New Delhi: “My 14 years of struggle came true today.” These were the words McNeil Hadley Noronha said to his coach Irfan Sait after getting the call. Chennai Super Kings. Sait says the most emotional he has ever seen was the Karnataka all-rounder, who struggled to contain himself after learning that he would be joining the CSK squad for the remaining matches. IPL 2026.As reported in this masthead, the five-time IPL champions signed Noronha as an injury replacement for Ramakrishna Ghosh earlier this week, with the move later confirmed via an official IPL statement.“Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have named a replacement for Ramakrishna Ghosh, who injured his right leg during the game against Mumbai Indians on May 3. He has been ruled out of the season. McNeil Noronha will join CSK for Rs 30 lakh as a replacement for Ghosh,” the IPL said in a release.

the call finally came

Noronha was at home when the call came around 4 pm. CSK informed him that he would have to join the team the next day. He immediately called Sait.“Ever since I started training him, it’s the first time I’ve seen him so emotional. It was years of hard work that finally resulted in Noronha. He was invited by four franchises – Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings – for trials. He performed really well there and eventually, CSK picked him. I’m really happy for this kid. He has struggled a lot and worked hard for this day. Shreyas Gopal guided him very well,” SAT told TimesofIndia.com.Sait believes that Noronha’s biggest strength is the balance he brings as a cricketer.“He is a good-natured God-given cricketer. I would say he is an all-format player. He has always been a positive batsman. The beauty about him is that he doesn’t even look aggressive.” He has his own style of batting – very smooth and very calm – but he hits the ball very far. When he strikes the ball, he makes it look very comfortable,” he said.

A domestic season that changed everything

The 24-year-old had already built momentum through a strong domestic season. Noronha topped the run charts in the CK Nayudu Trophy with 1037 runs in eight matches and was later awarded the BCCI Naman Award.He also played a major role in Mangaluru Dragons’ Maharaja Trophy-winning campaign in 2025, scoring 253 runs at a strike rate of 148.82 and contributing 10 wickets.Those performances earned him a call in Karnataka’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy team and the Rest of India Under-23 team.

from dubai to bangalore

Noronha spent most of her childhood in Dubai due to her father’s business commitments. He first started training under SAT at the age of 11, and often traveled to Bengaluru for short training stints at the Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC).Sait eventually advised the family to move to India permanently to aid his cricket development.Sait said, “At some point, since his roots are in Mangalore, I suggested to him that he should consider relocating as UAE cricket only goes up to the Under-19 level and there is not much structure beyond that. His father continued his business in Dubai, while his mother and sister moved to Bengaluru for their education and cricket.”

The move left the family split between the two countries for several years.“His parents have sacrificed a lot for the boy. Can you imagine? His father is in Dubai while his mother stayed here to take care of him.” His sister is now married, but both brother and sister were here with their mother, while she lived in Dubai, away from her husband. This was a huge sacrifice. Taking him to the stadium and bringing him back – he did everything. That woman did everything to make sure he was well taken care of and protected,” Sait said.“His CSK call-up should be dedicated to his parents. They have made them proud,” he said.

Yuvraj Singh connection

Although he is a right-handed batsman and off-spinner, Noronha has been a long-time fan of Yuvraj Singh.Sait recalled an incident in 2019, the day Yuvraj announced his retirement from international cricket. Before the semifinals at a private tournament, Noronha approached his coach with an unusual idea.“That day is something I will never forget. Yuvraj had announced his retirement and we had a semi-final match in a private tournament. Noronha came to me and said, ‘Sir, I want to pay tribute to my hero Yuvraj Singh.’ I asked him, ‘How?’ He said, ‘By hitting six sixes in one over.’ I told him, ‘No, don’t try that. This is a semi-final match. If you fail, the team will suffer and lose the match.

Noronha nevertheless went ahead with the plan.Sait said, “He hit six sixes in an over, won the team the match and took it to the final. We were successful in winning the final as well.”

CSK’s growing injury list

Noronha joins CSK at a time when injuries have heavily disrupted their season. Ramakrishna Ghosh was ruled out with a fractured foot after the game against Mumbai Indians on 2 May.The franchise has also dealt with injuries to Nathan Ellis, Dewald Brewis, Khalil Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre and Jamie Overton, while MS Dhoni is yet to play this season as he is recovering from a calf injury.

For years, Premanand Maharaj’s Padayatra has been one of the most familiar sights in Vrindavan. Devotees from all over India and even from abroad used to gather daily on the way to Kelly Kunj Ashram, waiting to catch a glimpse of Maharajji and hoping to receive blessings during the spiritual walk. But that routine has now been disrupted.Premanand Maharaj’s padayatra has reportedly been postponed indefinitely, devotees have been informed through an announcement from the ashram. The update has left many followers worried, especially after reports linking the decision to Maharajji’s health.

Devotees informed about Maharajji not starting the normal padyatra.

According to Bhaskar English, thousands of devotees had gathered on Sunday night in the hope of a general darshan and an early morning padyatra. However, Premanand Maharaj reportedly did not start the journey around 3 am as followers were expecting.Instead, his disciples addressed the devotees through loudspeakers and informed them about the cancellation.Quoting media reports, devotees were told, “Our request is that due to the ill health of Maharajji, the pilgrimage is being canceled from today. Please do not gather standing on the roadside.”The announcement reportedly caused many devotees to return without having darshan, while others remained outside the ashram waiting for further information.

Reports suggest indefinite postponement health concerns

The ashram administration has not issued any detailed official statement regarding the indefinite postponement. However, media reports have suggested that the decision may be related to Premanand Maharaj’s health condition.According to reports from Kelly Kunj Ashram, Maharajji has been suffering from kidney-related health issues for almost 21 years, and his health has deteriorated recently. No official medical update has been shared publicly so far.Apart from the padyatra, reports also suggest that private darshan and some spiritual interactions related to daily routine have been put on hold till further notice.

Followers were urged to avoid rumors and wait for official updates

People associated with the ashram have appealed to devotees to remain patient while waiting for further communication and avoid rumors or unverified claims.Premanand Maharaj’s spiritual discourses and padayatras have garnered a large following over the years, with videos of his sermons widely viewed online. For now, many devotees are hoping that the pause is temporary and are waiting for updates regarding the resumption of spiritual gatherings.Disclaimer: This information is based on publicly available media reports and social media updates. The Times of India has not independently confirmed the claims, health-related information or the reasons behind the postponement.Thumb Image:

New Delhi: The West Bengal cabinet led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday scrapped aid given to groups based on religious classification, effectively ending religion-based schemes run during the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government.The BJP government has also removed the existing state OBC list as per the Calcutta High Court judgment and will set up a panel to decide the quota eligibility.A few days ago, Suvendu government had reportedly withdrawn the petition filed by Mamata government against the High Court stay on releasing the state OBC list.On July 28 last year, the CJI-led bench of the Supreme Court had lifted the high court’s stay on the implementation of the new OBC list, which had a total of 140 sub-groups under OBC-A and OBC-B categories, of which 80 belonged to the Muslim community. The Supreme Court had said that it is well settled that the executive can notify such a list without passing a law. The previous list, which was quashed by the High Court, had 113 OBC sub-groups, including 77 from the Muslim community and 36 others.Minister Agnimitra Paul said, “The Bengal Cabinet has decided to stop government assistance to groups based on religious classification from June. The government has also scrapped the existing state OBC list as per the Calcutta High Court judgment and will set up a panel to decide the quota eligibility.”He said the schemes being implemented under religious classification by the departments of Information and Cultural Affairs and Minority Affairs and Madrassa Education will continue till the end of this month and will be discontinued from June.Addressing a press conference after the meeting at the state secretariat Nabanna, Minister Agnimitra Paul said women who had applied for citizenship under the CAA and had approached tribunals to be included in the voter list in the wake of the SIR exercise, would also get the benefits of the ‘Annapurna’ scheme.“The cabinet approved the ‘Annapurna’ scheme of providing monthly assistance of Rs 3,000 to women from June 1. The proposal to allow free travel for women in government-run buses from next month was also approved, he said after the second meeting of the state council of ministers.The BJP had promised during the recent assembly election campaign that its government would ensure free travel for women in state-run buses and offer them a Rs 3,000 monthly scheme, compared to Rs 1,500 given under the “Lakshmir Bhandar” scheme of the previous TMC government.Women and Child Development Minister Paul said the government has also approved the constitution of the 7th State Pay Commission for its employees and those working in affiliated statutory civic bodies, education boards and state-run educational institutions.Asked whether the issue of dearness allowance was raised in the meeting chaired by Suvendu Adhikari, Paul said, “There was no discussion on DA today. Such discussion will be taken later.”

A well-known actor had recently completed a film and approached a doctor with a problem. The actor had gained some weight during the making of the film and wanted to lose 6 kg within a few weeks before appearing in public.
The actor was not obese and did not have diabetes, thyroid disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or any other metabolic condition. However, she wanted to know from Dr. Rajiv Kovil if she could still use GLP-1-based weight loss injections like Ozempic or Monjaro.

A Croatian Airlines passenger plane skidded off the runway at Split airport in Croatia on Saturday, causing panic among passengers and briefly disrupting airport operations.The incident involved Airbus A220-300 flight OU412 operating from Split to Frankfurt. According to local authorities and airline officials, the plane veered off the runway while accelerating for departure and stopped on a grassy field near the tarmac.In the video circulated on social media, smoke is seen rising from the plane after stopping on the runway. However, all 130 passengers and five crew members on board were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported.“Croatia Airlines’ Airbus A220-300 aircraft, registered 9A-CAN, which was scheduled to operate today’s regular international flight OU412 from Split to Frankfurt, aborted its takeoff at Split Airport,” Croatia Airlines said in a statement. “There were 130 passengers and five crew on board, including two pilots and three cabin crew. All passengers and crew are safe and no injuries were reported,” the airline said.The airline further said, “According to preliminary available information, the crew aborted the flight in line with prescribed safety procedures. The passengers have disembarked and are currently in the passenger terminal of Split Airport, where they are being provided with all necessary assistance to continue their journey.”Airport officials said the plane suffered damage after hitting the runway side lights and vertical marker sign during the aborted flight.Split airport was temporarily closed as emergency response teams and technical crews worked to remove the aircraft and inspect the runway for damage.Croatia Airlines said the pilots rejected take-off “in accordance with prescribed safety procedures” after deciding it was unsafe to continue.The exact reason behind the canceled flight is unclear. A formal investigation has been launched by the Croatian Civil Aviation Agency and the Air, Maritime and Railway Accident Investigation Agency to determine the cause of the incident.

The cultural environment assumes that creativity is based entirely on ability. We all think that as long as someone has enough talent, is determined and has the unique ability to create artworks, he or she will definitely come into the limelight. However, what we forget is the reality of the financial costs involved. Before any artist tries out for a role or sells their script, there is always a financial hurdle that excludes those unable to pay the price.In 2021, Yale University’s David Geffen School of Drama broke this barrier with a change that sent shock waves beyond its own institution. The David Geffen Foundation’s unprecedented $150 million donation effectively eliminated tuition costs for all full-time degree and certificate students. Although the amount of donations was certainly newsworthy at first glance, it is important to recognize how such innovation changed the demographics of American theater.according to Report issued by the university What distinguishes this generous gesture is the fact that it did not involve the financing of any construction project or physical expansion of its premises. Instead, it involved restructuring the financial structure behind the program’s training process by relieving all candidates of their tuition costs, thus shifting the discussion from an elite educational opportunity to genuine access.Re-engineering the risk factor in creative careersThe reason why this is such a significant change becomes clear when one considers the particular instability of the creative industry compared to other industries, such as law or medicine, which require expensive training but ultimately lead to lucrative careers. The problem is that the performing arts offer highly unpredictable financial rewards.That moment when an acceptance letter arrives with thousands of dollars of tuition debt completely changes the mental calculation. Young artists have no choice but to consider whether they are able to get their acceptance letters accepted or not. Financial constraints become a subtle form of filtering, forcing talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds to think twice before applying.

And this is what the free tuition framework aims to accomplish. according to tuition and living expenses Chart at the school, 100 percent of full-time students now automatically benefit from 100 percent tuition coverage. This changes the sociological implications of receiving a letter of approval. From being impossible to afford, opportunity turns into something tangible. This enables the university to recruit and develop a more diverse talent base of people who might otherwise have found themselves locked out of the industry due to its finances.Structural changes for long-term representationIn this case, there is a larger lesson to be learned about how true representation is made possible within cultural institutions. Diversity cannot be created artificially; It should be designed from the ground up. By simply changing the entry requirements, you automatically change the demographics of the people coming through the door.This model of asset-based philanthropy ensures that the donor’s legacy is preserved within students’ daily lived experiences rather than on a cold marble plaque. Graduates of this system can enter the professional world without the overwhelming need for a corporate job just to pay off their student loans. They are given the freedom to choose ambitious, experimental, and community-driven projects early in their careers, when their artistic voices are most flexible.In short, the Geffen donation serves as an example of how philanthropy can be used as a weapon to democratize an entire industry. Talent is shared equally among the people; However, there are not the means to develop such talent. Transforming the institute from a renowned learning institution to a tuition-free institution was a testament to the most important thing one can create: not a hall for performances but a wide door to all stories.

Delhi High Court On Monday, interim bail was granted till June 2 to Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, who is in jail in a terror funding case following the demise of his father.A bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain said that during the interim bail period, Rashid will always be accompanied by at least two police officers in plain clothes, who will accompany him from the beginning of the journey from Tihar Jail till his return from Srinagar.The bench ordered that he would be allowed to visit the cemetery or any other place of worship, but would not be allowed to go anywhere else from his residence in Srinagar and Langate.Rashid had sought interim bail on the grounds that his father, who was undergoing treatment at AIIMS, died on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.Rashid’s lawyer Vikayat Oberoi said interim bail was needed to enable burial, traditional rites and many other ceremonies.“Accordingly, on account of the demise of the appellant’s father, the appellant is granted interim bail till June 2, 2026,” the court ordered.“Immediately, on the expiry of the bail period, the appellant shall surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent and be brought back to Tihar Jail, Delhi,” it said.The court further ordered that any meeting between Rashid and persons other than his family members would take place only in the presence of police officers and he could use only one mobile number, which would be given to the investigating officer and would be kept “ON” at all times.It also directed Rashid not to contact any witnesses or their family members or indulge in any criminal or illegal activity or leave the country without its prior permission.On April 28, the court granted him interim bail for a week so that he could meet his ailing father in Srinagar. This period was extended till May 10 after Rashid’s father was shifted to AIIMS here for treatment.Rashid is facing trial in the terror funding case. He is accused of funding separatists and terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir. He has been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail since 2019 after he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the 2017 case.After they were named in the chargesheet in October 2019, a special NIA court framed charges against Rashid and others in March 2022 under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the government), and 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.