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Ashes 2025-26 [WATCH]: Alyssa Healy’s adorable reaction steals the limelight as Mitchell Starc bags Player of the Series in



Australia sealed the Ashes 2025-26 with a thrilling five-wicket victory over England in the 5th Test at Sydney Cricket Ground, clinching the series 4-1. Chasing 160 on a lively pitch, Australia stumbled to 121/5 before Alex Carey and Cameron Green steadied the ship, underscoring their dominance in the iconic rivalry. Mitchell Starc‘s brilliance earned him Player of the Series honours, capping a campaign that redefined his legacy.​

Ashes 2025-26: Alyssa Healy’s priceless reaction to Mitchell Starc’s player of the series award

Healy, Starc’s wife and Australian women’s captain, delivered an adorable reaction from the commentators’ green room as her husband received the Player of the Series award post-match. Footage captured Healy playfully punching the air in jubilation, her face lighting up with pride amid fellow commentators, a moment that quickly went viral among fans. The celebration carried a cheeky edge, subtly nodding to her earlier clash with Kerry O’Keeffe, who had overlooked Starc in his pre-match prediction for the top performer.​​

Healy’s joy stemmed from defending her husband’s form after O’Keeffe’s snub sparked debate, turning the honour into sweet vindication. Her enthusiastic punches and broad smile highlighted the personal stakes in Starc’s triumph, blending family support with competitive banter in cricket’s high-pressure world. This light-hearted dig resonated with audiences, amplifying the human side of Ashes glory.​

Here’s the video:

Also WATCH: Australia veteran Usman Khawaja gets a Guard of Honour in his farewell game as emotions run high on Day 5 of Sydney Test

Starc’s series-dominating spell in Ashes 2025-26

Starc spearheaded Australia’s attack, claiming 31 wickets across five Tests at an average of 19.93, including two five-wicket hauls that dismantled England’s batting. He contributed 156 runs with the bat, featuring two fifties, showcasing all-round mastery despite injuries sidelining Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. In Sydney, Starc’s 2/93 and 3/72, plus crucial strikes against Jacob Bethells 154, sealed England’s fate and his award.​

Starc’s haul placed him among elites like Shane Warne and Mitchell Johnson, equalling Rangana Herath‘s left-arm record while earning two Player of the Match nods. His pace and swing terrorized England, from Perth’s 7/58 to Brisbane’s 6/75, propelling Australia atop the World Test Championship. Healy’s reaction perfectly mirrored the widespread awe at Starc’s resurgence, cementing his status as Ashes 2025-26’s standout star.

Also READ: Fans erupt as clinical Australia crush England in SCG Test to clinch Ashes series 4–1





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ICE kills woman: Protestors clash with federal agents, 3 held; Minneapolis on edge


ICE kills woman: Protestors clash with federal agents, 3 held; Minneapolis on edge

Minneapolis was on edge Thursday after a woman was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer during the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown. This led to the protest in the city. Protesters clashed with law enforcement agents on Thursday as anger mounted over the shooting, AP reported.State and local officials demanded ICE leave Minnesota after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good was shot in the head Wednesday morning. However, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said agents would not be leaving.The Department of Homeland Security deployed more than 2,000 officers to the area in what it said was its largest immigration enforcement operation ever. Noem said more than 1,500 people were already arrested.Bystanders captured video of Macklin Good’s killing in a residential neighbourhood south of downtown. Hundreds of people attended a Wednesday night vigil to mourn her and urge the public to resist the immigration crackdown. Some then chanted as they marched through the city, but there was no violence.“I would love for ICE to leave our city and for more community members to come to see it happens,” said Sander Kolodziej, a painter who came to the vigil to support the community. 3 protestors arrestedThree people were arrested at an anti-ICE protest near the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, where ICE operated from, after several hundred people gathered at the site in the south metro, CBS news reported.WCCO’s Beret Leone said the crowd split into three groups, blocking agents from entering or leaving the building. Shortly after 8 a.m., three people from the crowd were taken away in handcuffs.Federal agents also deployed chemical irritants at the crowd.Hundreds of people gathered in Minneapolis and neighbouring St. Paul, chanting, marching and holding signs urging ICE agents to get out of their city. The demonstrations were ongoing since news of the shooting broke yesterday.A live feed of the protests showed some confrontations breaking out between law enforcement and protesters.Some protesters were treated after it appeared a chemical agent was deployed.What DHS and Trump say about death of woman?Noem called the incident an “act of domestic terrorism” against ICE officers, saying the driver “attempted to run them over and rammed them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively, shot, to protect himself and the people around him.”President Donald Trump made similar accusations on social media and defended ICE’s work.Noem alleged that the woman was part of a “mob of agitators” and said the officer followed his training. She said the FBI would investigate.However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called Noem’s version of events “garbage.”“They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense,” Frey said. “Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bullshit.”What witness said?The Department of Homeland Security claimed Good “weaponised her vehicle” and attempted to run over officers, prompting an agent to fire what it described as defensive shots. However, multiple eyewitnesses strongly dispute this account. Neighbours say Good posed no threat and appeared to be trying to drive away when gunfire erupted, sending her vehicle crashing into parked cars. Witnesses described chaos, fear and helplessness as federal agents ordered residents to stand back and allegedly did not attempt to render aid. Viral videos and frame-by-frame analyses circulating on social media also challenge the official version, suggesting the agent was not in immediate danger. The shooting has left the community shaken and grieving, deepening public concern over aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.



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Budget 2026: Why home loan rules need a fresh look


Budget 2026: Why home loan rules need a fresh look
For self-occupied homes, the deduction for interest is capped at Rs 2 lakh a year – a figure unchanged since 2015. (AI image)

Falling home-loan rates, increase in young population seeking to buy homes and a steady revival in residential sales have encouraged many to take the plunge into home ownership. Tax incentives continue to be a major attraction for borrowers — but several provisions in the Income-tax Act have not kept pace with rising property prices, bigger loan sizes and frequent delays in construction. As a result, taxpayers often discover that the benefits they assumed they were entitled to are either capped, postponed or unavailable.Pre-construction interest: EMIs now, deductions laterOne of the biggest pain points arises when individuals buy under-construction property. EMI payments begin immediately, but the tax deduction for interest paid during the construction period is deferred. The law currently allows this interest to be claimed only in five equal instalments starting from the year in which the construction is completed, or possession is obtained. Hinesh R Doshi, chartered accountant and past president of The Chamber of Tax Consultants says, “In an environment where project delays are common, this effectively means taxpayers shoulder EMIs, with no tax relief for years. If the borrower is also bearing the brunt of rent expenses, it means a greater financial burden. Allowing EMI deductions in the year of payment has gained urgency”.The Rs 2 lakh cap that no longer reflects realityFor self-occupied homes, the deduction for interest is capped at Rs. 2 lakh a year — a figure unchanged since 2015. As property values and loan sizes having risen sharply, this cap has lost relevance. If construction is not completed within five years from the end of the year in which the loan was taken, the deduction collapses further to just Rs. 30,000. Doshi comments that “Many taxpayers find these limits outdated and out of sync with today’s housing market, wherein prices has tripled in ten years”.Affordable housing deduction lapsesThe additional Rs. 1.5 lakh deduction introduced for first-time buyers of affordable homes expired in March 2022. It was intended to encourage purchases of units with a stamp duty value of up to Rs. 45 lakh. With affordability pressures persisting and housing costs climbing even in smaller cities, there have been repeated suggestions to reinstate or extend this benefit.Doshi is of the view that section 80EEA must be re-introduced to lure new buyers and boost housing sector for first time buyers. This must be continued for several years, as we have huge population below age of 35 years looking to buy a house.Loans from private sources: limited reliefHome loans taken from non-banking sources — such as employers, friends, relatives or private lenders — qualify for an interest deduction but not for a principal deduction under section 80C. Nor do such loans qualify for any additional housing benefits that were earlier available for affordable housing. Borrowers unable to access bank or housing finance company loans due to documentation challenges or credit scores or legal issues with project sanctions etc are therefore disadvantaged, even though the cost of borrowing may be similar.Doshi recommends that the existing provision of 80C should be amended to include borrowers who obtain loans from private sources or from non-banking finance companies.The 80C bottleneckRepayment of housing-loan principal qualifies for deduction under section 80C but must compete for space within the overall Rs. 1.5 lakh limit. With PPF, EPF, ELSS and life insurance premiums also claiming this quota, many taxpayers find themselves unable to claim the full principal repayment. Some experts suggest carving out a separate limit for home-loan principal or raising the current cap to reflect present-day financial realities. Doshi recommends, “A separate deduction of Rs. 1.50 lakh should be added to existing limit of Rs 1.50 lakh for repayment of housing loan. Also, the threshold limit should be enhanced to Rs. 2.50 lakh so as to make housing loan affordable to every citizen of India”Another issue is the reversal rule: if the property is sold within five years of purchase, all principal deductions claimed earlier become taxable in the year of sale.New tax regime denies key housing benefitsUnder the new, lower-tax personal income-tax regime, two major benefits are not available:

  • No deduction for home-loan interest on a self-occupied property, and
  • No deduction under section 80C for principal repayment.

This has left many salaried individuals reconsidering whether the simplified regime truly works in their favour, especially if they have significant housing-loan outgo.Why the law needs updatingHousing is a long-term financial commitment, and the tax framework should ideally support this investment rather than amplify challenges. Several provisions — particularly those dealing with pre-construction interest, deduction caps and eligibility criteria — were designed for a very different real-estate market. Today’s home buyers are coping with higher EMIs, longer construction cycles and tighter budgets.A relook at these provisions could ease financial strain on borrowers while giving a boost to the housing sector, which has strong linkages with employment and economic growth. With the Union Budget approaching, home buyers will be watching closely to see whether long-pending concerns finally get addressed.



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‘Built lasting bridges’: How Padma Shri Tomio Mizokami shaped India–Japan cultural ties | India News


'Built lasting bridges': How Padma Shri Tomio Mizokami shaped India–Japan cultural ties

Renowned Japanese scholar and linguist Professor Tomio Mizokami, Professor Emeritus at Osaka University, is widely regarded as one of the most influential cultural bridges between India and Japan, with a lifelong commitment to Indian languages, literature and education. His contribution was formally recognised in 2018, when he was conferred the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.Born in 1941 in Kobe, Japan, Mizokami developed an early fascination with Indian civilisation, philosophy and languages. After completing his undergraduate studies in Indian Studies at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies in 1965, he travelled to India, studying Hindi in Allahabad and Bengali at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan. He later earned his PhD from the University of Delhi in 1972 and carried out pioneering sociolinguistic research on language contact in Punjab, work that gained international recognition.Over several decades, Mizokami taught Indian languages at Osaka University and later served as Professor Emeritus from 2007. He also taught Punjabi at the University of California, Berkeley, expanding the global reach of Indian linguistic studies. Proficient in a wide range of Indian and European languages, he is widely acknowledged as the first Japanese scholar to conduct extensive academic research on Punjabi.The Indian Council for Cultural Relations described his work as central to strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries. “Professor Tomio Mizokami is a true embodiment of cultural diplomacy. Through his work, generations in Japan have come to understand India through its languages and culture,” an ICCR official said. “His academic and translation work has added exceptional depth to India–Japan relations.During the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Mizokami and praised his contribution, saying, “People like Professor Mizokami have built lasting bridges between India and Japan through language and literature.”Reflecting on his journey, Mizokami said: “Through Indian languages, I discovered not just words, but the soul of India.”



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‘Security issue’: Bangladesh halts visa services in India; tensions high amid violence against minorities | India News


'Security issue': Bangladesh halts visa services in India; tensions high amid violence against minorities

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday announced that it has asked its key diplomatic missions in India, including the High Commission in New Delhi, to temporarily suspend visa services citing “security concerns”.“What I have done is that I have asked our three missions (in India) to keep their visa sections closed for the time being. It’s a security issue,” Foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain told reporters at a media briefing.The remarks came after Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata overnight restricted visa services, following similar steps taken earlier in New Delhi and Agartala.However, business and work visas have been kept outside the scope of the restrictions. Bangladesh also has diplomatic missions in Mumbai and Chennai, where visa services continue to operate normally.Hossain also said Bangladesh has approached the United States seeking a reversal of a recently imposed visa bond requirement. Dhaka will pursue diplomatic channels to seek an exemption, calling the move “certainly unfortunate and painful for us,” PTI reported.At the same time, he noted that the US decision was “not abnormal”, as it was not applied only to Bangladesh and several other countries were facing similar immigration-related measures.Ties between Dhaka and New Delhi have remained strained since the Awami League government led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in violent, student-led protests in July–August 2024. Relations have since hit another roadblock following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, which triggered anti-India protests. Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s July uprising, was killed amid rising political tensions, sparking widespread unrest. Protests also broke out after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu factory worker who was lynched in Mymensingh after being falsely accused of religious defamation.Hindu religious organisations and minority rights groups held a protest outside the National Press Club in Dhaka on Monday, describing the incident as part of a wider pattern of religious extremism, attacks on minorities and official inaction.India too raised concerns over the safety of minorities, the security of diplomatic missions and what it calls “misleading narratives” emerging from Bangladesh. New Delhi further urged Dhaka to bring those responsible for the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das to justice and said it remained “vigilant about the safety of minorities.”From exile in India, Sheikh Hasina blamed interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus for Bangladesh’s instability, accusing the interim government of empowering extremists, failing to protect minorities and undermining ties with India.



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‘Sold a lie for three years’: 85-year-old England legend Geoffrey Boycott rips into Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes after Ashes thrashing | Cricket News


'Sold a lie for three years': 85-year-old England legend Geoffrey Boycott rips into Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes after Ashes thrashing
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: England’s heavy 4-1 Ashes defeat has sparked strong criticism, and one of the loudest voices has been that of former England opener Geoffrey Boycott. The 85-year-old, who once won the Ashes in Australia himself, did not hold back while analysing England’s recent approach to Test cricket.In his column for the Daily Telegraph, Boycott directly targeted England’s leadership group, writing, “Brendon McCullum, Rob Key, and Ben Stokes sold a lie for three years.”

India vs New Zealand ODIs preview: Captain Shubman Gill, vice-captain Shreyas Iyer in focus

According to Boycott, England’s current philosophy has encouraged players to bat and bowl without fear but without responsibility.“McCullum’s philosophy is do your own thing. Play without a care in the world. Express yourselves and if you get out, no problem, it’s not your fault,” he added. “Nobody tells them off, there is no accountability, and nobody gets dropped so they just keep doing the same daft things.”England went to Australia believing their fast bowlers could trouble the hosts. But injuries and selection issues meant that part-time off-spinner Will Jacks ended up playing as many Tests as quicks Mark Wood and Jofra Archer combined. Meanwhile, young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had been prepared for the Ashes, did not play a single match.The series also highlighted both the positives and negatives of England’s attacking style. Jacob Bethell’s brilliant century in Sydney stood out. It was his first hundred in first-class cricket and showed his talent clearly. However, Bethell’s development had earlier been slowed because he was often rested during the 2025 domestic season.Despite limited chances, the 22-year-old showed maturity beyond his years with a superb 154 in Sydney. Former Australia opener Justin Langer praised the innings, saying, “That is entertainment. Not running down and hitting it up in the air and saying, ‘That’s how we play.'”When McCullum and Stokes took charge in 2022, England enjoyed early success, winning 10 of their first 11 Tests. But results have dipped since. England have now lost 14 of their last 28 Tests and have not beaten Australia or India in a major series since 2018.



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Russian oil purchase: How 500% tariff could upend $120 billion India-US trade – explained


Russian oil purchase: How 500% tariff could upend $120 billion India-US trade - explained
A 500% tariff would effectively shut down India’s goods and services exports to the United States. (AI image)

Will India face 500% tariffs from the US soon? It’s a question that’s on the mind of everyone after US Senator Lindsey Graham said that President Donald Trump has given the go ahead for a bill that looks to impose 500% tariffs on countries trading with Russia. What’s important to understand is that while China and India are the largest importers of Russian crude oil, it is only India which has faced Trump’s wrath on the issue.Senator Lindsey Graham said he held a “very productive meeting” with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, during which the President cleared the bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation that has been under discussion for several months.“This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace, and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent. This bill will allow President Trump to punish those countries who buy cheap Russian oil, fuelling Putin’s war machine,” Graham said in a post on X on Wednesday.“This bill would give President Trump tremendous leverage against countries like China, India and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil that provides the financing for Putin’s bloodbath against Ukraine,” he added.Graham said he was hopeful of securing a “strong” bipartisan vote on the legislation, possibly as early as next week. So, what will happen to the India-US trade dynamics if the bill is passed? According to Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) founder Ajay Srivastava, a 500% tariff on goods – and potentially on services via secondary measures – could effectively halt India’s $120 billion US exports!

What is the 500% tariff bill?

Graham, along with Senator Richard Blumenthal, has introduced the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which proposes secondary tariffs and sanctions on “countries that continue to fund Putin’s barbaric war in Ukraine.” The bill outlines a 500 per cent tariff on secondary purchases and resale of Russian oil and has been co-sponsored by nearly every member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

500% Secondary Tariffs Bill

500% Secondary Tariffs Bill

“President Trump and his team have made a powerful move, implementing a new approach to end this bloodbath between Russia and Ukraine… However, the ultimate hammer to bring about the end of this war will be tariffs against countries, like China, India and Brazil, that prop up Putin’s war machine by purchasing cheap Russian oil and gas,” Graham and Blumenthal said in a joint statement last year.

Will India Face 500% US Tariffs & What Will It Mean For Trade?

Trump has already imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods, among the highest levied globally, including a 25 per cent component linked to India’s purchases of Russian energy.Senator Lindsey Graham has said Trump has given his consent to the legislation that would empower the US Congress to levy tariffs as high as 500 per cent on nations that continue to purchase Russian oil.Although China and India account for the bulk of Russia’s crude exports, recent US trade measures have targeted only India with 25% penal tariffs, a pattern that is widely expected to persist, according to GTRI. China, despite being a major buyer, has so far avoided punitive action. US officials are concerned that retaliatory steps by Beijing could include restrictions on rare-earth supplies, which are critical for American high-technology and defence manufacturing.“The same selective logic is likely to prevail under Senator Lindsey Graham’s proposed legislation. Even if the bill were to clear the Senate – a remote prospect – it would in practice target India alone, while China would remain beyond reach,” says GTRI.So far, President Donald Trump has refrained from pursuing tariff actions through Congress, preferring instead to invoke presidential emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, the tariff strategy is currently facing legal challenges, with a Supreme Court decision likely soon. In contrast, the Graham proposal would have to pass the Senate, adding another layer of uncertainty to its prospects.Even assuming the bill becomes law, questions remain over how a 500 per cent tariff would actually be implemented, notes GTRI. While US customs authorities are empowered to impose duties on physical goods, there is no statutory framework to levy tariffs on services. Any escalation, therefore, would likely take the form of taxing US companies on payments made for services sourced from India, the GTRI report says.The 50% tariff has already inflicted significant damage. A 500% tariff would effectively shut down India’s goods and services exports to the United States, now exceeding $120 billion annually.“India must take a clear position on Russian oil imports and convey it decisively to Washington,” Ajay Srivastava says.“The broader contradiction is hard to ignore. US lawmakers speak of “punishing” countries for purchasing Russian oil even as Washington moves aggressively to seize Venezuela’s oil assets. This is not a rules-based trading order; it is worse than the law of the jungle, as it is unevenly applied,” he adds.



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US market today: Wall Street trades flat; defence stocks rally on Donald Trump’s military spending push


US market today: Wall Street trades flat; defence stocks rally on Donald Trump’s military spending push

US stock indices were largely subdued in early Thursday trade, even as defence companies rallied sharply after President Donald Trump said he wants to significantly raise military spending.The S&P 500 slipped 0.2% in early trading, though it remained close to its recent all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 109 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite fell 0.4%, AP reported.Gains were concentrated in defence stocks after Trump said he aims to lift US military spending to $1.5 trillion in 2027 from about $901 billion, as part of plans to build what he called a “Dream Military”. Northrop Grumman jumped 8.2%, Lockheed Martin surged 8.8%, and L3Harris Technologies rose 8%, more than recouping losses from the previous session.RTX underperformed its peers, rising 3.4%, after Trump criticised the company for being the “slowest in increasing their volume”. The president also signed an executive order calling on the Pentagon to include clauses in future contracts that would bar defence contractors from buying back their own shares during periods of underperformance on government contracts.Bond yields edged higher following mixed US economic data. Weekly jobless claims rose, signalling some increase in layoffs, but broadly in line with expectations. Separate data showed stronger-than-expected gains in worker productivity and an unexpected narrowing of the US trade deficit in October.Oil prices climbed, extending recent volatility. US benchmark crude rose 2.1% to $57.18 a barrel, while Brent crude gained 2% to $61.14. Prices have been swinging amid uncertainty following Trump’s removal of Venezuela’s leader last weekend, even as expectations of ample global supply continue to weigh on the market.Global markets were mostly lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped 1.6%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 1.2%. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 4.18% from 4.15% late Wednesday.



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The quiet legend of Lalbagh: Meet the Bengaluru dosa seller who turns batter into dreams | Bengaluru News


BENGALURU: A story of dedication and perseverance by a Bengaluru food vendor has gone viral online, each mornings are filled with the aroma of fresh dosa and idli batter, thanks to a man whose hard work has quietly shaped his family’s future.Raju, a seller of fresh dosa and idli batter, has been running a small stall outside Lalbagh Botanical Garden for the past 15 years.

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Bengaluru Headlines Today — The Biggest Updates You Need to Know.

The vendor’s story was shared on X by Bengaluru-based investor Sandeep R, a long-time customer along with a picture of Mr Raju, highlighting his dedication and perseverance.According to Sandeep R, Mr Raju begins his day very early, selling batter from 6 am to 10 am. After that, he works a second job as an employee for the remainder of the day. “Two jobs. No complaints,” he wrote.The post drew attention not only for Mr Raju’s long working hours but also for the results of his dedication. Through years of consistent effort, he has been able to educate his daughter. She is now a Master’s graduate and employed at a multinational biotech company.“Not charity—just supporting a man who shows what real compounding looks like,” Sandeep added, calling Mr Raju a “quiet legend.”Social media users praised Mr Raju’s perseverance, noting how his steady work had enabled his daughter’s success. One user wrote, “I see this person right outside Lalbagh Grand Hotel. Once bought ottu shavige and dosa batter from him, which was the best quality.” Another commented, “Now that’s a solid side hustle. 4 hours work (+ batter prep time).”Another user said people should choose such local vendors over packaged and branded batter products, while several others called the story inspiring and relatable.The post has received over lakh views and numerous comments, celebrating Mr Raju as an inspiration for dedication, hard work, and family commitment.



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Ailani & Kalani families face off in high-voltage Ulhasnagar contest | Mumbai News


Ulhasnagar: The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation elections have witnessed intense political competition, especially in Panel Number 5, where the contest has emerged as one of the most closely watched battles. Although the Mahayuti alliance includes both Shiv Sena and the BJP, the two parties are contesting the elections separately in Ulhasnagar, adding further significance to key panels across the city.In Panel 5, the BJP has fielded Meena Ailani, a two-time corporator and wife of sitting MLA Kumar Ailani. She is facing Seema Kalani, daughter of former influential leader Pappu Kalani; she is contesting from this panel for the first time, marking her electoral debut in the constituency.Over the years, Kumar Ailani has been locked in a long-standing political rivalry with the Kalani family. He has contested elections against members of the family on five occasions. In these contests, Ailani has recorded one victory and one defeat each against Pappu Kalani and his wife. In addition, during the elections held last year, Kumar Ailani also defeated Pappu Kalani’s son, Omie Kalani, once. This election marks the first time that different members from both families are directly facing each other in a municipal corporator election.Panel 5 consists of four wards and is regarded as one of Ulhasnagar’s most posh residential areas. A notable feature of this panel is that in one of the four wards, Seema Kalani is joined by Vicky Bhullar, son of senior Shiv Sena leader and five-time former corporator Bhullar Maharaj.Speaking during the campaign, Vicky Bhullar highlighted several civic issues in the panel, including water shortage, poor maintenance of gardens, and parking problems. He said if elected, the alliance would redevelop the Gol Maidan by creating an underground parking facility with a garden on top. He also proposed addressing the water crisis by constructing interconnected water tanks on the lines of Bhopal’s model, using borewell water that would be filtered and supplied to residents.Countering these claims, Meena Ailani stated the water problem in the panel has already been resolved and the area has been made tanker-free. She also said all internal roads in the panel have been converted to cement concrete roads.In this panel, the BJP has fielded Meena Ailani along with Raju Jagiasi, advocate Gunjan Sadhwani and Nand Chapru as its candidates. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena has nominated Seema Kalani, Bhullar Maharaj, Dilip Jagiasi, and Nikita Chapru as its candidates.



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