Judd Brackett participates in the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced two significant additions to their hockey operations department to strengthen their front office. The team has reportedly appointed Judd Brackett as its Assistant General Manager, Player Evaluation and Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff. The move is a part of the club’s ongoing effort to strengthen its front-office structure under general manager John Chayka. Earlier, the club fired head coach Craig Berube on Wednesday, dealing a major blow to the franchise after a disappointing 2025-26 season, as the Maple Leafs (32-36-14) finished the season 0-6-1, in last place in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference, and missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2016-17.

toronto maple leafs rental root bracket And Freddie Hamilton is in a major hockey operations role

Toronto Maple Leafs strengthened its hockey operations with two key executive appointments on Monday. The hockey club has appointed Jude Brackett as Assistant General Manager, Player Evaluation and Freddie Hamilton as Chief of Staff. According to reports, Brackett will oversee the evaluation of players in both amateur and professional scouting. Let it be known that these appointments were made under the current GM of Maple Leafs John Chayka.As far as bracket experience is concerned, nhl It was reported that he spent five seasons with the Minnesota Wild as the Director of Amateur Scouting. He also served with Team USA at each of the last three IIHF World Junior Championships. Before joining Minnesota, he spent 12 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, first as an amateur scout and then serving five seasons as Director of Amateur Scouting. Additionally, Hamilton was known as a depth forward and spent significant time in the AHL. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft. He played 75 NHL regular season games for the San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes between 2013 and 2018.Making the official announcement, the Maple Leafs GM said in a press release, “We are thrilled to welcome Judd to our organization. He has established one of the strongest amateur scouting and drafting track records in the NHL and has consistently demonstrated the ability to adapt and evolve his approach as the game changes. As we continue to build our hockey operations department, Judd will play a key role in integrating traditional scouting, video analytics and data-driven insights to strengthen our decision-making process.” Speaking further about Freddy Hamilton, who is also an MBA graduate from Yale University, Chayka said, “We are excited to have Freddy join our hockey operations department. During his playing career, Freddy distinguished himself through his character, professionalism and work ethic. Since retiring, he has built an impressive career in business and finance, gaining valuable experience in investing, strategy and organizational leadership.“Chayka believes his diverse background and collaborative approach will make him a valuable addition to the team as he looks to execute key strategic initiatives and strengthen alignment in the hockey operations department. The addition of Brackett and Hamilton reflects the Maple Leafs’ commitment to regaining lost traction with fresh and new organizational management practices.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Expressed concern over the activities of armed groups operating near the India-Myanmar border and the impact of Myanmar’s internal conflict on Indian border communities during talks with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi on Monday.Speaking at a special briefing after the high-level bilateral meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said PM Modi highlighted the impacts of the conflict in Myanmar, including cross-border security challenges and the influx of refugees into India.“The Prime Minister raised this issue in the conversation today and he emphasized that these groups, their activities continue around our borders. And in response, Myanmar Army actions against them also take place very close to the borders,” Misri said.He said military operations and activities of armed groups near the border have affected people living on Indian territory.“On this side, it has a huge impact on people living on the Indian side of the border. So sometimes, there may be some damage there, or as you also said, a lot of refugees come to our side from that side of the border,” he said.

Prime Minister urges protection of Indians living near the border

Misri said PM Modi urged Myanmar authorities to ensure that military operations near the border do not harm civilians living in India.According to the report of news agency ANI, “The Prime Minister said that the Myanmar Army and the officials in Myanmar should pay attention to this and this action should be taken in such a way that it does not cause any harm, especially to the people living on the Indian border.”The refugee issue also figured prominently in the discussion. Misri acknowledged that people fleeing conflict in Myanmar have entered India’s northeastern state of Mizoram.“We all know that refugees have come to Mizoram for some time for this very reason,” he said.According to Misri, the process of returning refugees is complex but mechanisms are already in place between the two countries. “There is a system to send back refugees, there is a mechanism for that. And officials from both the countries are in touch with each other on how they will be sent back,” he said.He said Myanmar authorities do not view the people who have come to India as permanent refugees and expect them to return once the situation improves.Misri said, “The Myanmar government also believes that these people have not come as permanent refugees. And as soon as the situation on the other side of the border becomes normal, these people will go back to their own side.”

Connectivity projects and solutions to cyber scams discussed

The border issue was discussed during detailed talks between PM Modi and Min Aung Hlaing at Hyderabad House.The President of Myanmar is on a four-day visit to India from May 30 to June 2.Both sides also reviewed a range of bilateral issues including trade, security cooperation, border management and connectivity projects.Misri said Myanmar has assured India that it will make “every possible” effort to advance the delayed Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, both of which are affected by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.The Foreign Secretary said active hostilities involving the Myanmar military, ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defense Forces have hampered work on both projects, forcing the timelines to be adjusted.Separately, Misri said India has brought back 2,411 nationals from cyber scam complexes in Myanmar in the last one and a half years, while more than 150 Indians are still feared stranded there, according to ANI.He said New Delhi is working closely with Myanmar authorities to ensure the return of those still stranded.Misri said the talks also covered cooperation in trade, investment, development assistance, health, education, energy, artificial intelligence and space.

Virat Kohli (left) after RCB’s second IPL title (AP Photo)

New Delhi: Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles used Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2026 title win as an example of the strong ties between India and Australia. This was said a day after RCB defeated Gujarat Titans to register their second consecutive win IPL trophy, Marles told how the Indian star Virat Kohli and Australian players Josh Hazlewood And tim david Everyone played an important role in the victory.Marles said the trio’s contributions demonstrate how the two countries are increasingly working together in a variety of areas. “When I was here last year, it was the morning after the Indian Premier League final, as, of course, it is this morning. Last night, just like we saw a year ago, we saw RCB win. But I liked the fact that Virat Kohli became the man of the match for his unbeaten 75, but he was also accompanied by Josh Hazlewood and Tim David. So when RCB won the IPL last night, the game was largely an Australian-India bilateral affair. And I think it’s symbolic for the relations between our two countries,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.Speaking further at the “Morale” community event in New Delhi, Marles highlighted Kohli’s immense popularity in Australia and recalled growing up watching the Indian cricket legend. He said, “Virat Kohli is a big name in Australia at the moment, but as I grew up, the first person I remember was Indian cricket captain Bishan Bedi; he was a great name of that era.”He said cricket remains a strong bond between the two countries and helps strengthen broader ties.Marles also shared his excitement about meeting the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev On the incident. Describing it as a memorable experience, he said, “It’s quite a thrill for me to be standing next to the great Kapil Dev… Relations between Australia and India are at a high point… In many ways, the shared passion we have for life is embodied in our passion for cricket.”

Vinita Gupta, credited with being the first Indian-origin woman to take a company public, says that there are many opportunities in India now.

Vineeta Gupta, who is credited with being the first Indian-origin woman to take her company public in the US, said India now is different from her times. During his time, returning to India was not an option, but now there are lots of opportunities in India for good engineers. Speaking to San Francisco Chronicle on the issue of Indian tech leaders in Silicon Valley, Gupta said he still doesn’t think coming to the US is wasteful or unnecessary.“India has become prosperous enough where good engineers, technical skills can get you a good job. That was not true when I came,” Gupta said. “We couldn’t go back.”Gupta said Silicon Valley embraces people from all over the world and is the most egalitarian place. Although new doors have opened in India, technical experts should still come to America. “They should still come here because this valley is based on individual talents, not based on where you were born, where you got your education,” he said. “It’s like embracing all the people around the world. There couldn’t be anywhere more egalitarian than you.”“Gupta came to the United States in 1974, a year after completing her Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communications from IIT Roorkee, India, in 1973. He received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1974. In 1985, he co-founded Digital Link Corporation – a telecommunications hardware company, which went public in 1994.Gupta holds two US patents: one for a solid-state relay issued in 1984 and another for a square root circuit issued in 1986. After retirement from the company, Gupta has become a bridge champion.The environment in the US has become hostile for Indians and Republicans are calling for ending the H-1B and OPT programs. A recent survey conducted among 1,000 Indian-Americans by YouGov and the Carnegie Endowment found that 40% of respondents either often or sometimes thought about leaving the US, citing frustration over US policies and concerns over the cost of living and personal safety. A quarter of respondents also cited better career opportunities in other countries.

New Delhi: Karnataka Congress Leader DK Shivakumar Long known for his firefighting skills. Whenever things went bad, Congress turned to him. But now, as he prepares to assume the top post in Karnataka, the test will be not only of his fire-fighting skills (in his own backyard) but also of his governance skills.shivkumarAlso known as DKS, will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on June 3, completing a political journey that has defined the revival of the Congress party in the state. For nearly a decade, he has been the party’s troubleshooter, strategist, fund raiser, negotiator and organizational anchor. He helped keep Congress MLAs united in moments of crisis, revived the party after electoral setbacks and played a central role in its decisive victory in Karnataka in 2023.His transition from deputy chief minister to chief minister comes after months of speculation, bargaining and careful choreography by the Congress high command. Siddaramaiah’s resignation on May 28 under the party’s power-sharing arrangement finally opened the door for Shivakumar. Yet the swearing-in ceremony may be the easiest part of the new assignment for DKS.

Complex factional tensions within the Congress, caste expectations, fiscal pressures from the state and the relentless demands of governing India’s most economically important southern state await him.Here are the top challenges for DK Shivakumar as he prepares to take over the top post in Karnataka:

Siddaramaiah’s shadow

The first challenge before Shivakumar is also the most immediate: Former CM Siddaramaiah.The outgoing Chief Minister may have vacated the office, but he remains the most influential mass leader in the Karnataka Congress. Over the past three years, he has strengthened a powerful network of MLAs and social groups, especially through the Ahinda alliance of backward classes, minorities and Dalits in the state.In theory, the chief ministerial change is systematic but in practicality, political changes are still visible.Many of the MLAs whose political rise was due to Siddaramaiah remain influential within the party. Many ministers are expected to seek continuity across departments and policy priorities. There is already pressure from Siddaramaiah’s camp regarding representation in the new cabinet, which also includes demands related to his son Yatindra Siddaramaiah.

The challenge for Shivakumar may not just be to accommodate the supporters of the outgoing CM. He will have to establish dominance among the Siddaramaiah camp MLAs and, at the same time, assert independence without provoking factional war.For Shivakumar, the task is particularly delicate as the Congress government cannot afford visible instability and infighting. BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) will keep a close watch on any sign of rift between the two camps.BJP has already opened a front against the change. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the leadership change reflects Congress’s admission that Siddaramaiah’s rule has failed on many fronts.“After two and a half to three years of ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Battle of the Chair’ and ‘Who will be the Chief Minister’, Karnataka Congress has elected a new CLP leader in the form of DK Shivakumar and replaced Siddaramaiah. It means they are admitting that the Siddaramaiah regime has been a complete failure on all fronts – economy, law and order and infrastructure,” Poonawalla said.“Therefore, they had to change them. Otherwise, 2028 (assembly elections) will go,” he said.Former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai also said that Siddaramaiah’s decision to remain active in state politics would act as a “hanging sword” on Shivakumar, while he also said that whenever elections are held in the state, the BJP will return to power on its own.For Shivakumar, the success of his first six months may depend on whether he is able to keep Siddaramaiah loyalists on his side.

cabinet puzzle

If there is one political test every CM has to face soon after assuming office, it is cabinet formation.Shivakumar’s version of that test may be particularly difficult.Each allocation is likely to send a political message.Who gets the houses, who controls the finances, who oversees Bengaluru development? A single boycott can lead to months of resentment.Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah himself is in talks with the high command to get a cabinet ministerial berth for his son and loyalists after his resignation.It will be interesting to see how much space Shivakumar leaves to accommodate the former CM’s loyalists.

Karnataka’s new boss

Shivakumar’s challenge is further heightened by another looming decision: the selection of the new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.As state party chief, Shivakumar built one of the most effective political organizations in the state. His departure from that role creates a void. Whoever succeeds him will inherit a powerful political machine.This selection will shape not only the future of the party but also Shivakumar’s own authority. A loyal organizational ally can strengthen their position. On the other hand, an ambitious successor could eventually emerge as an alternative power centre.

caste equation

Shivakumar’s rise to this position is significant as he is the most prominent Vokkaliga leader in the Congress. The community remains one of the most influential political groups in the state, especially in southern Karnataka.Yet Congress’s 2023 victory was not built solely on Vokkaliga support. It all depended on the Ahinda alliance carefully crafted by Siddaramaiah. That alliance now faces a moment of uncertainty.Many Dalit, backward class and minority leaders will be closely watching to determine whether the leadership change changes the government’s priorities. Shivakumar may need to reassure them that power has changed but political representation has not.At the same time, influential leaders from other communities are likely to push for greater prominence in the new system.According to reports, the demand is already being made for several Deputy CMs representing different social groups. Senior Dalit leaders, Lingayat leaders and regional power brokers all have claims that cannot be easily dismissed.

Ticking bomb of caste census

Shivakumar is also inheriting another politically sensitive issue from Siddaramaiah: the caste census. Before leaving office, Siddaramaiah accepted the findings of the socio-economic and educational survey and supported its implementation, positioning it as a tool for greater social justice and representation.However, the decision drew sharp reaction from influential Vokkaliga and Lingayat leaders, who questioned the methodology of the survey and the population figures given to their communities. Several organizations called for a fresh survey or a review of the findings.As Vokkaliga leader, Shivakumar faces a delicate balancing act. Reversing or weakening Siddaramaiah’s position may dismay the non-aligned groups that form the Congress’ core social coalition, but moving forward aggressively with the census recommendations risks alienating sections of key communities whose support is crucial to both the Congress and Shivakumar’s own political base.

Welfare versus development dilemma

The Congress government came to power on the strength of its guarantee schemes.Free electricity, free bus travel for women, cash assistance programs and other welfare initiatives helped build a powerful electoral coalition. While these schemes are popular among the beneficiaries, they are also expensive.Shivakumar inherits a government that must deliver on welfare commitments as well as invest in infrastructure, urban development and economic growth.This stress can affect his tenure to a great extent.Guarantees have become politically non-negotiable, withdrawing them would risk alienating key supporters. Yet continuing these indefinitely without expanding revenues creates fiscal constraints.Therefore, the challenge is not whether to continue the schemes or not, but how to sustain them.Can Karnataka maintain its welfare architecture while maintaining its reputation as one of India’s most investment-friendly states?This question is likely to become more acute as the next elections in the state approach.

countdown to 2028

Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Shivkumar is time. Shivkumar is holding the post of CM in the second half of his tenure.Meanwhile, the clock is already ticking towards the next assembly elections in 2028. This leaves him about two years to establish an independent record, deliver visible results and convince voters that Congress deserves another term.Anti-incumbency is already a factor.And for Shivakumar, this creates a unique political dilemma.Even if the government performs well, most of the credit can be given to Siddaramaiah as many key policies originated under his leadership.If the government struggles, the blame will probably fall on the new CM as he was in charge during the last phase before the elections.In this sense, Shivakumar has inherited both the benefits and burdens of power.For decades, Shivakumar had built his reputation as a political operator with extraordinary skill. He became indispensable to the Congress leadership. Also fondly called ‘Kanakpura Bande’ – the granite rock of Kanakapura (his constituency) – the 64-year-old leader has steadily established himself as the key Vokkaliga strongman of the Congress party. However, the troubleshooter now faces a different challenge.The qualities that make him a successful political manager may or may not result in successful governance. It will be known in the coming months whether Shivkumar will be able to make this change or not.And the results could decide not only the future of his government but also the future of the Congress in one of its most important states.After the oath taking ceremony on Wednesday, Congress’ crisis manager will be in charge of Karnataka and soon after this his real test will begin.

The stunt-based reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi is all set to return after a year-long break. The show, which took a break last year due to conflicts between the production house and the channel, is now coming back with season 15. All the celebrity contestants and hosts participating in the show Rohit ShettyRecently went to Cape Town, South Africa to shoot the show. The makers have now released the first promo of KKK 15 which promises raw and real stunts.The makers shared a promo of the upcoming season on their official Instagram handle and shared glimpses of host Rohit Shetty performing a car stunt. Rohit also shared a behind-the-scenes video of the upcoming season. He also reiterated that every stunt shown in the show will be completely real and will be performed without any artificial enhancements.The promo video shows Rohit Shetty taking part in a high-speed race with an aircraft behind a sports car. Rohit has shared its promo on his social media account. He wrote, “Raw and real stunts…this is what Khatron Ke Khiladi is all about…I promise you this season is going to be amazing.” contestants like Rubina DilaikFarhana Bhatt, Gaurav Khanna, Jasmin Bhasin and others have been sharing BTS moments from the show.KKK 15 will see a mix of new and former contestants. Gaurav Khanna, Farhana Bhatt, Avinash Mishra, Orhaan Avtramani aka Ori, Harsh Gujral and Shagun Sharma are participating in the show for the first time. The show will also feature former contestants like Karan Wahi, Rubina Dilaik, Ritwik Dhanjani, Vishal Aditya Singh, Jasmin Bhasin and Avika Gor.The stunt-based reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi 15 will be hosted by Rohit Shetty and is expected to premiere in July 2026.

Graham Platner’s wife says she feels betrayed by the man who exposed her husband’s sexting scandal.

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner broke his silence on a sexting scandal and criticized the Wall Street Journal and New York Times for running stories on gossip. However, this gossip was reportedly provided by his wife Amy Gartner, who has now said that it is shameful for the media to spread gossip. She said, “No marriage is perfect and I don’t want a perfect marriage. I want my marriage.”Plattner is seeking the Democratic nomination against Republican Senator Susan Collins for one of the most-watched Senate races in Maine, the June 9 primary.

What is Plattner’s sexting scandal?

The Wall Street Journal reported that Plattner’s wife, Gertner, told the campaign last August that she had seen sexting messages on her husband’s phone before their marriage. The New York Times, which also published a story about the messages on Saturday, named former aide Genevieve McDonald as one of the then-campaign staffers who confirmed the messages.Gertner said that what he shared with a campaign aide was personal and that he is hurt that he has been betrayed by a former campaign aide.“It’s no surprise to me that the established media outlets are just going to run gossip instead of talking about the things that really matter in this race, which are the physical realities that Mainers are dealing with,” Plattner said, attempting to place blame on The New York Times and Wall Street Journal for reporting his personal failures.Plattner said that she is in a very loving and happy marriage and the media does not write about it. Plattner said, “We talked about Amy and my marriage about things we’ve been going through over the years. We talked about that because it’s our marriage, and we discussed it with the campaign.”Plattner, an oyster farmer and combat veteran, rarely shies away from controversy. Last year, it was reported that Plattner had a tattoo on his chest that resembled the Totenkopf, or death’s head, symbol used by the Nazi SS. Plattner said he found it during a drunken night out in Croatia in 2007 and had no idea it was related to the Nazis. He later painted it with a “Celtic knot with some imagery around the dogs”, he said.

Bengaluru: South Korean space AI company Telepix has signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based space propulsion firm Bellatrix Aerospace to jointly develop a next-generation Earth Observation (EO) satellite designed to operate in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), with a technology demonstration mission targeted for launch in 2028.The partnership will combine Telepix’s high-resolution optical payload, Chouet, with Bellatrix’s VLEO satellite platform, powered by its proprietary air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system. The companies said the collaboration aims to develop a satellite capable of continuous operation at altitudes between 150 km and 250 km, enabling continuous high-resolution EO and geospatial data collection.“The MOU was signed at Telepix’s SpaceLab facility in Daejeon, South Korea. Under the agreement, Bellatrix will provide the satellite bus, including propulsion, power, thermal control and attitude control systems, while Telepix Chouet will supply optical payload and support system integration,” it said in a statement issued on Monday.VLEO satellites operate much closer to Earth than traditional Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, providing significantly higher imaging resolution. This segment is expected to see increasing demand in defence, disaster response, environmental monitoring and precision observation applications.However, operating at such low altitudes presents a major technical challenge due to atmospheric drag, which can rapidly degrade satellite orbits. The companies said Bellatrix’s ABEP technology, which uses atmospheric particles as propellant, will help enable long-duration operations in VLEO environments.Telepix said its Chouette payload is designed specifically for VLEO missions and has a wide-swath imaging system capable of covering more than twice the observation width than comparable satellites currently on the market. The payload will also take advantage of the company’s artificial intelligence-based image processing capabilities.“Beyond the planned 2028 demonstration mission, the two companies will collaborate on launch operations, early-orbit activities and overall mission management. According to the statement, they will also explore future constellation deployment and commercial VLEO mission opportunities following in-orbit validation.Describing VLEO as a key pioneer in next-generation Earth observations, Telepix CEO Seongik Cho said the partnership will help Telepix extend its optical payload technology into new operational domains while expanding its global footprint. Bellatrix CEO Rohan M Ganapathy said that a commercially viable VLEO constellation could provide a “game-changing” improvement in imaging resolution compared to conventional EO observing systems operating in higher orbits.