The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been told by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to either accept a new plan for the Champions Trophy next year or risk not being part of the tournament at all. This situation arose because India doesn’t want to come to Pakistan for the games due to safety worries.
An urgent meeting took place in Dubai to plan the event, which is set for February and March next year. Under the proposed “Hybrid” model, India would play its matches in the UAE instead of Pakistan. However, the PCB boss, Mohsin Naqvi, doesn’t want to agree to this setup.
Most ICC board members sympathize with Pakistan, but they believe accepting the Hybrid model is the best way to go forward. If the model is chosen, India will play its matches in the UAE and not in Pakistan. An ICC Board source mentioned that if the PCB doesn’t agree to the Hybrid Model, the whole tournament might be moved to another country, possibly the UAE, and Pakistan could be left out completely.
The meeting on Friday was brief after Naqvi repeated his stance. The outgoing ICC chair, Greg Barclay, led the meeting as this was his last official engagement before Jay Shah takes over next month. The Ministry of External Affairs in India has supported the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stating that the Indian team cannot go to Pakistan due to security concerns.
If the tournament has to be moved, the PCB could lose out on $6 million in hosting fees and significant gate revenue—which could cut their earnings down to $35 million a year. The ICC also faces problems since their broadcaster, Star, might change their multi-billion dollar deal if the situation doesn’t get resolved soon.
The only time available for this tournament is from February 19 to March 9, and all other teams have games scheduled after those dates. While the PCB could ask for compensation for not being able to host the event fully, it’s unlikely that it will happen in Pakistan.
Pakistani cricket officials could respond by not attending the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in India in 2025. A senior BCCI official said that while Pakistan could demand a Hybrid Model for the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup, it might not work. Most of Pakistan’s matches in the T20 World Cup next year will likely happen in Sri Lanka.
Tag: thellv.com
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Champions Trophy Drama: PCB Faces Tough Choices As ICC Warns Of CT Without Pakistan
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India and China Focus on Peaceful Border Relations
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to talk about keeping peace at their border. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament that both leaders agreed that when issues arise, they should be handled properly to avoid any disturbance in the border areas.
India and China have experienced serious tensions since 2020 due to a military standoff in the Ladakh region. However, after negotiations, they reached agreements on patrolling in two sensitive areas: Demchok and Depsang. Following this, Modi and Xi met during the Brics Summit in Kazan, Russia. Jaishankar noted that Modi welcomed the plans to fully disengage and resolve problems from the 2020 border situation.
During their conversations, they emphasized the need to use dialogue and meetings at different levels to improve their relationship. Jaishankar also shared that he met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil, focusing on the future of India-China relations. They agreed to hold upcoming meetings between special representatives regarding the border issue, as well as restoring the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, sharing data on rivers crossing borders, and improving flights and media exchanges between the countries.
Jaishankar added that the Indian government keeps Parliament informed about significant progress and regularly addresses any border issues with China through established meetings and diplomatic channels. China’s Foreign Ministry recently stated that they are working closely with India to implement resolutions regarding border issues.
In a separate matter, Jaishankar addressed violence against minority communities in Bangladesh. He mentioned incidents involving Hindus and attacks on religious places during the recent Durga Puja festival. The Indian government has expressed concern about these attacks, particularly a serious attack on a puja mandap in Dhaka. The Bangladeshi government has increased security measures to ensure peaceful celebrations during this festive time. Jaishankar highlighted that the responsibility for protecting all citizens, including minorities, belongs to the Bangladeshi government. -
US Universities Urge Early Return for Foreign Students Before Trump’s Inauguration
Many universities in the U.S. are telling foreign students, especially those from India, to come back from their winter holidays before January 20, when Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as President. The schools worry there might be travel bans and stricter checks at airports once he takes office.
Even though Indian students with valid visas are generally safe, school officials want to play it safe. They are concerned because Trump mentioned during his campaign that he could carry out the biggest deportations of illegal immigrants in U.S. history.
This caution comes at a time when more Indian students are studying in the U.S. than Chinese students for the first time. From 2023 to 2024, there were 330,000 Indian students on U.S. campuses compared to 270,000 from China.
To help students, some schools have changed their schedules. For example, a data science student at Willamette University in Oregon said his classes usually start a week after New Year, but this year they begin on January 2. “Professors said it would be risky to return after the first weekend of January,” he shared, noting the stress.
Yale University even held a special meeting to ease students’ worries. One student there explained, “This was just to help avoid any problems at airports or with flight bookings.”
S Sarsan, an economics student at the University of Massachusetts, originally planned to return on January 10 but had to change his ticket. “Tickets right after the winter break are expensive. I had to pay nearly Rs. 35,000 more. Professors warned us that there could be big checks on security and our papers,” he said, emphasizing the importance of being back early to avoid issues.
The University of Massachusetts mentioned past travel bans during Trump’s first term in 2016 as a reason for this warning. They stated on their website, “We are being very careful.”
Students at other schools, like the University of Memphis and Wesleyan University, also received similar advice. A professor at Wesleyan who didn’t want to be named said, “Even if our students are legally in the U.S., we want to keep them safe and avoid any trouble.”
Balaji K, the provost at the University of Memphis, said they understand students are nervous about possible changes in immigration rules. “Students are overwhelmed by uncertainty. They’re worried about sudden policy changes that might affect their ability to work after graduating. We reassure them they have the right papers, and the university is here to help if any issues come up,” he added
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India’s Live Events Industry: A Thriving Market Worth Rs 143 Billion
The Exciting Growth of Live Events in India
India’s live events industry is growing really fast. It’s now worth a whopping Rs 88 lakh crore and is expected to grow by 18% every year until 2026! Big companies like TIPS Music, Saregama India, and Zomato are taking advantage of this boom. Famous artists like Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh are performing at these events, and ticket prices can go as high as Rs 1 lakh!
Live music in India used to be just for a few fans, but now it’s popular everywhere. More people want to see both local and international stars. With more money to spend and a big number of young fans, the demand for live concerts is soaring. Event organizers are teaming up with digital platforms to make this even better.
TIPS Music
TIPS Music is one of the top music labels in India. They have a large collection of songs and are expanding their presence in live events. They are doing great on platforms like YouTube, which helps them sell more tickets and earn more money through licensing. Recently, TIPS Music partnered with TikTok to reach even more fans.
Saregama India
Saregama India is also doing well in the live events world. Their partnership with popular artist Diljit Dosanjh for his “Dil Luminati” tour has been a huge success. The tour is one of the fastest-selling in India, and it will help Saregama earn more money from live events.
Zomato
Ticket platforms like Zomato and BookMyShow are also growing. Zomato, using its ticketing platform Insider, is not just selling tickets but is also benefiting from food orders from concert-goers. BookMyShow is the leading ticketing site in India and is making a lot of money from exclusive events. After the pandemic, interest in live shows has picked up a lot.
People are especially excited about Coldplay’s upcoming shows in India, starting in January 2025. Tickets for Coldplay are so in-demand that they are being sold for as much as Rs 10 lakh on resale sites!
The live events market in India is expected to reach Rs 143 billion by 2026. This means companies involved in music licensing, ticketing, and event management are in a great position to profit. The growing enthusiasm for concerts like Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh indicates a very bright future for live music in India.
This article was brought to you by Thellv.news. -
Who is Chinmoy Krishna Das and Why He Is In Bangladesh’s Jail? Know Everything About Him Here.
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is a well-known leader in the Hindu community of Bangladesh. Recently, he was arrested on serious charges, which has led to a lot of protests from his supporters. Many people are worried about how minorities, like Hindus, are treated in the country.
Chinmoy Krishna Das is the head of Pundarik Dham, a center for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in Chittagong. He also speaks on behalf of an organization called Sanatan Jagaran Mancha, which focuses on protecting Hindu rights. Since August 5, when a new government took over, he has become a strong voice against violence toward Hindus and other minorities. He is from Satkania Upazila in Chittagong and is known for his powerful religious speeches, earning him the nickname ‘Shishu Bokta’ because of his early popularity as a preacher. From 2016 to 2022, he served as the secretary for Iskcon in Chittagong and took over as the leader of Pundarik Dham in 2007. Many Hindu leaders say that Sanatan Jagaran Mancha was created to help Hindus during times of unrest, and Chinmoy represents the Hindu community as a whole, not just Iskcon. On November 22, he spoke at a protest in Rangpur to speak out against the violence toward Hindus.
His arrest has sparked concerns. Although the precise reason for his arrest is not clear, reports say he is accused of disrespecting the Bangladeshi flag during a rally in October. He and 18 others were charged with sedition for raising a saffron flag above the national flag in Chittagong on October 25, which some people called “desecration.” -
MEA confirms no prior info received on the Adani Group’s indictment by the U.S.
On Friday, India’s foreign ministry stated that they were not informed beforehand about the charges against Gautam Adani by the U.S. Department of Justice. They also mentioned that they have not received any official requests for legal action from the U.S. yet.
Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing, “India was not informed before this issue. We have not had any talks about this with the U.S. government. Requests for legal matters are usually handled through mutual cooperation.”
Jaiswal emphasized that this case involves “private companies,” and India is not involved legally at this moment. He added, “We don’t have any requests from the U.S. about this case. The Indian government isn’t a part of it right now.”
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice filed charges in a New York court, claiming that more than $250 million in bribes were paid to Indian officials. This was to secure solar power contracts that could earn Adani Group around $2 billion over 20 years. Importantly, the charges did not name Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar, or Vneet Jain in any conspiracy to break U.S. anti-corruption laws.
The Adani Group called these allegations “baseless” and stated they would take legal action to protect their name. In their statement, they pointed out that media reports incorrectly suggested that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet Jain were charged with breaking U.S. laws. According to the indictment, it mentioned five specific charges but did not link these directors to bribery or obstruction of justice.
The Adani Group clarified that while three charges were made against certain company officials related to fraud, Gautam Adani and the others were not part of any bribery accusations. The news sparked a lot of debates in the Indian Parliament, with opposition members demanding a special investigation committee to look into the matter
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Widow of Pulwama Martyr Accuses In-Laws of Stealing Rs 5 Crore
Nearly a year after demanding a government job for her brother-in-law, the widow of a Pulwama martyr has accused him and her other in-laws of stealing money from her. Manju Lamba, who lost her husband, Rohitash Lamba, in the Pulwama attack, filed a police report on Tuesday. She claims her in-laws took away Rs 5 crore, which was financial help given to her after her husband’s death.
Manju, who was left to care for her two-month-old son alone after the attack on February 14, 2019, received support from the CRPF, the government, and charities. Manju says that from 2019 to 2022, her in-laws forced her to sign blank checks, allowing them to take all her money. She also claims they changed her bank account’s mobile number to one of their own, so she wouldn’t get alerts about any money taken out.
A police official confirmed that they have registered her complaint and are now looking into the matter
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Indian Stars Shine Bright in Hollywood in 2024
2024: A Big Year for Indian Actors in Hollywood
2024 has been a fantastic year for Indian actors making waves in Hollywood. Talents like Tabu, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ishaan Khatter, and Ali Fazal have landed important roles in popular movies and web series. Films like “Dune: Prophecy” and the Netflix show “The Perfect Couple” highlight how Indian cinema is becoming a big deal around the world.
This year, Indian artists are not just coming in for small parts but are starring in huge franchises like “Mission: Impossible 8” and exciting projects like “Monkey Man,” directed by Dev Patel. Hollywood is starting to recognize India as a place full of creative ideas.
2024 is clearly a breakthrough year, opening new possibilities for Indian artists, and paving the way for more cultural sharing between Hollywood and Bollywood. Now, audiences can look forward to seeing Indian stories and characters more often in global entertainment.
Here are some key highlights for Indian actors this year:
– Sobhita Dhulipala plays the main role in “Monkey Man,” sitting alongside Sikander Kher, who is also making his Hollywood debut.
– Ishaan Khatter stars in Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple,” sharing the screen with famous actors like Nicole Kidman.
– Tabu brings her amazing talent to the prequel of “Dune,” where she plays Sister Francesca.
– Banita Sandhu joins the cast of “Bridgerton Season 3,” adding South Asian representation to the show.
– Adarsh Gourav will be in Ridley Scott’s upcoming project in the “Alien” series, set before the original film.
– Ali Fazal leads the film “Afghan Dreamers,” directed by Oscar winner Bill Guttentag.
– Avneet Kaur makes her debut in “Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two,” alongside Tom Cruise.
– Neha Dhupia will be in the drama “Blue 52,” directed by Egyptian filmmaker Ali El Arabi.
The entertainment world is changing and becoming more diverse, giving actors from India a chance to tell real stories on global screens. -
Indian Single Malt Whiskey: A New Global Sensation!
India is becoming famous for more than just yoga, Bollywood movies, and delicious chicken tikka masala. Now, Indian single malt whiskey is making waves around the world! This unique whiskey comes from one distillery and has its own special flavor. With more people in India enjoying whiskey, distilleries are producing top-quality single malts that are winning awards.
For example, Amrut Triparva was recognized in the 2024 Best in Class list, and Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2023 won top honors last year. Many restaurants, like Bungalow in New York, see Indian whiskies like Indri selling better than famous brands like Macallan.
Sanjeev Banga, an industry leader, believes Indian whiskey is gathering attention just like New World wines did before. Excitingly, American whiskey makers are even using empty Indian whiskey barrels to create new tastes!
Indian distilleries are popping up everywhere. There’s GianChand from Jammu, Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, and Indri-Trini from Haryana, which uses local barley. Amrut is from Bangalore and kicked off India’s single malt journey back in 2004.
In 2023, Indian single malts outsold Scotch whiskies for the first time, making up about 53% of sales in the whiskey market! Big companies like Diageo and Pernod Ricard are now launching their own Indian brands. Pernod introduced Longitude 77, and Diageo has Godawan, both competing internationally.
Big plans are underway! Piccadily Agro, known for Indri, will invest a whopping Rs 1,000 crore to expand and even open a distillery in Scotland. Alexandre Ricard from Pernod believes that Indian single malt whiskey deserves its own category globally and is working to make that happen.
Currently, 24 distilleries in India make single malt whiskey, with more joining the industry. To help promote Indian whiskey globally, all manufacturers need to come together, and support from the government is crucial
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Indian Wages Drop, Signaling Economic Slowdown: Key Insights
Indian wages have dropped for the first time since COVID-19, slowing down the economy as people are spending less and businesses are earning less money. Between July and September, real wages for city workers went down by 0.5% compared to last year, according to Elara Securities. Other reports from companies like Motilal Oswal also show that wage growth is slowing down while prices are rising, which is making life harder for many city families. Even though the economy grew over 8% last financial year, many people are cutting back on purchases from soaps to cars because their incomes aren’t keeping up with rising prices.
Big companies like Maruti Suzuki and Hindustan Unilever have reported weaker sales and earnings. About half of the companies in the NSE Nifty 50 Index did not meet expected earnings in their latest reports. For Prime Minister Modi’s government, this slowdown is a challenge to its goal of creating more jobs and growing the economy. The finance and trade ministers are suggesting to lower interest rates, but the central bank governor is focused on keeping inflation under control.
India’s main opposition party is criticizing the government for not paying enough attention to the middle class’s economic struggles. Data expected soon is likely to show more signs of this slowdown, with growth for the last three months expected at 6.5%, which is the slowest in six quarters. Consumer spending accounts for nearly 60% of the economy, and slow hiring in the tech sector and poor profits in manufacturing are hurting real income.
IT services firms like Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Technologies reported a smaller increase in employee costs compared to last year. This means families might need to use their savings or take on more debt to keep spending. Analysts believe that weak income growth is keeping consumer finances low.
Household spending will likely continue to be a problem in the coming quarters. Some economists expect GDP growth to drop to about 6.8% for the financial year, lower than earlier predictions. Other investment banks like Goldman Sachs are even more pessimistic, expecting only 6.4% growth. The Reserve Bank of India has a slightly more optimistic view, expecting 7.2% growth.
One reason for the slower growth is that the government hasn’t been spending as much as planned since the national elections. The Economic Affairs Secretary said that the government might not spend as much as it had targeted. They have spent only 37% of their budget for the first half of the fiscal year compared to 49% last year.
There are signs of better spending in rural areas, hinting that the worst may be over. Bloomberg Economics believes that growth has been held back by strict policies but is starting to improve. Increased rural spending from a good harvest could help the economy bounce back, especially when the central bank lowers rates.
The Reserve Bank of India is optimistic, saying that the economy is doing well overall and that both rural spending and private investments are getting better. The central bank hasn’t cut interest rates yet, even as the Federal Reserve has, because they are worried about the risks of inflation.