public scrutiny.

Also READ: Virat Kohli fans troll actress Mrunal Thakur over dig at star cricketer’s wife Anushka Sharma

Entertainment commentators noted that such light-hearted responses are increasingly becoming the preferred way for celebrities to address speculation without inviting more attention. By neither confirming nor denying the rumours about Shreyas, Mrunal maintained her privacy while subtly signalling that she does not take the speculation seriously.

Shreyas Iyer remains silent amid growing speculation

On the cricketing side, Shreyas Iyer has not commented on the rumours either. Focused on his rehabilitation for a spleen injury sustained during the Australia tour, the batter has maintained complete silence on the matter. His non-engagement has also prevented the rumours from escalating further.

Fans of both public figures have reacted positively to the subtle handling of the situation, applauding the maturity displayed by Mrunal. Several social-media users expressed that the actress’s humorous approach was a refreshing change from the typical cycle of aggressive denials or prolonged silence.

Also READ: Who is Edin Rose? The Dubai-born actress madly in love with Shreyas Iyer

Big Short investor Michael Burry has cast doubt on Tesla’s lofty valuation and warned that CEO Elon Musk’s newly approved $1 trillion compensation package could place even more strain on shareholder returns. In a weekend post on his Substack newsletter, Burry wrote that the electric-vehicle maker’s market value is “ridiculously overvalued” and has been “for a good long time”. His critique focuses largely on how Tesla and other tech firms account for stock-based compensation, which he believes distorts the way investors perceive true profitability.

Michael Burry says dilution is eating into Tesla’s real worth

Burry explained that Tesla’s share count increases by roughly 3.6% each year because the company routinely awards employees significant amounts of stock. Since Tesla does not buy back shares to counterbalance these awards, existing shareholders effectively own a smaller slice of the company each year.He shared a chart with his subscribers to illustrate how this steady dilution can erode a company’s present value, especially over long periods. According to Burry, when the real cost of stock-based compensation is fully considered, Tesla’s valuation looks much less defensible than its headline numbers suggest.He also pointed to Musk’s newly approved pay package as a major accelerant. The plan, which passed with 75% shareholder support, could give Musk tens or even hundreds of millions of new Tesla shares if performance targets are met. This could take Musk’s personal stake from 15% to roughly 29%, reducing the ownership percentage of every other shareholder.“Dilution is certain to continue,” Burry wrote, adding that this structural issue is a core reason he believes Tesla’s market value is disconnected from reality.

A broader critique of tech’s accounting habits

Burry directed part of his criticism at the wider technology industry. He said many tech companies remove stock-based compensation from their “adjusted” earnings results, creating a version of profitability that overlooks a major recurring expense. He argued that companies such as Tesla, Amazon and Palantir routinely benefit from this practice because it makes their financial performance appear healthier than it truly is.He reinforced his point by referencing Warren Buffett, who has long argued that stock-based pay is a real cost to shareholders and should never be treated as an optional footnote.

Market reaction and mixed sentiment

Tesla’s share price dipped slightly after Burry’s comments circulated, although the stock is still up more than 6% this year. Tesla remains valued at about $1.43 trillion.Burry also commented on Tesla’s shifting identity. He said the company’s strongest supporters have changed their narrative repeatedly over the years, moving from electric vehicles to autonomous driving and now to humanoid robots. In his view, this frequent repositioning reflects a company that is constantly searching for its next big justification for growth.The remarks were published on Burry’s newly launched Substack, Cassandra Unchained, which he started after deregistering Scion Asset Management. Many of his recent posts focus on what he believes are emerging bubbles in multiple sectors, particularly artificial intelligence.

Stephen Curry opens up about a heartwarming moment with Ayesha Curry.(Image via Getty Images)

Stephen Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, might have shown the world how deeply they are in love with one another but they have been unable to escape the hate they have received over the last few weeks.Amid all the mess, the Golden State Warriors’ star player, Stephen Curry, opened up about a heartwarming moment he shared with Ayesha Curry before they tied the knot.

Stephen Curry opens up about the moment he knew Ayesha Curry would always stand by him

A few days ago, as Stephen Curry promoted his new memoir Shot Ready, he spoke to PEOPLE about the moment he realised Ayesha Curry was the one for him.Stephen Curry said, “We had just started dating, or about a year and some change in, and I was deciding whether I was gonna go to the draft or not, and, you know, communication, trust, and the whole deal — being able to… I was going through it…”The Golden State Warriors’ star player added, “She actually told me to stay in school because of how important finishing my degree was and the whole deal…”Stephen Curry continued, “That conversation and the emotions that I got to share really just established the fact that she was gonna be my biggest supporter no matter what I did. And, you know, the idea that we’ve been through so many experiences throughout the years, I can go back to that foundation of support and being able to lean on each other through that conversation.” Stephen Curry has often praised his wife, Ayesha Curry, in public as he has always spoken about how she stood by him during the toughest periods of his life.These statements of Stephen Curry’s have raised eyebrows as many feel Ayesha Curry “disrespects” the star player and his commitment towards her.

Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry, made some controversial remarks recently

For the unversed, in August 2025, Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha Curry appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast where she spoke about how she wanted a career for herself when she was young.Ayesha Curry also spoke about how she initially did not want children or a marriage but things changed when she met Stephen Curry.This has made fans furious as neither Stephen Curry nor Ayesha Curry has addressed the drama.Also Read: Stephen Curry’s wife Ayesha Curry breaks silence with heartfelt note to him days after making controversial remarks about their marriage

Rohit Sharma broke a long-standing record, surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI cricket. (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is on the verge of achieving a monumental milestone in international cricket. Ahead of the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, Rohit stands just 41 runs away from becoming only the fourth Indian to breach the 20,000-run mark in international cricket. If he reaches the landmark, he will join an elite club featuring Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid. Tendulkar tops the chart with 34,357 runs, followed by Kohli with 27,808 and Dravid with 24,064.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!So far in his international career, Rohit has scored 19,959 runs in 503 matches at an impressive average of 42.46, including 50 centuries and 110 half-centuries. His runs are spread across formats with 4,301 in Tests, 11,427 in ODIs, and 4,231 in T20Is.

Rohit has had a solid run in ODIs this year as well, scoring 561 runs in 12 matches at an average of 51.00, with two hundreds and three fifties, including a best of unbeaten 121. Since stepping away from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup and opting out of Test cricket in May, ODI cricket is now his sole active format. After the South Africa series, he is likely to feature in the ODI series against New Zealand at home.His recent form reflects consistency and intent. During the Australia tour last month, Rohit struck a fifty and a hundred in the three-match ODI series. He carried that momentum into the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, where he scored a fluent 57 off 51 balls.Rohit also broke a long-standing record during that match, surpassing Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi to become the batter with the most sixes in ODI cricket. Entering the match needing three sixes to go past Afridi’s tally of 351, Rohit reached the milestone in style and now sits at 352 sixes—achieved in just 269 innings, a full 100 fewer than Afridi.

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