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.

Jill Biden says she was shocked that Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump.

former first kasi Jill Biden Now he has said that he was so sure that Kamala Harris would win the 2024 elections and defeat Donald Trump but when it did not happen, he was shocked. As he made this claim to Rita Brewer in a new interview on CBS News ahead of the release of his memoir ‘Views from the East Wing,’ Brewer was quite surprised. “Were you?” Brewer asked. “The excitement for her and the crowd and, I mean, how people rallied around her, and I really thought she was going to win,” Jill Biden said. “I was surprised she didn’t win, because I think she would make a good president.”Jill Biden and Kamala Harris were never known as good friends.In the memoir to be released tomorrow (June 2), Jill Biden wrote that she knew something was wrong when she saw Joe Biden struggle in the presidential debate. “Is this a stroke?” Jill wondered as she watched TV in a holding room near the CNN studio where President Biden faces Donald Trump in June 2024. “It felt like we were watching an AI hologram of a guy we knew, and the hologram was glitching. Was he given any medication?” Jill wrote that she never found out what happened that night. Perhaps she was given Ambien or codeine cough syrup for a persistent cough when she came home from Europe and was experiencing side effects.“In that argument, Joe lost himself,” Jill wrote in her memoir. “He lost the essence of who he was. He did not speak from the heart. His opponent lied more than a hundred times, but it didn’t matter.”Even Joe Biden was aware of the disaster he had caused. As they walked off the set that night, Joe Biden whispered, “I really messed up, didn’t I?” “Yes, you did,” said Jill.Jill said she would leave inspirational or candid notes for her husband during his presidency, including “You are my hero” and “Get up, conqueror. Get up.” He also recalled writing notes to him on foreign policy such as “The net has to be closed” or “Be strong, don’t let BN use your goodness”, referring to Benjamin Netanyahu.

New Delhi: Amidst reports of internal strife TMC Supremo and former CM of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee Hitting back at the rebel leaders, he said the party was “not for its leaders but for its workers”. Speaking hours after TMC expelled two MLAs for ‘anti-party activities’, Mamata said the party is “better off” without the rebel MLAs.“There may be some people who take advantage of the circumstances, but those who thought such people were their property are gone and we are better off without them. We will build the party afresh. TMC is not for its leaders; it is for its workers. As long as the workers stay with us, that is what matters. For so long, a few people enjoyed power, and now that we have lost, it seems they have,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. “Immediately reached an agreement with the other party.”Read this also Missing TMC MLAs, statewide arrests and protest plans: What’s happeningHe said, “TMC will become even stronger. Today, those who are making tall claims that party leaders are not standing with the workers are spreading misinformation. Complete anarchy is prevalent – even Hitler did not do such things. There are no words left to describe this situation, because when language itself fails, it means harassment has crossed all limits. You cannot intimidate or bribe some MLAs and MPs. cannot weaken TMC; in fact, it is only strengthening the party.”Stepping up her attack on the Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government, Mamata claimed that TMC workers were not being allowed to go out, and alleged that party offices were being vandalized.Terming the attack on party MP and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee as “shocking”, the former Bengal CM alleged that doctors, hospitals were “instructed not to treat.”He said, “The way you attacked the MP of the second largest opposition party is shocking. Doctors were called, yet hospitals were reportedly instructed not to treat. What kind of absurd and authoritarian behavior is this?… The people of Belle Vue bowed at my feet. You had close relations and dealings with the Birla and Lodha families, and you bowed before them… Our mayor took care of everything. Six months ago, we renewed Apollo’s license,” he said.Mamata urged students to protest, alleging “numerous anomalies” in the NEET exam.“There were many anomalies in the NEET exam, students are the backbone of the society and they should protest against it,” he said.Mamata’s comments come as TMC is facing its biggest crisis in a decade following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and internal discord in the party.Additionally, party leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kunal Ghosh were attacked in Bengal, with the TMC alleging BJP’s involvement.