Sophia Gardens, Derby and Loughborough named as warm-up venues for ICC Women’s T20 WC 2026

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London, July 10 (IANS) Three well-known cricket venues in England and Wales – Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Derby County Ground and Loughborough University – have been confirmed as warm-up match hosts for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
These grounds will stage key preparatory games ahead of the tournament’s official start on June 12, 2026 when the first match will be played at Edgbaston.All three venues have a strong history of supporting women’s cricket and will now play a key role in showcasing top-level talent before the tournament begins. Loughborough, which houses the ECB’s National Cricket Performance Centre, has long been at the heart of England’s player development. Sophia Gardens and Derby have also hosted important women’s international matches in recent years.Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild welcomed the addition of the three venues, saying, “We’re thrilled to welcome Sophia Gardens, Derby County Ground, and Loughborough University to the roster of incredible venues that will host the tournament next summer. The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 provides an unparalleled opportunity to really shine a spotlight on the excellence in our sport and to launch women’s cricket firmly into the mainstream.”The warm-up games will give local fans an early chance to see world-class players in action as the 12 participating nations gear up for the main event. The full schedule for these matches will be announced in the coming months.The 2026 edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will feature 33 matches across seven iconic venues over 24 days, concluding with the final at Lord’s on July 5. Eight teams have already qualified, while the remaining four spots will be filled through the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier next year.–IANShs/ab

Giriraj Singh slams Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav over Bihar Bandh on voter list revision

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Patna, July 10 (IANS) Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday launched an attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, accusing them of misleading the public and aligning with “anti-national forces” under the pretext of safeguarding voter rights.“Wherever Rahul Gandhi loses, he raises false alarms about voter rights being snatched,” Singh said, adding, “He is fighting not for Indian voters, but for Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators. His politics is rooted in negativity, and he wants to drag Bihar back to the chaos of the 1990s.”Targeting Rahul Gandhi’s symbolic use of the Constitution, Singh said, “He walks around with a dummy Constitution, but if anyone is truly upholding it, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In fact, people like Rahul Gandhi are a threat to the Constitution, and the country must be saved from them.”The Union Minister of Textiles also took a swipe at Tejashwi Yadav and the internal dynamics of the INDIA alliance.Referring to the exclusion of leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav from the recent political campaigns, Singh said, “Not letting them share the stage or ride the chariot is an insult and reflects growing differences within the alliance.”Reacting to the Bihar Bandh called by the INDIA bloc on Wednesday, BJP Bihar President Dilip Jaiswal said the opposition was creating panic without reason.“If voters face any legitimate issues, we will raise the matter with the Election Commission. This is just the beginning phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Let the process unfold. Any real concerns will be addressed,” he stated.Jaiswal also accused the opposition of stoking fears to divert attention from its weakening ground support.The remarks come amid a heated political atmosphere in Bihar, where the opposition parties — including the Congress, RJD, CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M), and VIP — have alleged irregularities in the ongoing voter list revision exercise ahead of the Assembly elections.On Wednesday, these parties observed a Bihar Bandh, which had a significant impact, disrupting normal life across several districts.–IANSajk/skp

It was a working birthday for Raghav Juyal: ‘Being busy is the best kind of celebration’

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Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Actor and dancer Raghav Juyal is celebrating his 34th birthday on Thursday and he decided to spend his special day doing what he loves the most — working.
The ‘Kill’ actor was in a dubbing studio, working on one of his upcoming projects on his birthday.Shedding light on why he decided to have a working birthday, Raghav shared, “I feel grateful to be working on my birthday. For me, being busy doing what I love is the best kind of celebration. Every year I grow a little more as an artist, and it feels good to be on that journey even today. I’m happiest when I’m creating, learning, and pushing myself — and that’s the energy I want to carry forward.”In the meantime, Juyal was welcomed on board Srikanth Odela’s action thriller, “The Paradise” on his birthday.The makers of the forthcoming drama, SLV Cinemas took to their X (Formarly known as Twitter) timeline and, wrote, “Team #TheParadise wishes the talented @TheRaghav_Juyal a very Happy Birthday. Welcoming him in a role that will be unique and will take everyone by surprise. #THEPARADISE in CINEMAS 𝟐𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. Natural Star @NameisNani in an @odela_srikanth cinema. An @anirudhofficial musical.”It is not clear yet which role Juyal will be playing in the drama, however, if the sources are to be believed, he has been roped in as the antagonist in the film.With Nani as the protagonist, “The Paradise” marks the Natural Star’s second collaboration with the filmmaker after their blockbuster hit “Dussehra”.Produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the banner of SLV Cinemas, the movie will also see Sonali Kulkarni in a crucial role.At the moment, “The Paradise” is being filmed at RFC. The makers are reportedly shooting a huge action sequence choreographed by stunt master Real Satish in a specially constructed set.–IANSpm/

Restore July 13, December 5 public holidays: Omar Abdullah govt to L-G

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Srinagar, July 10 (IANS) The Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir has approached Lt Governor Manoj Sinha with the demand that July 13 and December 5 should be restored as public holidays on account of Martyrs Day and the birthday of the National Conference (NC) founder, late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, respectively.Both July 13 and December 5 were government holidays in the erstwhile J&K state and were declared as public holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881.After the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of J&K into two union territories on August 5, 2019, these two holidays were removed from the government’s list of holidays.July 13 pertains to the death of protesters who stormed the Srinagar central jail on this day in 1931 against the in camera trial of Abul Qadeer, a Pathan butler of a British officer, who had delivered a speech asking people to rise against the autocratic rule of Dogra Maharaja Hari Singh. Twenty-two protesters were killed in the firing by the prison guards, who were buried in the compound of the Naqashband Sahib shrine in the old city of Srinagar. This graveyard was later declared as the Martyrs’ Graveyard, and after Independence in 1947, this day was observed as Martyrs Day by the J&K government.Founder of the ruling NC, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was born in the Soura locality of Srinagar outskirts on December 5, 1905, and his birthday was celebrated as a public holiday in J&K till its abolition in 2020.The NC government made an electoral commitment to get both these dates restored as public holidays once the party came to power.Sources in the NC said the government has formally asked the Lt Governor to restore these two holidays. With just two days left for July 13, there is no official word on the disposal of the NC demand by the UT’s Raj Bhawan. So far as the NC is concerned, its leaders say, “We have done what needed to be done”.–IANSsq/dpb

AIADMK launches ‘Bye-Bye Stalin’ campaign amid statewide tour by EPS

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Chennai, July 10 (IANS) The AIADMK has launched a high-pitched social media campaign titled ‘Bye-Bye Stalin!’ to coincide with the statewide tour of party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).The tour is aimed at galvanizing public sentiment against the ruling DMK government ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.The campaign, spearheaded by the AIADMK’s IT wing, features an animated video that has been posted across the party’s official social media platforms and widely circulated by functionaries.The video seeks to portray the DMK regime under Chief Minister M.K. Stalin as anti-people and accuses it of reneging on key electoral promises made during the 2021 Assembly polls.A major point of contention in the campaign is the DMK government’s move to increase taxes and electricity tariffs, which the AIADMK claims has imposed a heavy burden on the common man.The video labels these decisions as “anti-people” and suggests that they reflect a growing disconnect between the government and the electorate.The AIADMK also takes aim at Chief Minister Stalin for allegedly failing to fulfil several high-profile pre-poll assurances, including the abolition of the NEET examination and the waiver of student education loans — promises that struck a chord with large sections of the youth and parents during the 2021 campaign.The campaign further criticises the DMK for discontinuing popular welfare schemes launched by the previous AIADMK government, such as the free laptop distribution programme for students and the ‘Thangathu Thali’ scheme that offered gold assistance during marriages in economically weak families.Reinforcing its long-standing charge of dynastic politics, the AIADMK video also targets CM Stalin and his family, accusing them of promoting family dominance over democratic governance.The campaign does not stop at policy critiques; it also points to deteriorating law and order, referencing the recent Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, which claimed over 60 lives, as an example of alleged administrative failure.Party insiders believe that this digital offensive, launched well in advance of the polls, will help shape the narrative on the ground and strengthen EPS’ campaign to dislodge the DMK from power.–IANSaal/rad

3rd Test: Bumrah replaces Prasidh as England elect to bat first against India

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London, July 10 (IANS) Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer will be seen in action at Lord’s, as England won the toss and elected to bat first against India in the third Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test on Thursday.
The five-match series is tantalisingly locked at 1-1, after England’s thrilling five-wicket win at Headingley was followed by India’s emphatic 336-run victory at Edgbaston. This is just the second time England have batted first in Tests since the Stokes-McCullum era began.After four years of absence from Test cricket due to injuries to back and elbow, Archer will make his long-awaited return to the longer format for England. “Surface is how it usually is, and the sun is out, so we’re going to have a bat. The mood is good, it’s been a well-fought two Test matches so far.””We’re pushing to come away from Lord’s 2-1. The body is good and everyone is fresh and ready to go. Everyone loves playing at Lord’s and you just have to take it all in. Quick turnaround so we used the time between games wisely,” said England captain Ben Stokes.For India, Bumrah is back into the playing eleven in place of Prasidh Krishna, which also means there’s still no room for Kuldeep Yadav. Skipper Shubman Gill said he was a bit confused about what to do and would have probably bowled first.”If there’s anything in the wicket, it’s going to be on the first few days. I think the contribution from everyone was great; that was what we were aiming for from all of us. The bowlers are feeling confident, it wasn’t easy to take all those wickets on that pitch (at Edgbaston). I feel good when the hard work pays, it’s very satisfying,” he said.Playing XIs:England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, and Shoaib BashirIndia: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj–IANSnr/

Amit Sial, who plays D.R. Kaarthikeyan, reflects on the atmosphere in India during Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination

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Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Amit Sial, who plays the role of D.R. Kaarthikeyan in ‘The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case,’ reflected on his personal memory of the tragic event.

The actor shared how the emotional weight of the incident stayed with him over the years. Speaking about the time of the assassination, Sial recalled being a teenager in school. While the visual details have faded over time, he clearly remembers the emotional atmosphere that swept across the country.When asked about his memory of the day Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, Amit Sial told IANS that he was around 16 years old and in school at the time. While he doesn’t recall the visuals clearly, he vividly remembers the atmosphere — the sense of gloom that settled over the country.“Yeah, yeah, of course, I remember. I think I was in school. I was around 16 when this happened. And yeah, very, I don’t, like, my memories entail more of a feel than visual memories. Like, I know how the country felt at that moment, how my neighbours felt, what, the kind of gloom it brought with it. I remember that clearly, yeah.”When asked whether he referred to any real-life sources to prepare for the role of D.R. Kaarthikeyan, Amit Sial shared that he extensively researched the former CBI chief’s life. He revealed that he read a great deal about Kaarthikeyan’s professional journey and watched several of his interviews available online to better understand his personality, thought process, and approach to the investigation.“Yeah, I read a lot about Mr. Karthikeyan’s life and watched several of his interviews online. I also went through many photographs available on the internet. One particular interview really helped me because he spoke about the case itself, as well as his overall service tenure and what it involved. While he didn’t go into too much detail about the investigation, that conversation gave me a good starting point. Of course, we also had the script, which was based on the book. Honestly, I didn’t have a lot of time to research the case in-depth, so I relied heavily on Nagesh bhai, the script, a few co-actors, and Mr. Bux — who, I must say, is an encyclopedia on this case.”“Still, I did as much research as I could because it was a huge responsibility to portray Mr. Karthikeyan accurately. At the very least, I wanted my effort to show that I genuinely tried to do justice to the role.”“The Hunt – The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case” is a gripping series directed by Nagesh Kukunoor that delves into the intricate real-life investigation following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The series also features Sahil Vaid, Bagavathi Perumal, and Girish Sharma. It was premiered on July 4, 2025.–IANSps/

India on track to achieve clean mobility goals: Minister

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New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) India, which is the fastest-growing major economy, is on track on its mission to clean mobility journey, Minister of State for Road, Transport and Highways, Harsh Malhotra, said here on Thursday.Addressing a session at the ‘India Energy Storage Week 2025’ here, the minister stated that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s commitment to provide impetus to the green mobility and development of EV manufacturing eco-system in the country and the inception of PM E-DRIVE and FAME-II schemes are a testament to it.Further, policies like EV retrofitting regulations and toll tax exemptions for EV, are aimed at making transportation more accessible and sustainable. Malhotra stated that the transition to electric mobility is not merely a technological shift but is a national imperative to achieve climate goals, maintain economic resilience and energy security.He mentioned the Multi-Modal Logistics Parks, which are being developed by Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways integrating road, rail, and warehousing are now being equipped with green energy provisions and EV-friendly facilities which would lead to reduced logistics costs, lower emissions, and strengthen India’s position as a clean and connected transport hub.Malhotra highlighted that PM Modi government is committed to generate 500GW of Renewable energy by 2030 and India stands at the threshold of becoming a global hub for clean mobility solutions.He urged the stakeholders to develop a transport future that is not just electric — but safe, inclusive, and environmentally responsible.“We must recognise that battery storage technologies which are tailored to India’s climate and mobility needs — will be crucial for our future,” said Malhotra, urging industry leaders to invest in R&D, manufacture locally and adopt circular solutions like battery recycling and reuse.Over the last 11 years, India has seen remarkable industrial and business growth, and this momentum is now being channelled toward achieving the 2070 Net Zero target which is the pivotal focus of the government.–IANSna/