SRINAGAR: J&K Omar Abdullah Saturday praised the Centre for being generous in allocating funds to J&K, but said the same magnanimity had not been shown in the matter of restoring statehood.Omar said he had no hesitation in acknowledging and thanking the Centre’s efforts where it had delivered. “I am not among those who practise politics by deceiving people. Whenever the Centre extends support, I acknowledge it; and wherever there are shortcomings, I also speak about it,” he added.The CM was responding to media persons’ queries about the opposition’s accusations that he praised BJP in Delhi, but criticises it in Kashmir. At a meeting in New Delhi recently, Omar had said the Centre had been generous to J&K, even though, if it wanted, it could have brought his govt to its knees. Opposition parties in Kashmir widely criticised him for the statement, referring to him as “good boy” and alleging that he spoke in different voices in Delhi and Srinagar.Rejecting the criticism, Omar said he did not make statements to please anyone. “I do not say one thing in Delhi and another in Kashmir. I say this (praising Union govt over funds allocation) everywhere — in public meetings, in official interactions and even on the floor of the Assembly,” he said.Omar said the Centre had left no scope for complaint on issues other than statehood restoration, a commitment it has not fulfilled.Criticising the new rural employment guarantee Bill that has been brought to replace MGNREGA, Omar said the Centre had shifted the financial and administrative burden of the programme on the states.The CM was in Srinagar to review the winter preparedness of the administration.

‘Who named G-RAM G Bill?’

Omar Abdullah poked fun at the renaming of MGNREGA as ‘Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, Omar Abdullah said the acronym sounded like a Bollywood movie’s name.“First of all, I am surprised where this name came from,” he said. “I am sorry, but a Bill should have been named after giving it some thought. It reminds me of an old Bollywood movie, ‘Ji Mummy Ji’. I don’t know if you have seen it or not, my nephew has,” he added. “Who named the bill as G RAM G?” he asked. He also criticised the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced concern over the state of India’s red-ball cricket after the team suffered a 0–2 whitewash against South Africa in the Test leg of the home series, stressing that results in the longest format remain the truest measure of a nation’s cricketing health. India’s home season produced mixed emotions. The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI series brought festive scenes and headline-grabbing performances, while a youthful T20I side continued to impress despite a few rough edges. Yet those positives have done little to dull the pain of another home Test whitewash, India’s second in successive years, which has left supporters deeply unsettled.

While defeats at home are not unheard of and long unbeaten streaks are eventually broken, the manner of India’s collapse stood out. The batting unit, stacked with proven talent, was undone repeatedly by South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack, led by spinner Simon Harmer and the tall left-arm pacer Marco Jansen, on challenging surfaces. India’s batters were also comprehensively outplayed by the Proteas line-up across both Tests. The disappointment followed closely on the heels of a 0–3 home whitewash against New Zealand last year, suffered despite the presence of senior players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. More recently, a younger Indian side, captained by Rishabh Pant in place of the injured Shubman Gill, was unable to halt the slide, further compounding the sense of unease among fans.

Sanjay Manjrekar post

Manjrekar took to X to underline the significance of the setback, arguing that Test cricket still casts the longest shadow. He wrote that while India may have won the ODI and T20I series against South Africa, it is the 2–0 defeat in the Tests that continues to linger. According to him, Test results reveal the true state of a country’s cricket, and addressing issues in that format must remain a priority. India now face a stretch dominated by white-ball cricket, with three ODIs and five T20Is against New Zealand coming up, followed by the ICC T20 World Cup and the IPL next year. As a result, it will be several months before the team returns to Test action. At present, India sit sixth in the ICC World Test Championship standings, with four wins, four losses and one draw, translating to a points percentage of 48.15. Australia lead the table with a perfect percentage, followed by South Africa on 75.

There appears to be no slowing down the extraordinary box office run of Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar’. The Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna starrer has stormed into its third week after delivering a record-breaking second week. The film continues to outperform its opening weekend figures, indicating continued audience interest and robust word of mouth.

‘Dhurandhar’ box office collection Day 16

According to early estimates from Sacnilk, ‘Dhurandhar’ earned an impressive Rs 33.50 crore net on Saturday from 5,398 shows across multiple regions. As per the report, the film saw good growth after opening its third week at the box office on Friday with Rs 22.5 crore at the ticket windows.

‘Dhurandhar’ week 3 collections

The film had closed its first week with an impressive Rs 207.25 crore net collection and went on to surpass that figure in its second week, adding an estimated Rs 253.25 crore. This pushed the two-week total to approximately Rs 460.5 crore. With its strong third-week performance, the film’s total net collections have now shot past the Rs 516.5 crore mark, thus cementing its blockbuster status.

‘Dhurandhar’ becomes second-fastest film to hit Rs 500 crore mark

With this achievement, ‘Dhurandhar’ has emerged as the second-fastest Hindi film to cross the Rs 500 crore net milestone. The record is currently held by Allu Arjun-led Telugu blockbuster ‘Pushpa 2 – The Rule’, which achieved the feat in just 11 days. However, ‘Dhurandhar’ has beaten Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ which was previously the fastest film, taking just 18 days to reach the mark. It also beat this year’s blockbuster ‘Chhaava’ which hit the mark in 23 days.

‘Dhurandhar’ becomes Ranveer Singh’s highest grossing film

‘Dhurandhar’ has also become Ranveer Singh’s highest-grossing film to date and his first to enter the Rs 500 crore net club, surpassing his previous blockbusters by a significant margin.

‘Dhurandhar’ gross collection

On Day 16 alone, the film’s gross collections stood at an estimated Rs 40.20 crore. Overall, its India gross has now crossed the Rs 700 crore mark, with total domestic gross collections estimated at around Rs 780 crore. The film’s rapid climb has been fuelled by strong performances, an intense narrative and exceptional weekday holds, translating into repeat viewership nationwide.

‘Dhurandhar’ to enter Rs 1000 crore club

At the international box office, ‘Dhurandhar’ continues to register solid numbers, with overseas collections now estimated at approximately Rs 160 crore. As a result, the film’s total worldwide gross has climbed to around Rs 940 crore. Given the current trend, industry trackers believe it is only a matter of time before ‘Dhurandhar’ enters the coveted Rs 1,000 crore worldwide club.

“As a doctor, I never let shoes cross my doorstep, says Dr. Adrian, MD-he pushes a strict no-shoes policy inside his home for good reason. Shoes track in toxins, bacteria-and heavy metals that turn your home into a hidden health hazard. Simple habit change keeps families safer, especially kids who crawl and explore everything.

Hidden dangers

Shoes pick up more than dirt on city streets-they carry pesticides from sidewalks, bacteria from public bathrooms–and even lead from urban pollution. One-study found 96 percent of shoes tested positive for E. coli, a nasty bug linked to gut infections and urinary tract issues.Kids face the biggest risk;crawlers touch floors then pop hands or toys in their mouths. Those germs transfer fast. Adults track contaminants through homes, spreading them to kitchens–and bedrooms. Over time, this builds up, raising exposure to harmful stuff we can’t see.Floors act like sponges. Vacuuming helps but misses microscopic threats embedded in carpets or grout. Removing shoes stops the cycle right at the door.

What science says about germs

Research backs the no-shoes rule hard. A University of Houston study swabbed shoe soles and found fecal bacteria like E. coli on nearly all samples. Another from New Zealand detected toxic metals including lead, cadmium–and chromium on over 40 percent of shoes.These aren’t rare finds-urban areas amplify risks with traffic fumes settling on roads. Rural shoes haul farm chemicals. Indoors, poor ventilation lets particles linger in air–and dust. Breathing or ingesting them day after day stresses the body.E. coli thrives in warm, moist homes. It survives weeks on floors, hitching rides on socks or bare feet. For vulnerable folks like babies, elderly, or immunocompromised, infections hit harder and faster.

Real risk for kids

Imagine your toddler army-crawling across the living room. That innocent play exposes them to whatever your shoes dragged in from the office bathroom or street vendor stall. Studies link floor bacteria to higher diarrhea rates in children.Pets suffer too. Dogs lick paws after walking on contaminated rugs. Everyone shares the same spaces, so risks spread. Chronic low-level exposure to lead affects brain development in kids, even at tiny doses.In India, monsoons worsen it. Wet shoes smear mud mixed with sewage bacteria into homes. Dust from construction sites adds silica–and asbestos traces. A clean entryway policy cuts these threats dramatically.

Easy rules to apply

Adopt the rule without drama. Place a shoe rack or mat right inside the door. Keep comfy slippers handy for everyone. Guests get disposable booties or a polite heads-up.Lead by example. Families stick to habits when parents do. Sign a fun “no shoes zone” poster for kids. Involve them by letting little ones help wipe down the entry.Clean smarter. Mop with disinfectants weekly, vacuum HEPA filters daily. Air out shoes outside. Benefits show quick: fewer colds, cleaner air, peace of mind.Dr. Adrian nails it! Ditching indoor shoes protects without effort. Homes stay sanctuaries, not germ highways. Start tonight. Your family’s health thanks you.

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar gave blunt advice to the Indian youngster Shubman Gill on his way back from Ahmedabad, since they boarded the same flight on return. He has also defended Shubman Gill following his ugly snub from the T20 World Cup squad.

Shubman Gill’s snub from the Indian team for the ICC T20 World Cup has not only amazed Indian fans but also some of the cricket greats. One of them is none other than the Indian genius Sunil Gavaskar.

While many have been pleased by the selections made by the Indian Men’s Selection committee, some have even praised Shubman Gill’s exit from the World Cup squad; some, like the Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra and former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, have backed Gill.

Your daily dose of cricket!

“Not a bit of a surprise, it is a surprise,” opines Sunil Gavaskar.

After Gill’s omission, Gavaskar seemed to have been genuinely taken aback, as he called it a shock on air when the squad was discussed. Gavaskar began by admitting he didn’t see it coming. “Not a bit of a surprise, it is a surprise.”

“Because he’s a class act. Quality batter, who’s had a fabulous season with the bat. Yes, I know he struggled for these few matches against South Africa. But you know, class always tells in the end. You know, form is always a little temporary,” said Gavaskar.

The former Indian captain tried to reason with Shubman Gill’s lack of form in the format. He mentioned that the Indian player returned after a long layoff, and that explains his lack of rhythm, since one has to just come into the shorter format and go all ‘bang-bang.’

“So the T20 format is not something strange for him,” said Gavaskar

Shubman Gill has often been criticized for being comparatively slower than the other players who bat during the powerplay; to this, Sunil Gavaskar explained that the method could look slower when he doesn’t get to time the ball sweetly.

Gavaskar opined that Shubman Gill is inclined to be more of a Test cricketer and has an intent to play along the ground. He mentioned that when it does not come easily onto the bat, then it is quite challenging to play different kinds of shots to get runs in T20s.

We’ve seen in the IPL, he’s very, very good. So the T20 format is not something strange for him,” said Gavaskar.

“Ghar pe kisiko bolo nazar utar de,” Gavaskar turns on fatherly mode for Shubman Gill

When an injured Shubman Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav returned from Ahmedabad, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar also took the same flight and came back along with the Indian stars.

He revealed that he gave Shubman Gill some advice, and it was not to improve his game or anything concerned with his technique. He mentioned Gill’s injuries as a bit freakish, and hence, he should cast off the evil eye from him.

“I said that some of these injuries that he’s had have been a little freakish. And therefore you know that neck injury and then, of course, the knee injury. I said, Ghar pe kisiko bolo nazar utar de. You know, because we believe in that. We believe in ki kabhi kabhi nazar lag jaati hain,” said Gavaskar, turning his grandfatherly mode on for the Indian cricketer.

ALSO READ: Ishan Kishan reacts as his long wait ends with ICC T20 World Cup 2026 selection

India’s Shubman Gill (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

India’s T20I squad for the 2026 World Cup threw up a major talking point, with Shubman Gill left out and Axar Patel named vice-captain instead. The decision caught many by surprise, including Sunil Gavaskar, who admitted on air that he did not see Gill’s omission coming. Reacting to the squad announcement, the former India captain said the call genuinely shocked him. “Not a bit of a surprise, it is a surprise,” Gavaskar remarked, making it clear that Gill’s absence was unexpected.

Gavaskar was quick to underline Gill’s quality, even while acknowledging his recent struggles. He described Gill as a class batter who has enjoyed an excellent run with the bat in the recent past. While conceding that Gill found it tough in the series against South Africa, Gavaskar stressed that form can fluctuate, but class remains constant. He also pointed to the challenges of returning to T20 cricket after time away from the game. According to Gavaskar, a lack of rhythm can be brutally exposed in the shortest format, where batters are expected to attack from the very first ball. Coming off a long layoff, Gill appeared short of timing, which made the task even harder. Gavaskar explained that Gill’s natural game is more suited to longer formats, with an emphasis on timing and playing along the ground. When rhythm is missing, adjusting to the range of shots required in T20 cricket does not come easily. However, he was clear that this does not mean Gill is unsuited to the format, pointing out Gill’s strong performances in the IPL as proof of his T20 credentials. Adding a personal touch, Gavaskar revealed that he had just travelled from Ahmedabad on the same flight as Gill and India captain Suryakumar Yadav. During their brief interaction, Gavaskar said he offered Gill some heartfelt advice, saying he told Gill to ask someone elder at home to ward off the evil eye. “Ghar pe kisiko bolo nazar utar de. You know, because we believe in that. We believe in ki kabhi kabhi nazar lag jaati hain,” Gavaskar said, adding that his words came only from a place of care and goodwill for the young batter. Despite the omission, Gavaskar’s words reflected continued faith in Gill’s ability and a belief that the right-handed batter will find his way back once rhythm and fortune return.

Mumbai: Bombay high court has set up a three-member committee to resolve a dispute regarding land at Danda Koliwada, Khar West, on which a slum rehabilitation scheme is being implemented. A part of the land is used by the Koli community for drying fish and nets.Justices Girish Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe on Wednesday directed the additional principal secretary, urban development department, along with the collector (suburbs) and CEO, Slum Rehabilitation Authority, “to resolve the issue after hearing both parties and also after considering it appropriate to have a fresh demarcation of the land considering the traditional rights of the petitioners”.The judges said this is “imperative” as it is the state govt’s land and it would be its “obligation”, not only in relation to the slum scheme, to resolve such issues. “It cannot be that the owner of the land, state govt, is oblivious to what is happening to its prime land,” they added.Two Koli societies moved HC objecting to encroachment by the developer on part of the land reserved for fish drying in the development plan. The judges noted that the land is adjoining the petitioner’s land. It is being developed by Hanuman Nagar Shubh Shanti CHSL, a slum dwellers society, through Jasani Realty Pvt Ltd. “Thus, on one hand it is the rights of the encroachers who have proposed a slum scheme on govt land and on the other hand that of the petitioners who are asserting traditional rights. The impasse needs to be resolved by the state govt in accordance with law,” they said.Senior advocate Gayatri Singh said the fish drying land encroached by the slum scheme is about 1,500 sq m. Demarcation of the land has not taken place and even if done, it was without notice to her clients. Singh was contradicted by advocates for the society and the developer.The judges said, “The dispute is purely of demarcation and as to whether the traditional rights of the petitioners… are in any manner affected by the slum redevelopment.”They directed the committee shall, within 10 days meet the parties, undertake a site visit and “pass such appropriate orders which would consider the rights of both the parties”. Till demarcation is made and an appropriate order passed, “no coercive action shall be taken in respect of the land in the petitioners’ use”. They also directed a status quo till the committee takes an appropriate decision and directed the decision to be taken by Jan 10. If any decision adverse to the petitioners is taken, “the same shall not be given effect to for a period of ten days from the date of communication of such order”. Disposing of the petitions, the judges grant the petitioners liberty to revive the petition if “need so arises”.

Mumbai: Students planning to pursue the fourth year of their undergraduate programmes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, from the coming academic year will have to pay higher fees than what they were charged for the first three years. With no govt aid for the fourth year, colleges are planning to raise fees by 25-50%, depending on their expenditure on factors such as teacher salaries, infrastructure, and software or collaborations, wherever needed.Courses offered by colleges that already run aided postgraduate programmes are also expected to see a fee increase, as faculty members will be required to simultaneously handle first-year postgraduate classes and fourth-year undergraduate courses, adding to the institutions’ financial and academic burden. Most colleges, however, run fewer unaided programmes at PG level. The first batch of NEP students will be entering their fourth year in 2026-27 academic session. While colleges are awaiting directives from the govt and the university on the implementation of the fourth year, many have started planning for it. Since the fourth year is optional, many colleges have seen poor interest from students. Less than a third of students have shown interest so far.A city college said that they plan to offer the fourth-year for some programmes in collaboration with a knowledge partner. “It will not be sustainable if the fees are not hiked,” said the principal. “For some programmes, we may also need to check the requirement of non-teaching staff. There are no clear guidelines on the distribution of workload, too, so far,” added the principal, adding that percentage-wise, aided programmes may see higher hikes as their fees in the first three years are very low. Unaided programmes could see a marginal hike. The principal added that there is also uncertainty over whether they will attract enough students from their own colleges to run the programme, as the government is yet to issue clear directives on the possibility of lateral entry.A senior teacher from one of the suburban colleges said that teachers’ salaries will be the primary expenditure and if the colleges invest in licensed software, for instance, for programmes with a specialisation in SAP, then along with the software cost, it could lead to an estimated hike of 25-35% of the fees students paid in the third year.As central regulatory bodies are giving weightage to the implementation of four-year programmes for assessment and rankings, many autonomous colleges are planning to offer it despite the poor interest.

James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ has managed to get a firm footing at the Indian box office. The highly awaited film, which was released in cinemas on Friday, has reportedly crossed the Rs 50 crore mark in just 2 days of its release.The film that remains a key big-screen family entertainer this holiday season has, however, been performing lower than expected for a blockbuster franchise release. As per a report on Sacnilk, the film collected approximately Rs 23.25 crore on its opening day. However, it did register a modest growth of about 15 per cent on Saturday, offering some relief after a comparatively muted start.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ box office collection Day 2

Early box office reports indicate that the film collected an estimated Rs 22.35 crore net on Day 2. The film’s net collections were driven largely by English-language screenings, which contributed around Rs 10.50 crore, followed by the Hindi version with approximately Rs 6.25 crore. The Tamil-dubbed version earned an estimated Rs 3 crore net, while the Telugu version added around Rs 2.50 crore.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ gross collections

In terms of gross collections, the film earned an estimated Rs 26.57 crore on Day 2, with English shows contributing about Rs 12.60 crore, followed by Rs 7.50 crore from Hindi. The Tamil and Telugu versions also posted solid numbers, earning roughly Rs 3.48 crore and Rs 2.88 crore, respectively.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ occupancy

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ recorded an average occupancy of 23.8 per cent on its second day, reflecting wide market penetration across regions with 5,091 shows nationwide.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ vs ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’

Despite the extensive release and strong brand recall, the film has struggled to match the opening momentum of its predecessor. As per the reports, the film has earned nearly half of what ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ earned on Day 1 in India in 2022. Back then, the film delivered a massive start at the Indian box office, grossing close to Rs 50 crore across all versions on its opening day and amassing around Rs 100 crore within its first two days. In comparison, the box office performance of ‘Fire and Ash’ is now nearly 50 per cent behind at the same point.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ vs ‘Dhurandhar‘

Trade observers suggest that the film’s opening-day potential may have been impacted by the continued blockbuster run of Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’, which remains dominant at the box office even in its third week. The film has been overshadowing all new releases to continue its blockbuster run at the Indian markets. The film, which completed 16 days at the box office, managed to score an impressive Rs 33.50 crore net collection.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ early predictions

While the numbers posted by ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ are still strong for a Hollywood release in India, they are being viewed as underwhelming for a franchise of this scale. The film is expected to continue a steady run and register an estimated Rs 75 crore debut weekend collection. However, ‘Dhurandhar’s continued dominance over the Indian box office may prove difficult in the days ahead.