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New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have ended their coaching partnership by mutual agreement. The announcement comes after just six months of working together. While brief, their stint included moments of promise, particularly at the Australian Open, where Djokovic reached the semifinals before an injury forced him to retire mid-match.
The two shared warm words as they parted ways. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, expressed gratitude and affection: “Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun and support over the last six months on and off the court — really enjoyed deepening our friendship together,” Djokovic said in a statement.Murray, 37, who had made his first foray into coaching after decades on the court, replied with equal warmth: “Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together, and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months. I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season.”Though Murray had joined Djokovic’s team in November with an “indefinite” arrangement — primarily focused on the US swing and some clay-court events — their union ultimately spanned just four tournaments. Despite a promising start in Melbourne, where Murray’s tactical input was praised, Djokovic’s 2024 season has so far been riddled with inconsistency.He has exited in the opening round of four of his past five events, including a shock defeat in Monte Carlo and a missed appearance at the Italian Open without explanation. The one bright spot came in Miami, where Djokovic reached the final without dropping a set, only to lose to 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in two closely contested tie-breaks.Murray was in the stands throughout that Miami run, a quiet but focused presence. Yet, even then, the signs were that their experiment, however enjoyable, was not destined to be long-term.In Geneva next week, Djokovic will look to turn his clay-court fortunes around, having accepted a wildcard into the ATP 250 event as preparation for the looming French Open. He remains without a win on clay this year, and questions are swirling about his fitness and form heading into Roland Garros.”I’m very pleasantly surprised with his dedication and professionalism, considering he’s never had the experience of working as a tennis coach,” Djokovic said in Melbourne. “It comes naturally to him. His IQ, generally, and tennis IQ are very high. He observes and speaks when it’s most important.”He added that their conversations had taken on a different tone — more introspective, more personal — than anything they’d shared as competitors. “I must say at the beginning it was a bit of a strange feeling to share insights with him, not just about the game, but about how I feel, about life in general. Not in a negative way, but just in a way I had never done that with him because he was always one of my greatest rivals.”For Murray also the experience was deeply humbling. He admitted to feeling “embarrassed” by the attention he received during the Australian Open, deflecting credit to Djokovic’s long-serving team: “They’ve done an incredible job over many, many years. I was just trying to help where I could.”–IANShs/bsk/

Dhaka, May 13 (IANS) As the radical Islamist party of Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami, struggles to regain its political party status, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stated that it is the first instance in the country’s history where a party’s registration was cancelled through a High Court verdict.The remarks were made by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed during the hearing of Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition by the full appellate division bench consisting of seven members.The Islamist party appealed seeking restoration of its registration as a political party and its electoral symbol, scale, local media reported.Tawhidul Islam, who represented the Election Commission (EC) in the hearing, said that EC has stepped back ever since the High Court intervened in the matter of Jamaat’s registration, and is now waiting for the verdict from the Appellate Division regarding Jamaat’s registration.He further informed the court that following the administrative decision of the Supreme Court, the EC removed Jamaat’s symbol, the scales, and if it now wants a new symbol, it can apply afresh.Meanwhile, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing till May 14, Bangladeshi leading daily, The Dhaka Tribune, reported.In August 2013, the High Court declared Jamaat’s registration as a political party illegal and void by disposing of a writ petition. Subsequently, in December 2018, the EC formally cancelled the party’s registration through a gazette notification.Jamaat later appealed against the High Court’s verdict, but in November 2023, the Appellate Division, led by then Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, dismissed Jamaat’s appeal for default as the party’s principal lawyer was not present during the appeal hearing.As a result, the High Court’s verdict declaring Jamaat’s registration as an illegal political party remained in effect.After the fall of the Awami League Government, headed by Sheikh Hasina in a violent mass uprising last year, Jamaat-e-Islami submitted a petition to revive the appeal to regain its cancelled registration as a political party.In October, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court accepted Jamaat-e-Islami’s request seeking to regain its registration as a political party.From then on, Jamaat used the legal means to seek the restoration of the party registration and its electoral symbol, local media reported.Reports further suggest that on August 1 last year, the previous Awami League-led government banned Jamaat, its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and all of its associated organisations as political entities under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009.However, the interim government under Muhammad Yunus, after coming to power, lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, issuing a gazette notification.These radical forces earlier worked hand in glove with the student leaders and Yunus to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League.–IANSint/scor/sd/

Islamabad, May 13 (IANS) Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan could be under threat if New Delhi continues to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and tries to divert Pakistan’s water. Dar’s statement comes after the two sides announced a ceasefire and agreed to continue it during the first phase of the direct communication at Director General Military Operations (DGMO) level hotline contact on Monday.

Speaking to CNN, Ishaq Dar said that while he welcomes the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, after major military operations by both sides on each other’s respective territories, the water issue needs to be resolved soon.Dar said the potential of the ceasefire to hold would come under question again if India refuses to reverse its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).“The National Security Committee (NSC) of Pakistan declared that if this treaty (Indus Waters Treaty) is tampered, if the water is diverted, if the water is stopped, it will be treated as an act of war,” said Dar.“We want to take the whole process forward in an honourable way, with dignity for both sides, and resolve through a composite dialogue, the issues which will give on a long-term basis, this region, peace and security”, he added.The treaty was suspended by New Delhi following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists.India also took several other measures, including closure of trade and borders with Pakistan, expelling diplomats from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, and suspending visas of Pakistani nationals in India.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address to the nation on Monday night, made it clear that his government will, in the coming days, “measure every step of Pakistan” on the criterion that what sort of attitude Pakistan will adopt ahead on curbing cross-border terrorism.”The way the Pakistani army, Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India’s stand is very clear… Terror and talks cannot go together… Terror and trade cannot go together…. Water and blood cannot flow together,” the Indian Prime Minister said while signalling that there was no plan to reverse the decision on the Indus Waters Treaty suspension.After the first DGMO level contact between India and Pakistan, it would be interesting to see the agenda of talks during the second phase of direct communication, expected to happen in the coming days.The Indus Water Treaty, which was signed in 1960, governs the sharing of the waters of six rivers — Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — between India and Pakistan.–IANSint/hamza/as

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Television star Rupali Ganguly has become the first Indian celebrity to publicly call for a boycott of Turkey, urging fellow celebrities, influencers, and travelers to cancel their bookings to the country.

Taking to social media, the Anupamaa actress made a strong appeal, stating that this is the least that can be done as Indians in response to ongoing rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Rupali wrote on her X handle, “Can we please cancel our bookings for Turkey. This is my request to all Indian Celebs/Influencers/Travellers. This is the least we can do as Indians. #BoycottTurkey.”Her post quickly sparked conversations online, with many applauding her for taking a bold stand. One user commented on Ganguly’s post, “Absolutely! If we’re serious about standing against terror, Indigo and all Indian airlines must immediately suspend flights to Turkey. We can’t let our hard-earned money fund those who support attacks on our soldiers. #BoycottTurkey — let’s make it loud and clear.”Another said, “done cancelled my family trip.”On May 9, Television actor Kushal Tandon’s parents showed their support for the growing calls to boycott Turkey, following the country’s stance in favor of Pakistan after India’s Operation Sindoor. His mother, Sandhya Tandon, decided to cancel her planned trip to Turkey with friends, despite the financial loss involved due to non-refundable bookings.The actor wrote on his Instagram, “My mom and her friends were planning to go next month, and now they have cancelled their whole trip, even with no refunds getting back from the hotels and airlines. Remember, do your bits.”Turkey and Azerbaijan issued statements on May 8 in which both nations expressed support for Pakistan and criticized India’s airstrikes targeting terror camps. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the operation as a “provocative step,” while Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry extended sympathies to the families reportedly affected by the strikes. The statements drew sharp criticism across Indian social media platforms, intensifying public anger and fueling a growing call to boycott Turkey.–IANSps/

Lahore, May 13 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team effective from May 26, a day after the culmination of the PSL 2025 season.
Hesson comes in to fill the post after evaluation of numerous applications received against the vacancy, which fell vacant after Pakistan men’s team tour to New Zealand in April.“I am pleased to announce the appointment of former New Zealand cricketer and renowned coach Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s team,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a release.“Mike brings with him a wealth of international experience and a proven track record of developing competitive sides. We look forward to his expertise and leadership in shaping the future of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket. Welcome to the team, Mike!”Hesson will replace Aqib Javed, who had served in the role on an interim basis for five months. Javed had stepped in following Gary Kirsten’s sudden resignation, which came just six months into his two-year contract. Javed has now been named director of High Performance.“To strengthen our cricket infrastructure, we are pleased to welcome Aqib Javed as the Director of High Performance. His appointment, alongside Mike Hesson as the white-ball Head Coach, marks a significant step forward in our strategic vision for Pakistan Cricket,” Naqvi said of Javed’s appointment.“Together, their expertise and leadership will play a pivotal role in the development, evolution and success of our national setup.”Hesson’s first assignment is expected to be a five-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh, assuming the tour proceeds as planned.The 50-year-old previously served as New Zealand’s head coach from 2012 to 2018, overseeing a successful period during which the team became a dominant force at home and reached their first-ever World Cup final in 2015, losing to Australia. He later took over as director of cricket for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL in 2019, a role he held until 2023.Pakistan currently do not have a red-ball head coach, and there is no timeline for when one will be appointed. Javed had also served as interim Test coach during Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and the home series against West Indies earlier this year, following Jason Gillespie’s resignation midway through his tenure. Pakistan’s next Test series is scheduled for October at home against South Africa.–IANSab/

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Comedian Samay Raina is all set to make a grand comeback following the “India’s Got Latent” controversy. Returning to Instagram, the YouTuber announced his comeback tour.Taking to his official Instagram handle, Samay dropped a video to announce his tour across Europe, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.The black-and-white clip started by announcing his new tour, followed by glimpses of his successful shows in the US and Canada. His latest tour will commence in Koln on June 5 and conclude in Sydney on July 20.During his tour, the stand-up comic will be visiting the cities- Frankfurt, Berlin, Barcelona, Hamburg, Dublin, Zurich, Munich, Antwerp, Paris, Amsterdam, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Auckland, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth.Samay posted another story on his IG, hinting that his latest set might include references to the “India’s Got Latent” controversy. His note read, “The most testing time of my life makes for the best comedy. See you on the tour”.As soon as the post was up, netizens used the comment section to show their excitement.One of the Insta users wrote, “Waited everyday for THISS”.A cybercitizen shared, “This comeback was personal..So happy for youuu.”The third comment said, “THE GOAT IS BACKKK”.One of he comments read, “Seriously… insane comeback man”.Giving a shoutout, Samay’s team member, Shubham Chawla wrote on social media, “We pulled off one of the biggest tour in the US and Canada by an Indian comedian. The grit to be able to get on stage every day when your whole world is upside down. Major shoutout to my brother for creating a laughter riot during the whole tour…. We are so back”.Refreshing your memory, “India’s Got Latent” faced major backlash after podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made an insensitive remark regarding a contestant’s parents. The video went viral, with netizens condemning Allahbadia’s comments.An FIR was also filed against Apoorva Mukhija, Ashish Chanchlani, Allahbadia, Samay, and others associated with the show.–IANSpm/

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) While CAR-T cell therapy has shown promise in treating cancer, it may also lead to “brain fog” or forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, according to a study.CAR-T cell therapy is immunotherapy where a patient’s immune cells – T cells — are genetically engineered and infused into the bloodstream to recognise and destroy cancer cells more effectively.The study led by a team from Stanford University showed that CAR-T cell therapy causes mild cognitive impairments, independent of other cancer treatments.Notably, this happens via the same cellular mechanism as cognitive impairment from two other causes: chemotherapy and respiratory infections such as flu and Covid-19.”CAR-T cell therapy is enormously promising: We are seeing long-term survivors after CAR-T cell therapy for aggressive cancers, saving patients who would otherwise have died,” said Michelle Monje, Professor in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at the Stanford Medicine.”We need to understand all its possible long-term effects, including this newly recognised syndrome of immunotherapy-related cognitive impairment, so we can develop therapeutic approaches to fix it,” Monje added.In the paper published in the journal Cell, the research team studied mice that had tumours induced in the brain, blood, skin, and bone.They wanted to understand the influence on cognition of CAR-T cell treatment in combination with the tumours’ location (originating in, spreading to, or staying outside the brain), as well as the degree to which the engineered cells evoked additional, accompanying immune responses.Before and after CAR-T cell treatment, the researchers used standard cognitive tests on the mice, measuring how mice responded to a novel object and navigated a simple maze.CAR-T therapy caused mild cognitive impairment in mice with cancers originating in, metastasising to, and located completely outside the brain. The only mice tested that did not develop cognitive impairment after CAR-T treatment were those that had bone cancer that causes minimal additional inflammation beyond the cancer-fighting activity of the CAR-T cells.The researchers demonstrated that the brain’s immune cells, called microglia, are key players in the problem.The study also identified strategies for reversing the problem.Medications that ameliorate brain fog will enable better recovery from cancer immunotherapies, the researchers said.–IANSrvt/

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Homegrown biopharma major Suven Life Sciences on Tuesday reported over 65 per cent increase in its net loss for the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY25, as a significant drop in revenue weighed heavily on its financial performance.The company posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 43.9 crore in Q4, compared to a loss of Rs 26.5 crore in the same quarter last fiscal (Q4 FY24) — reflecting a steep year-on-year (YoY) increase of nearly 65.66 per cent, according to its stock exchange filing.This widening of losses came on the back of a sharp 38.7 per cent fall in revenue, which declined to Rs 1.5 crore in Q4 from Rs 2.4 crore a year ago.The company also reported a wider EBITDA loss of Rs 43.8 crore for the quarter, compared to Rs 30.3 crore in Q4 of the previous fiscal.Adding to the pressure, the total expenses rose to Rs 46.6 crore during the quarter, marking a 36.26 per cent increase from Rs 34.2 crore in the same period last financial year.A major part of this rise came from higher employee benefits expenses, which stood at Rs 6.06 crore, up from Rs 3.46 crore last year.In a strategic move, the company also announced that it will issue 6.4 crore fully convertible warrants on a preferential basis. These warrants are worth Rs 858 crore, as per the company’s regulatory filing.Suven Life Sciences is a biopharmaceutical firm focused on discovering and developing new chemical entities for treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders.The company also partners with other pharmaceutical and biotech firms to provide drug discovery and development support services.Despite the weak financials, Suven Life Sciences’ stock traded higher on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Around 1:55 p.m., the company’s shares were up by Rs 10.93 or 7.14 per cent, trading at Rs 164.On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the shares were trading at Rs 162.40, up by Rs 9.60 or 6.28 per cent.–IANSpk/na

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Celina Jaitly has opened up about the difficult health challenges she faced during her pregnancy. The actress shared her traumatic experience with a C-section, along with struggles like gestational diabetes, multiple hernias, and cholestasis of the liver. In her latest post on Instagram, Celina shared her emotionally and physically demanding journey through motherhood, celebrating the triumphs and struggles of being a mother of twins plus one. In her caption, she reflected on her rare and difficult pregnancies, emphasizing the resilience required to navigate both the joys and challenges of raising children.Describing her experience, Celina wrote, “#momoftwinsplusone – I am a Mom of twins plus one… two very difficult consecutive & very rare spontaneous twin pregnancies, one perfect and one extremely traumatic C-section, gestational diabetes, multiple hernias, cholestasis of the liver, PUPP rash, breastfeeding twins consecutively through the nights, waiting by the breast pump just to fill enough bottles to at least get through one night and some… and yet, I find myself here… it was all worth it!! I would give anything in the world to do it all over again.”In her Mother’s Day message, the ‘No Entry’ actress celebrated the courage of mothers everywhere, encouraging them to wear the “medal of motherhood” proudly.She stressed the importance of self-care, saying, “Happy Mother’s Day to every incredible mother and mother figure of all genders out there! Never underplay what you went through, wear the medal of motherhood proudly. It’s okay to pat yourself on the back, to ask for help, and to care for yourself. Only when you nurture you can you truly enjoy the little miracles you manufactured with your blood, sweat, tears, and of course… your soul. Still celebrating Mother’s Day.”Her post was accompanied by a touching photo of Celina posing with her children, capturing a moment of warmth and togetherness.Celina Jaitly is married to Austrian entrepreneur and hotelier Peter Haag. The couple welcomed their first set of twin sons, Winston and Viraaj, in March 2012. In 2017, they were blessed with another set of twin boys, Shamsher and Arthur.–IANSps/

Seoul, May 13 (IANS) South Korean stocks edged up on Tuesday following a trade agreement between the United States and China. The local currency fell sharply against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 1.09 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 2,608.42, following a 1.17 percent jump on the previous day, reports Yonhap news agency.Trade volume was moderate at 413.3 million shares worth 8.32 trillion won ($5.87 billion), with gainers closely beating decliners 450 to 418.Institutions and individuals led the daily decline, dumping a net 100 billion won and 136.9 billion won, respectively, while foreigners purchased a net 174.1 billion won.After two-day high-level negotiations over the weekend, Washington and Beijing reached an agreement to cut reciprocal tariffs on each other for 90 days.Wall Street was buoyed by the deal, with all three major indexes finishing higher.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 2.81 percent, and the S&P 500 jumped 3.26 percent. The Nasdaq composite vaulted 4.35 percent.In Seoul, however, market heavyweights ended in mixed territory.Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution sank 2.95 percent to 312,000 won, and Samsung SDI lost 2.29 percent to 170,900 won.Defence giant Hanwha Aerospace dropped 1.95 percent to 804,000 won, and LIG Nex1 dropped 0.92 percent to 378,000 won.LG Chem, a major chemicals maker, tumbled 3.56 percent to 203,000 won, and the state-run power supplier, KEPCO, slumped 4.28 percent to 25,750 won.Chipmakers finished mixed as Samsung Electronics declined 1.22 percent to 56,900 won but SK hynix rose 1.79 percent to 198,500 won.Food giant CJ Cheiljedang fell 4.02 percent to 238,500 won, and instant noodle maker Samyang Food went up 0.42 percent to 950,000 won.Top carmaker Hyundai Motor added 0.46 percent to 196,700 won, and leading pharma Samsung Biologics gained 0.91 percent to 1 million won.The local currency was quoted at 1,416 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 13.6 won from the previous session.Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 4.0 basis points to 2.370 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds increased 4.5 basis points to 2.496 percent.–IANSna/