Ambernath: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday addressed a massive BJP rally in Ambernath, a stronghold of Shiv Sena chief and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, sending out a strong political message ahead of the December 20 municipal council polls. The election has turned into a prestige battle, particularly between BJP and Sena, which are contesting separately despite being allies at the state level. Shinde has scheduled a rally in Ambernath on Thursday.Addressing the gathering, Fadnavis indirectly targeted the ally Shiv Sena, asserting that Ambernath now needs a municipal council free from “intimidation, excesses and non-transparent functioning.” He appealed to voters to elect a BJP-led council on December 20, ruled by Sena for many years, stating that the party does not believe in petty political squabbles but works with a clear and long-term development vision. “We are not a party that indulges in ‘you-versus-me’ politics. We move forward with a vision of development,” the chief minister said.Highlighting the BJP-led government’s focus on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Fadnavis said earlier UPA governments concentrated only on Mumbai, neglecting surrounding urban centres. “After becoming chief minister, we consciously shifted attention to the MMR. Whether it is Ambernath or Badlapur, we have sanctioned substantial funds for roads, water supply and basic infrastructure,” he said.Fadnavis noted that projects worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore are currently underway across the MMR. He pointed out that through the MMRDA, work on a 370km Metro network has begun, which will significantly transform regional connectivity. He announced that Metro Line-14, proposed between Badlapur and Kanjurmarg, would directly benefit Ambernath, with work expected to begin next year. He also assured improved suburban rail services, promising to take up the demand for extending 15-coach local trains up to Ambernath with the Railway Ministry. He said efforts would be made to increase train frequency to one every 10 minutes. Recalling his own experience as a local train commuter, Fadnavis said future suburban trains would be fully air-conditioned and enclosed, similar to Metro coaches, without increasing fares.On the issue of water scarcity, Fadnavis acknowledged that rapid urban expansion in the MMR has strained existing resources. He said the state government has initiated the construction of two new dams, including the Poshir and Shilar project, which will be completed within two years and help resolve long-standing water issues in the region.Positioning the BJP as future-oriented, Fadnavis said the party aims to transform the MMR into one trillion-dollar economy. He urged voters to elect BJP president candidate Tejashree Karanjule, asserting that stable leadership at the civic level is essential to accelerate development.The Ambernath Municipal Council falls within the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Eknath Shinde’s son MP Shrikant Shinde, who is also actively campaigning and mobilising party workers to ensure a strong performance for the Shiv Sena.In the 59-member Ambernath Municipal Council, both BJP and Shiv Sena are not only aiming to secure the maximum number of corporator seats, but are also focusing on winning the directly elected president’s post for the first time. The presence of senior leaders from both sides has further intensified the contest, making the electoral battle more keenly fought.

Thane: Two unidentified bike-borne assailants opened fire at the office of BJP candidate Pawan Walekar contesting the Ambernath Municipal Council polls a little after midnight on Wednesday. Pawan’s security guard sustained injury when shards of broken glass pierced his finger due to the impact of the bullets on the windows, police said.With just three days left for Ambernath to go to polls, the firing incident, which took place the day chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was scheduled to address a rally there, has heightened political tensions and raised serious concerns about law and order in the area.DCP Sachin Gore said a case has been registered against the unidentified assailants and preliminary probe suggests the firing was intended to create fear and intimidation. He added that three police teams and one crime branch team have been deployed to trace the accused. “The motive behind the firing will become clear only after the perpetrators are arrested,” Gore said.Around 12.15am, Pawan was in the office of his construction firm, Bhupati Ventures, in the Navin Bhendi Pada area, along with two associates and the guard, when two men wearing helmets arrived on a two-wheeler, police said. At least four rounds were fired, while one bullet reportedly misfired, damaging the glass facade. The guard attempted to chase the fleeing assailants, but sustained an injury to his finger due to shattered glass. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras on the office premises.Following the incident, BJP leaders and workers staged a protest, expressing suspicion over the involvement of Shiv Sena city president Arvind Walekar’s family. Arvind’s son Nikhil is pitted against Pawan. They later gathered outside Ambernath police station, demanding registration of an FIR against Arvind and his family members.Sena leaders refuted the allegations. A delegation led by the party’s Thane district president Gopal Landge met the DCP and demanded an impartial probe. They alleged that the firing might have been orchestrated by Pawan himself. Arvind too denied the accusations, stating that the incident appeared to be a conspiracy to malign his family’s image.Thane police have increased security deployment across Ambernath to prevent any untoward incidents before the municipal council polls scheduled on December 20.Local polls: Firing at BJP candidate’s office in Thane; security guard injured

Mumbai: A magistrate’s court on Tuesday pulled up Cuffe Parade police for failing to follow due process while arresting an accused who allegedly impersonated an IPS officer and duped a senior Indian Navy officer of nearly Rs 2.7 lakh. The court not only directed the immediate release of Kartik Venugopal (30), but also ordered senior police officials to file a reply within seven days, explaining why the mandatory procedure of providing written grounds of arrest in a language understood by the accused was not followed.The case pertains to a complaint lodged by a senior woman officer of the Indian Navy, who alleged that Venugopal had created a fake profile on a matrimonial website and claimed to be an IPS officer. The complainant, who was searching for a suitable match, came across his profile and initiated contact. Venugopal, a resident of Kerala, responded, and the two soon began communicating regularly after exchanging phone numbers.According to police, the accused claimed to be an IPS officer posted outside Maharashtra and gradually gained her trust. After developing a prolonged friendship, he allegedly sought financial help citing personal difficulties and managed to extract Rs 2.7 lakh through online transactions. When he later demanded more money, the complainant grew suspicious and discovered the alleged impersonation, following which she approached Colaba police. The offence was later transferred to Cuffe Parade police station.The cyber cell of Cuffe Parade police traced the financial transactions to Kerala, from where Venugopal was arrested and brought to Mumbai on Monday. The next day, the accused was produced before the 23rd Metropolitan Magistrate Court, where police sought his custody claiming that he is a habitual offender as one more similar offence has been registered against him outside Maharashtra. But advocate Sunil Tiwari, appearing for Venugopal, argued that the arrest was illegal and cited Supreme Court judgments on mandatory arrest procedures. He contended that Venugopal understood only Malayalam and English, while the arrest notice was served in Marathi, violating legal requirements. Accepting the argument, the court ordered the accused’s release.

Babar Azam (Image credit: BBL)

NEW DELHI: Adelaide Strikers secured a thrilling three-wicket win over Sydney Sixers in the fourth match of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 season. Jamie Overton was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!With this victory, the Strikers climb to third in the BBL standings with two points, while the Sixers, suffering consecutive defeats, remain at seventh.

Batting first, Sydney Sixers posted 159/9 in 20 overs. Babar Azam struggled again, scoring just nine runs off 10 balls, including a four, while wicketkeeper-batter Josh Phillippe top-scored with 46 from 28 deliveries, hitting eight fours and a six. Jack Edwards contributed a fighting 32 off 21 balls, including four boundaries, as the Sixers posted a competitive total. For Adelaide, Luke Wood (3/26), Jamie Overton (2/22), and Lloyd Pope (2/25) shared the wickets.During the chase, Liam Scott smashed 51 off 31 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes. Jamie Overton, after brilliant bowling figures, added 30 runs off 20 balls, including four boundaries, as the Strikers chased down the 160-run target in 19.2 overs.After receiving the Player of the Match award, Overton said the chase felt controlled.“I’d like to think so (if the chase was under control), but those first games of the season, you always just want to get over the line. So it’s nice to do that and get our first win on the board. Coming up against these guys is never easy; they’re one of the best franchises in the world, so to get the win in the opening game is very satisfying. Yeah, I think it’s been around 8 years, so it was great to break that duck. That makes it even more special,” Overton said.“We felt pretty comfortable at the break (chasing 160). At times it was a bit sloppy – I think we gave away around a dozen extras – and there was some swing early on. So the plan was to play the conditions, get through the start, and then try and take the game on at the back end. Once we did that, it felt like we were mostly in control. Absolutely (enjoying his time). It’s my third season here and I love coming back, playing in front of the Adelaide fans and travelling around Australia. It’s one of my favourite places in the world, so I’m really enjoying it,” Overton added.

NEW DELHI: The US administration for children and families (ACF) under the department of health and human services wrote to the governors of 39 states, calling on them to safeguard Social Security benefits meant for children in foster care. In letters sent on Thursday, the ACF flagged concerns alleging that state child welfare agencies are collecting Social Security survivor and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits owed to foster children and using the funds to offset foster care costs, rather than preserving them for the children. “Every earned benefit dollar belongs to these foster youth, not government agencies or bureaucrats,” ACF Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams said, stressing that protecting children must remain central to child welfare policy, as reported by Economic Times quoting Daily Express US.Idaho has discontinued the practice under Adams’ leadership, joining ten other states that have enacted policies protecting foster children’s benefits. The federal authorities are now working on ways to reform practices in the states where benefit collection continues.According to a Social Security Advisory Report, published in September, cited by Daily Express US, around 27,000 foster children, i.e. more than 5 per cent of the total foster care population receive Social Security or SSI benefits. Several states routinely divert these funds, saving millions in foster care expenditure, according to the Associated Press. Social Security survivor benefits are based on lifetime contributions made by deceased parents and are considered a critical financial resource for affected children. The agency is now seeking to ensure that benefits are preserved for foster children, particularly as they transition out of state care. The issue has drawn political attention in recent years. In March 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren raised the matter during a Senate hearing, calling for a ban on states collecting foster children’s survivor benefits. She claimed states had taken at least $179 million from foster children in 2018 alone to fund unrelated state expenses. Warren alleged that some states screen children in foster care for Social Security eligibility—sometimes using data-mining firms—and divert the proceeds into state budgets. “Those benefits are being used for everything from office supplies to prisons,” she said.

HYDERABAD: Cyient Semiconductors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyient Ltd, is acquiring over 65% stake in San Jose headquartered power semiconductor player Kinetic Technologies for a total cash consideration of up to $93 million (approx. Rs 846 crore). The transaction, which is subject to customer closing conditions, is expected to be completed by April 30, 2026.Cyient Semiconductors Singapore Pte Ltd, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyient Semiconductors Private Limited, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the majority stake in Kinetic Technologies, Cyient informed the bourses on Wednesday.Kinetic’s current leadership team and engineering organisation will continue to operate within its existing structure, with ongoing alignment to Cyient Semiconductors’ strategic direction and board oversight to ensure continuity for customers, partners, and employees, Cyient said.According to Hyderabad-based Cyient, the acquisition was being done with an eye on driving custom power IC leadership in Edge AI and high-performance compute markets and would be a game-changer for Cyient Semiconductors’ ambition to set up India’s first ASIC-led custom power semiconductor powerhouse.Kinetic, which was incorporated in 2006, develops high-performance ICs for efficient power delivery and signal conditioning for global markets. It has a deep expertise in analog and mixed-signal design, including power conversion solutions, display power, protection, and interface solutions.Bringing together Cyient Semiconductors’ design leadership with Kinetic Technologies’ proven portfolio of high-performance analog and mixed-signal ICs – including power conversion solutions, display power, protection, and interface solutions—the company is positioned to take a strong leadership position in high-growth markets.Cyient Semiconductors CEO Suman Narayan said combining Kinetic’s power management and protection IC depth with Cyient Semiconductors’ custom ASIC engine materially will strengthen their platform strategy to cater to exploding AI demands.“This will help shorten development cycles and scale our ability to solve the toughest power, thermal, and reliability problems in high volume systems. The result is custom application-specific power management ICs for data centers, communications, medical electronics, and industrial IoT, delivering superior performance and total cost efficiency,” he said.Kinetic Technologies CEO Kin Shum said Kinetic Technologies could benefit greatly from the semiconductor market opportunities, talent availability in India with the backing of a partner like Cyient Semiconductors.