Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has stepped in amid the growing political storm surrounding Kolkata Knight Riders’ signing of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, asking the franchise to release the left-arm pacer from its squad ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development to PTI, stating that the board had communicated its decision to KKR in light of the prevailing situation. The intervention follows days of mounting pressure after KKR moved to rope in Mustafizur during the IPL auction, a decision that triggered sharp reactions beyond the cricketing sphere.

KKR had acquired the services of the 30-year-old left-armer for Rs 9.20 crore from a base price of Rs 2 crore after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the players’ auction last month. The franchise viewed Mustafizur as an experienced overseas option capable of bolstering its bowling attack. A political controversy erupted soon after the signing, with sections of the Bharatiya Janata Party and several religious organisations objecting to the inclusion of a Bangladeshi player in a Kolkata-based IPL franchise. The backlash has been rooted in the current strain in India–Bangladesh relations, as well as concerns being raised around reports of violence in the neighbouring country. Addressing the situation, Saikia clarified that KKR would be permitted to name a replacement player if required. “The BCCI has asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from its squad. They can ask for a replacement if needed, and upon request, the BCCI will allow a replacement player,” Saikia told PTI on Saturday. When asked about the reason behind the decision, the BCCI secretary said, “Because of recent developments all across.” The pressure on the board had been intensifying over the participation of the Bangladesh cricketer, particularly in the wake of the recent killing of a Hindu man in the country and India’s expression of concern regarding the safety of minorities there. What began as a cricketing call eventually evolved into a wider debate, drawing the league, the franchise and the BCCI into a sensitive geopolitical conversation.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has revealed the single and most important factor behind the company’s trillion-dollar success: “obsessive, compulsive focus on the customer” rather than on competitors. Speaking at the Economic Club of Washington, Bezos stressed on the fact that many of the CEOs and founders claim that they prioritise customers but in reality they spend most of their time in keeping a close watch on their rivals. “It is a huge advantage to any company if you can stay focused on your customer instead of your competitor,” he said.

Customer obsession comes first at Amazon

Amazon’s career page lists 14 leadership principles and ‘customer obsession’ tops the list. The philosophy urges leaders to “start with the customer and work backwards” to earn and keep trust. Bezos feels that it is always important to identify your true customer. “It is a huge advantage to any company if you can stay focused on your customer instead of your competitor. So then you have to identify who is your customer,” said Bezos.At the Washington Post, for example, he said the customer is the reader, not advertisers. “Advertisers want to be where there are readers. So, it’s really not complicated,” he noted.Bezos pointed to Amazon Prime as a prime example of customer‑driven innovation. Launched in 2005 with free and fast shipping, the service was initially criticized as “too good to be true.” Yet its focus on consumer needs proved transformative.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ advice to young people

Jeff Bezos shared an important and surprising piece of advice for young people who are dreaming of entrepreneurial success. Bezos said ‘Go work at McDonald’s.’ As reported by Fortune, in a recent interview, Bezos stressed on the importance of early work experience especially in the fast-paced, customer-facing environment. “I always advise young people: Go work at McDonald’s,” Bezos said. “You learn responsibility. You learn how to show up. You learn how to deal with people. You learn how to hustle.”For those unaware, Bezos started Amazon out of his garage in 1994. He believes that entry-level jobs such as those at McDonald’s tech foundational skills which are important for long term success. He emphasised that such small roles are necessary as they instill skill like discipline, resilience and the ability to handle pressure. These are the traits that many Gen Z entrepreneurs may overlook in their rush to build startups.

Zohran Mamdani is set to begin a new mayoral term after a historic election that gave him the highest vote count for a New York City mayor in 60 years. After winning with a campaign focused on working-class issues, he now faces the challenge of delivering on his promises as living costs remain at record highs, economic growth shows signs of slowing, federal support weakens and budget pressures mount.Housing remains the most severe strain on household finances. More than half of a typical family’s income goes towards rent, while about 100,000 people rely on homeless shelters each night, according to CNN. In Manhattan, median monthly rents have crossed $5,400. “This is what a full-blown affordability crisis looks like,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said in a December report.Central to Mamdani’s agenda is a pledge to freeze rents in rent-stabilised apartments, a policy he has described as his “landmark policy”. Nearly one million apartments, close to half of the city’s rental housing, would be affected. However, nonprofit housing providers and developers operating subsidised units say that existing revenues are already insufficient to meet operating costs.Simultaneously, the rising cost of daily necessities has pushed many residents into financial distress. Around 1.4 million people, roughly 15% of the city’s population, face food insecurity. Child care costs are also among the highest in the country, with a family required to earn $334,000 annually to afford care for a two-year-old, according to US Census Bureau data.Data from Community Preservation Corporation shows that since 2020, expenses for rent-stabilised housing have increased by 22%, while rents have risen by only about 11%. Industry experts warn that the gap between costs and income could lead to worsening building conditions as expenses for insurance, labour and utilities continue to rise.Alongside rent control, Mamdani has proposed the construction of 200,000 permanently subsidised affordable homes aimed at low- and moderate-income residents. Yet financial stress within the affordable housing sector is already evident. “The trends of increasing costs and reduced income are unsustainable for affordable housing,” Enterprise Community Partners and National Equity Fund said in a recent report, calling for emergency funding and state intervention to curb insurance expenses.Beyond housing, Mamdani has committed to free child care for children aged six weeks to five years and removing fares from city-run buses. Funding these initiatives depends on state approval to increase taxes on high-income residents and corporations. New York governor Kathy Hochul has publicly opposed making the entire bus network free, citing the potential $1 billion loss in fare revenue for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.Whether Mamdani can turn this proposal into policy will depend on political pressure from his support base, according to Columbia University historian Kim Phillips-Fein. His grassroots campaign has already inspired allies to launch a nonprofit organisation aimed at pressing city and state lawmakers in Albany. “People thought Mamdani’s election was impossible a year ago, but it was accomplished through significant political organizing,” Phillips-Fein said. His success as mayor “will depend upon an alignment of political forces and continued organizing.” Economic indicators present both strength and concern. While opponents warned before the election of a potential flight of wealthy residents or a repeat of the city’s 1970s fiscal collapse, Phillips-Fein told CNN that such comparisons are “shallow”. Unlike that period, New York is not experiencing population loss or a decline in manufacturing jobs.Employment and labour force participation remain at record levels, tax revenues are at historic highs and office leasing reached 97% of pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2025. However, momentum is slowing. The city is projected to add 78,000 fewer jobs in 2025 than the previous year, with most gains concentrated in the low-wage home health sector, according to Sarah Parker of the New York City Independent Budget Office.At the same time, a $6.5 billion budget shortfall is expected in 2027, with larger gaps forecast in subsequent years. The incoming administration is “facing a pretty challenging fiscal picture,” Parker said.Federal policy is likely to shape the city’s outlook. Mamdani has vowed to pursue “the most ambitious agenda to tackle the cost-of-living crisis this city has seen since the days of Fiorello La Guardia”, but unlike La Guardia’s era, current federal leadership has moved to cut key social programmes, CNN reported.State estimates suggest that Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill will lead to 1.5 million New Yorkers losing health insurance coverage, 300,000 households losing some or all SNAP benefits, $13 billion in cuts to the state’s healthcare system and 200,000 job losses, alongside higher long-term energy costs due to the cancellation of clean energy projects.Although Mamdani and US President Donald Trump held a meeting at the White House in November, the administration is withholding $18 billion in federal funding for New York City transit projects. Tariffs, immigration restrictions and reduced federal spending create a “challenging climate for cities like New York,” City Comptroller Brad Lander said in a December report, as cited by CNN. Meamwhile, Mamdani has maintained confidence that progress is possible. “I’m really looking forward to delivering for New Yorkers in partnership with the president on the affordability agenda.”

Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar’ completed 29 days at the box office, and it is still enjoying the crown of the undefeated king. The action-packed spy thriller, known for its gripping tale and stellar performances, entered its 5th week on Thursday and marked a new milestone in its journey. With a worldwide collection crossing Rs 1160 crore, it shows no signs of slowing down.Dhurandhar Movie ReviewAdditionally, it is worth noting that during its 29-day journey, it saw several regional, national, and international releases, but none of them could outperform the Aditya Dhar movie. The latest release ‘Ikkis’ got a boost on the New Year; the earlier released ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’ had a good opening, but nothing affected the growth of ‘Dhurandhar’

‘Dhurandhar’ box office collection Day 29 update

According to Sacnilk, the movie made Rs 8.75 crores in India on day 29. Though it is a dip in the numbers as compared to its day 28 performance, the film is trying to hold its ground at a steady pace. With this, the India net collection of the movie stands at Rs 747.75 crore. Meanwhile, the gross collection of ‘Dhurandhar’ in India stands at Rs 897.25 crore, and the business from overseas accounts for Rs 265 crore. Making the worldwide collection of ‘Dhurandhar’ after 29 days of theatrical release, Rs 1162.25 crore.

‘Dhurandhar’ weekly performance

Since its debut, the movie has been making and breaking records. In its opening week, the film made a massive collection of Rs 207.25 crore. In week two, it grew stronger and collected Rs 253.25 crore. Week 3 had its highs and lows, and the movie made Rs 172 crore. Thereafter, the extended holidays propelled the film to an estimated Rs 106.5 crore in week 4.DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers in this article are compiled from our proprietary sources and diverse public data. We strive for accuracy and all figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned. We offer a fair representation of the project’s box office performance. We are open to feedback and suggestions on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.

BENGALURU: The Karnataka govt is considering rejecting the Centre’s Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Grameen), or G-RAM-G, which has replaced MGNREGA, and is exploring the possibility of rolling out its own rural employment guarantee scheme.“The Cabinet on Friday condemned G-RAM-G, which has snatched the right to work from the people of this country and is a big blow to the federal structure of the nation,” law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil said. He said the Cabinet was united in opposing the new law, which seeks to centralise all projects.Noting that G-RAM-G falls under the Concurrent List, Patil said the state may consider alternative options, the details of which will be outlined by chief minister Siddaramaiah at a press briefing on Saturday.Under G-RAM-G, states are required to fund 40% of project costs. “This act is nothing but an attempt to help Central govt contractors by providing them with labour while reducing their own burden,” he said.The name change is a small issue, the bigger problem is centralisation and the snatching of work from people in need,” Patil reasoned.He added that the new law would hurt gram panchayats the most and adversely affect local development.Sources said opting for a state-run scheme would mean forgoing 60% of Central funding under the new act.In 2024-25, Karnataka had received Rs 5,580 crore from the Centre under the erstwhile MGNREGA, providing work to 21.2 lakh households. Under G-RAM-G, this would effectively drop to Rs 3,720 crore.“If we are to save the jobs of our rural households, such an action may be necessary,” a Cabinet minister said. Other state govt officials said Karnataka may also lobby the Centre to relax norms on permissible works and increase its share of funding.

NEW DELHI: In a major boost for electronics manufacturing, the Centre has cleared 22 new proposals – including from Samsung, Foxconn, Tata Electronics and Dixon – for component manufacturing entailing investments of nearly Rs 42,000 crore.The investments under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) are projected to result in domestic production of Rs 2.6 lakh crore in the coming years and reduce the reliance on imports. In recent years, electronics manufacturing, including mobile phones and computers, has increased in the country but imports haven’t come down as the manufacturers rely on components produced in other countries, especially China.Companies such as Apple are stepping up iPhone production in India, positioning it as a rival base to China and its vendors, including Foxconn, Tata Electronics, ATL Battery Tech, Hindalco Industries and Motherson Electronic Components, are among those investing under the new scheme.While a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme helped boost electronics manufacturing, the components programme is likely to augment that. The scheme will see the production of printed circuit boards, capacitors, enclosures and lithium-ion cells among the 11 categories.While four facilities each will be in Maharashtra and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana (three each) are the other major production centres under the scheme.

Looking to cut import dependence

Govt had earlier cleared proposals in two tranches – seven projects with investment of Rs 5,500 crore and then 17 proposals entailing investment of Rs 7,172 crore.IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Centre’s focus on major reforms, enabling policies, and efficient and speedy execution of projects and initiatives have helped generate investments and the “results are clearly visible, sector after sector.”He also said that four chip companies will start commercial production this year, and almost all the top automobile and telecom companies will source semiconductors from them.“The plants which started pilot production last year, they are the ones that will get into commercial production earlier, which is Kaynes and CG Semi. Micron has also started pilot production very recently. They will also go next month. Tata plant in Assam will start pilot production by middle of the year, and by the end of the year they will start the commercial production,” Vaishnaw said.

Indore: Residents wait to recieve medical help at Bhagirathpura amid the contaminated tap water crisis where several people died and fell ill, in Indore. (PTI Photo)

INDORE: The Madhya Pradesh govt removed Indore municipal commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav and suspended additional commissioner Rohit Sisoniya on Friday, its first major action in the contaminated water tragedy in Indore’s Bhagirathpura, since people began falling ill on Dec 29 in a city ranked on multiple occasions as India’s cleanest. The action came on a day the death toll in the tragedy rose to 10 with the death of a 68-year-old woman. Pradeep Nigam, in-charge superintendent engineer of Indore Municipal Corporation’s (IMC) water distribution department, was also removed from his post. Three additional commissioners – Akash Prakhar Singh and Ashish Kumar Pathak – were posted to the IMC after a meeting chaired by additional chief secretary Sanjay Dubey, who has been camping in Indore.

Crackdown On Officials AsToll Rises To 10

Submitting a status report, the state govt, however, told the MP high court Friday that only four deaths had been recorded. Indore mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava said Friday he had information of 10 deaths due to the diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura. According to health department data, four people have died due to the diarrhoea outbreak in Bhagirathpura. However, I have received information about 10 deaths due to this outbreak,” the mayor said.“A total of 294 patients have been admitted, of which 93 have been discharged. Around 201 patients are still admitted and 32 patients are in ICUs,” the status report submitted to HC said. Hours before the IMC shake-up, CM Mohan Yadav wrote on X: “I reviewed action being taken by state govt in the Indore contaminated drinking water case with the chief secretary and other senior officials and issued necessary directions. I also discussed the report presented by the additional chief secretary in charge of the urban development department.” “We have taken the contaminated water case with utmost seriousness. We have taken action against those found guilty of negligence. There will be no compromise when it comes to health of the people. We will fix responsibility and ensure strict action,” the CM wrote on X. As the administrative changes unfolded, a flurry of activity was noticed in Bhagirathpura, where IMC workers cleaned streets and supplied water in tankers, health workers checked patients and distributed medicines, and ASHA workers conducted door-to-door surveys, checking on children. On Friday, gloom pervaded the residence of Geetabai Dhruvkar, 68. “She was admitted with diarrhoea and vomiting… Her kidneys gave way. She died Friday morning,” said her brother-in-law, Chandrashekhar Dhruvkar. Indore Municipal Corporation vehicles made announcements in Bhagirathpura asking people to avoid using tap water, which was being flushed after plugging all leakages and tested for contamination, and use tanker water. Residents were told to boil their drinking water.