Photo credit: X/@eastbengal_fc

NEW DELHI: Punjab FC lost 3-1 to East Bengal in the first semifinal of the AIFF Super Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa, on Thursday.With this win, East Bengal entered their third AIFF Super Cup final. It is also their second final of the season after losing the IFA Shield to Mohun Bagan SG.East Bengal went ahead in the 12th minute when Mohamad Bashim Rashid scored. Punjab FC equalised in the 34th minute through a Daniel Ramirez penalty.Kevin Sibille restored East Bengal’s lead in first-half stoppage time (45+3), and captain Saul Crespo scored in the 71st minute to secure the result for Oscar Bruzon’s team.Both sides began the match slowly, trying to settle into the game. Punjab had the first clear chance when Pramveer met a cross in the tenth minute, but his header went wide.Punjab were without suspended defender Muhammed Uvais, and the team seemed unsettled in defence. East Bengal took advantage of this when they struck in the 12th minute from a short corner. Miguel Ferreira sent a cross that was only partly cleared. The ball fell to Rashid outside the box, and he sent a low shot that went under goalkeeper Muheet Shabir’s glove. It was Rashid’s first goal for East Bengal.Punjab responded by moving higher up the field. Their equaliser came after an error inside the box. A header from Ricky Shabong struck Bipin Singh’s arm, and the referee awarded a penalty. Ramirez sent the spot kick past goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.East Bengal pushed back soon after. Just before half-time, Ferreira sent in another corner from the left. Sibille jumped higher than his marker and scored with a header. East Bengal coach Oscar Bruzon received a second yellow card while celebrating the goal.In the second half, East Bengal controlled more of the play. In the 56th minute, Bipin Singh moved down the left and took a shot that Shabir saved. Hiroshi Ibusuki reached the rebound but headed the ball off target.Punjab attempted to create openings through Suhail and Ramirez but could not break East Bengal’s defence.East Bengal scored again in the 71st minute. Ferreira moved past multiple Punjab players inside the box before passing the ball to Crespo, who sent a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

File photo (Picture credit: ANI)

The Indian rupee’s slide past Rs 90 per US dollar for the first time ever has shifted sentiment in the equity market and raised fresh concerns for investors. The breach of this psychological level has come on the back of weak capital flows, steady demand for dollars from importers, and uncertainty around the India–US trade agreement, reported ET. The currency touched Rs 90.43 on Thursday, marking its fifth straight day of losses despite the Reserve Bank of India’s rreported interventions. Although it appreciated by 26 paise to close at 89.89 on Thursday.

Why the fall beyond 90 matters

Currency traders cited by Reuters said that once the rupee slipped past Rs 88.80—a level the RBI had been defending—the currency became more sensitive to long-standing pressures such as soft capital inflows and a rise in speculative positions. Anindya Banerjee of Kotak Securities was quoted by ET as saying that the move toward Rs 90 was driven by short-covering and importer demand, calling the 90-mark a “major psychological barrier” reinforced by buy-stop orders. “If the pair starts sustaining above this zone, the market could quickly shift into a higher trending phase toward 91.00 or even higher,” he said.Banerjee also pointed to foreign portfolio investor outflows, early signs of unwinding yen carry trades, and the delayed Indo-US trade deal as factors weighing on the rupee. A clear close above 90, he said, could encourage fresh speculative flows.

Investor sentiment takes a hit

The currency’s decline has already begun affecting domestic equities. As per ET, Dr VK Vijayakumar of Geojit Investments said the Nifty’s roughly 300-point correction from its record high has more to do with technical adjustments, including changes in Bank Nifty weightage, but warned that “continued depreciation in the rupee” is prompting FIIs to sell despite strong fundamentals such as rising corporate earnings and robust GDP growth. He added that the rupee could stabilise once the long-awaited India-US trade deal is sealed, possibly this month.Market watchers say the rupee’s direction will have a direct bearing on import costs, inflation trends, and foreign portfolio flows. Weakness in the currency could push up costs for sectors dependent on imported goods—such as petroleum, electronics, and gems and jewellery—putting pressure on margins. However, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said on Wednesday that the recent fall has not affected inflation or exports, as per PTI.

What lies ahead for the Rupee

The US dollar index eased to 99.22 in Asian trade as expectations built that Kevin Hassett may become the next US Federal Reserve chair.. Emkay Global expects the rupee to trade between Rs 88 and Rs 91 for the rest of FY26, noting that it has been far weaker than its Asian peers this year. The brokerage said currency movements will hinge on the outcomes of the US–India and US–RoW trade deals.On Thursday, the rupee briefly recovered to Rs 89.89, supported by a softer US dollar and possible RBI intervention, PTI reported. Earlier in the day, it had hit another record low of Rs 90.43 amid foreign selling and firm crude oil prices. Analysts say elevated oil prices, fragile investor sentiment and persistent FII outflows may keep the rupee under pressure, although a weaker US dollar and the possibility of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December may offer some relief.With the currency hovering around a level last seen never before in Indian markets, investors remain on edge. Analysts warn that without clear intervention or a breakthrough on the trade front, speculative momentum could push the rupee toward Rs 91, making the coming weeks critical for D-Street.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday formally appointed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a period of five years.The move follows the recent passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment on November 12, which created the post of CDF to unify command across the armed forces and streamline decision-making during critical situations.The newly created CDF replaces the abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), which formally ended on November 27 following the retirement of General Sahir Shamshad Mirza.President Zardari approved the recommendation submitted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Munir’s appointment. A press release from the President’s office extended best wishes to Munir in his new role. The same release also announced a two-year extension in the service of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, Chief of Air Staff, effective from the completion of his current tenure in March 2026. Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the reforms “bring constitutional oversight to defence appointments while maintaining military honour and tradition” and confirmed there were no legal or political obstacles to Munir’s appointment. He also stated that the Defence Ministry was preparing a new organogram for the CDF to reflect the changes.Field Marshal Munir, who was initially appointed as COAS in November 2022 for three years, had his tenure extended to five years in 2024. With this appointment, he assumes a historic dual role, serving simultaneously as Chief of Army Staff and the first Chief of Defence Forces, marking a significant shift in Pakistan’s military hierarchy and institutional structure.The 27th Constitutional Amendment elevates the army chief to the role of CDF with constitutional authority over all three branches of the military: army, navy and air force. It also introduces judicial reforms, including the creation of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to handle constitutional matters, allowing the Supreme Court to focus on civil and criminal cases.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the amendment as a demonstration of national unity, highlighting the role of law enforcement in recent counterterrorism efforts. While the ruling coalition including PPP, PML-N, and MQM-P, supported the amendment, opposition parties criticized it as unconstitutional, warning it could concentrate excessive power in the military.PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan described it as the “Baku Amendments,” accusing the government of undermining democracy. PPP Senator Raza Rabbani warned the changes could damage provincial autonomy and roll back powers devolved under the 18th Amendment, according to Dawn. Following Munir’s appointment, the next key step will be appointing the commander of the National Strategic Command (NSC), a four-star position previously under the CJCSC. The NSC commander will be appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the CDF.

India’s central bank will allow the rupee to weaken as the country’s external position comes under strain from slowing dollar inflows, widening trade pressures and heavy foreign selling in domestic markets, according to sources cited by news agency Reuters. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which had been actively supporting the currency until last month through sizeable dollar sales, has let the rupee depreciate 1.3% in the last seven trading sessions, taking it to a record Rs 90.42 per dollar.

The rupee is now down 5.5% this year, making it Asia’s worst-performing currency.According to three people familiar with the RBI’s thinking, the central bank is no longer inclined to defend any specific exchange-rate level and will focus instead on preventing disorderly movements or speculative pressure. “It doesn’t make sense to spend reserves when fundamentally everything is against the currency,” one of the sources said, as per Reuters. Another source said the RBI “does let the rupee move more than it normally would” whenever the underlying demand for dollars warrants it. The central bank has not commented on the matter.India has witnessed significant portfolio outflows, with foreign investors selling $17 billion worth of equities so far this year, Reuters reported. Foreign direct investment, external trade flows and offshore fundraising have all slowed. While the rupee’s fall below the psychologically sensitive Rs 90 mark has attracted attention, the RBI is prepared to counter attempts at speculative build-ups, a third source said.Market participants remain cautious. A weaker currency gives the RBI more room in policy terms but risks making Indian assets less attractive to overseas investors. “A weakening Indian rupee is definitely a negative when it comes to investing in Indian equities,” said Sam Kongrad of Jupiter Asset Management, adding that his firm remains “neutral weight” on India, as per Reuters.MSCI’s India index has gained 7% this year, but rupee weakness has cut dollar returns to below 2%, far behind South Korea and Hong Kong.Some investors believe the impact could ease if a resolution to trade frictions with the United States emerges and fresh foreign flows come through potential global index inclusion. Others argue India’s strong domestic fundamentals — including 8.2% GDP growth in July–September — may help offset currency weakness over time.“I’m not losing sleep over it,” chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said on Wednesday. He added that the rupee’s slide has not fed into inflation and said he expects a recovery in 2026.Meanwhile, the rupee staged a brief rebound on Thursday, rising 26 paise to Rs 89.89 on reports of supposed RBI intervention and a softer US dollar, as per PTI. Earlier in the day, it hit another record low of Rs 90.43 amid foreign selling and costlier crude oil. Traders said uncertainty around the India-US trade deal, elevated oil prices and persistent FII outflows continue to weigh on sentiment, though a weaker dollar and expectations of a US rate cut may offer some support.The market is now awaiting the RBI’s monetary policy announcement on Friday, which comes at a time of rising GDP growth, easing inflation and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

On December 1, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru got married at Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore. As soon as the pictures of their wedding were made public, everyone was elated and sent congratulatory messages. However, with this new update in Raj Nidimoru’s life, people once again showed keen interest in his ex-wife Shhyamali De’s reaction to the news. Though she didn’t directly mention anything anywhere, a cryptic note by her just before the wedding and one only a day after fed the rumour mill. Now days after Samantha and Raj’s wedding, Shhyamali De has shared her a lengthy on social media. Read on to know what it’s all about.

Shhyamali De, Raj Nidimoru’s ex-wife’s long note after his and Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s wedding

On Thursday, in a series of stories, Shhyamali De expressed her gratitude towards people who sent good wishes and positive vibes her way in her hour of need. She also mentioned in her note that her Jyotish guru was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, which left her in a state of grief. Amid all this, she found some peace when people sent her sweet wishes. She also urged her followers to keep the space clean during the difficult times.

Here’s what her note exactly reads:

“I spent a sleepless night tossing and turning, debating, and realised it would be ungrateful and churlish not to acknowledge all the good that is coming to me. I have been practising Meditation on Twin Hearts for many years now. Doing the meditation involves blessing Mother Earth and all persons and beings with peace, love, forgiveness, hope, light, joy, loving-kindness, goodwill, and the will to do good. As a friend reminded me, what I am receiving now is simply that energy returning. I have no team, no PR, no staff, or associates managing my page. I am personally responding while dealing with something that needs my full presence,” she wrote.She continued and mentioned the ordeal of her Joytish guru’s disease. She penned, “On 9 November, my Jyotish guru was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, which has unfortunately metastasised to multiple parts of the body, including the brain. I am sure you all will understand where my attention must be right now.”

“So, a humble request: please keep this space clean. Thank you… thank you… thank you… May every person, every being be blessed with good health, happiness, prosperity, and spirituality,” Shhyamali De concluded.Meanwhile, just a day before Samantha and Raj’s wedding, Shhyamali shared one line on her story – ‘Desperate people do desperate things.’ It caught the attention of the netizens instantly. Later, a day after Samantha shared wedding pictures, De posted a picture of a vast universe, with an arrow pointing to a tiny planet. In text she mentioned, “We live here.”

Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Raj Nidimoru’s wedding

Samathan and Raj got married according to the yogic tradition of Bhuta Shuddhi Vivaha. Their wedding was a low-key ceremony attended by only close friends and family. Pictures from their wedding and pre-wedding festivities are keeping the internet engaged.Sam and Raj’s first collaboration was marked by ‘The Family Man 2’ in 2021. It was the first time the two worked together, where Samantha played a strong antagonist, and Raj was one of the makers. Their professional collaboration turned into friendship and then into a romantic relationship. Initially, the couple kept their affair low-key, but their public spottings always hinted at their chemistry.

England’s Ashes 2025–26 campaign in Australia has drawn almost as much attention off the field as on it, with several star players joined by their wives and girlfriends (WAGs) for the high‑profile tour. From captain Ben Stokes to senior batter Joe Root and rising stars like Jamie Smith and Will Jacks, the support group in the stands has become a major talking point for fans on social media and at the grounds.

Wives and girlfriends of England cricketers at the Ashes 2025-26

Ben Stokes’ wife – Clare Ratcliffe

Clare Ratcliffe, married to England captain Ben Stokes, has been one of the most recognisable faces among England’s cricket families. Known for her grounded personality, Clare has supported Stokes throughout his career highs and personal challenges. She often attends marquee series like the Ashes and is known for sharing family moments while staying largely private.

Jofra Archer’s girlfriend – Druanna Butler

Druanna Butler has frequently accompanied Jofra Archer during tours since the fast bowler’s return to international cricket. She drew social-media attention during the Ashes for her appearances in the stands. Druanna keeps a low profile publicly but is known to be a strong emotional support for Archer as he navigates injury comebacks and high-pressure cricket.

Harry Brook’s partner – Lucy Lyles

Lucy Lyles, partner of batting star Harry Brook, has been visible during England’s overseas series and major Test matches. The couple have been together since before Brook’s rapid rise in international cricket. Lucy is known for her quiet presence and occasional celebratory photos during Brook’s standout performances.

Ben Duckett’s girlfriend – Paige Ogborne

Paige Ogborne, Ben Duckett’s girlfriend, is often spotted cheering from the family enclosure. She has been vocal in celebrating Duckett’s return to England’s Test setup and shares glimpses of their travel and cricket life on social platforms. The couple married recently and are popular among England fans.

Brydon Carse’s partner – Marina Mackintosh

Marina Mackintosh is the partner of fast bowler Brydon Carse and has been present for parts of England’s Ashes campaign. She maintains a private profile but is known for supporting Carse during both domestic and international fixtures.

Will Jacks’ partner – Ana Brumwell

Ana Brumwell, partner of all-rounder Will Jacks, has been active on social media during England tours, sharing travel diaries and behind-the-scenes glimpses. She has become a familiar face in the WAGs group, especially during marquee away series.

Ollie Pope’s wife – Ella Gurdon

Ella Gurdon, married to vice-captain Ollie Pope, has frequently accompanied him on overseas assignments. Known for her elegant presence, Ella has supported Pope across his injury recoveries and leadership responsibilities, often seen in the VIP stands with England families.

Matthew Potts’ girlfriend – Holly Beattie

Holly Beattie, partner of seamer Matthew Potts, is part of the newer members of the England supporters’ group. She has attended several home and away matches and is often pictured celebrating Potts’ milestones.

Joe Root’s wife – Carrie Cotterell

Carrie Cotterell, wife of former England captain Joe Root, is one of the most recognisable WAGs in the squad. A long-term supporter of Root’s career, Carrie is known for attending Ashes series regularly and sharing moments with other England families. She and Root are also parents, often balancing family life with England’s touring demands.

Also READ: Kevin Pietersen’s wife – Who is Jessica Taylor and why is she trending?

Jamie Smith’s partner – Kate Jukes

Kate Jukes, partner of wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, accompanied him on his first major Ashes tour. As Smith continues to establish himself in the Test side, Kate has been part of the England families’ contingent, supporting him through early milestones.

Mark Wood’s wife – Sara Lonsdale

Sara Lonsdale, wife of fast bowler Mark Wood, has long been a favourite among England fans for her warmth and humour. She shares occasional glimpses of life with Wood, including behind-the-scenes travel and family updates, and is often present during major overseas tours.

Also READ: All you need to know about Stuart Broad’s girlfriend Mollie King

Veteran Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon said he was “absolutely filthy” after learning he had been left out of the second Test of the Ashes series against England in Brisbane on Thursday. Lyon also explained whether he had spoken with the Australian team management after the decision.Australia opted for an all-pace attack for the Brisbane Test, leaving out Lyon. The team made two changes from the eight-wicket win in the opening Test in Perth. Michael Neser came in for Lyon, and Josh Inglis replaced injured opener Usman Khawaja.Lyon said he got to know about his omission only after reaching the ground on the morning of the match.“I found out as I came to ground, as I always do, pretty early, about 12 o’clock, and found out about 12.30,” Nathan Lyon said to 7Cricket.George Bailey, the chair of Australia’s National Selection Panel, said the pace of recent Test matches had limited Lyon’s chance to influence games on seam-friendly surfaces.Reacting to that, Lyon said he has not had a detailed conversation with the team management yet and is taking time to process the decision.“No, yeah, absolutely filthy, but, yeah, can’t do anything about it. So, yeah, just hope I can play my role in making sure I can get the guys ready and do whatever I can to make sure that we get the right result here,” Lyon said.“To be honest, I haven’t really sat down with Ronnie [Andrew McDonald] or George yet. I’m letting things settle down in my own head, and trying to make sure that, as I said, doing whatever I can to make sure the guys out in the middle there, representing Australia, do the right thing and get the right result for us,” Lyon added.“The communication is always there, I just hadn’t had it in me to sit down with the coach and George at the moment,” Lyon furher said, adding, “So that will happen. I’m not the first player to miss a Test match and I won’t be the last. But, yeah, obviously pretty gutted because I know the role that I can play within Australian cricket and especially a venue like this.”In the first day of the match, Joe Root scored his first Test century in Australia and his 40th overall, taking England past 300 runs in their first innings.

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