BCCI Grills Gambhir, Rohit On Test Slump, Gets 'IPL Salaries' As Answer

New revelations from the recent meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and Test captain Rohit Sharma continue to rock the Indian cricketing fraternity. As the BCCI looks to chart the way forward for Indian cricket, an explanation was sought from the team management over recent results, especially in Test cricket. As India stare at one of the lowest points in the nation's recent Test history, the defeats against Australia and New Zealand ask several questions.

In a report by Dainik Jagran, it has been said that one of the members of the Indian team management labelled fat IPL pay cheques as one of the factors behind certain players' inability to excel in Test cricket.

As per the report, when team management was asked about the reason behind Team India's recent performances, a member referred to the bumper IPL contacts as one of the factors. It was said that because of such huge IPL salaries, some players aren't giving Test cricket the importance it needs.

A few changes are reportedly being brought in by the BCCI to help the team overcome this slump. 

It has been said that the BCCI will limit the players spending time with their families on tours. The players will also be barred from taking independent transport to commute during practice and matches.

For a tour of 45 days, the family members of the players can only be with them for not more than 14 days. Meanwhile, during shorter tours in foreign countries, the immediate family members of a play can stay up to a week.

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar met the BCCI officials in Mumbai last Saturday and were informed of the new protocols.

With ANI Inputs

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim Launch Timeline Delayed Until May, Tipster Claims

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Slim is expected to be the slimmest device in the S25 series. While a recent teaser by Samsung hinted at the launch of a fourth model as part of its Galaxy lineup, there’s now information from China that the launch of the same may be delayed until May 2025. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim, as per the latest rumours, is said to be less than 7mm in ...

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Realme 14x 4G Listed on FCC Website, Key Specifications Revealed: Report

Realme 14x 4G may be in development, according to a report. It was recently spotted on a certification website which hints towards its global launch. The phone is speculated to be available in the budget segment with 4G-only capabilities. The listing suggests that it could be equipped with a 6.67-inch screen and run on Realme UI 6.0 out of the box. Live images of the ...

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What Is Pink Powder Dropped By Planes That's Helping Fight LA Wildfires

A bright pink powder blanketing rooftops, vehicles and streets has become a familiar sight in Los Angeles where air tankers continue to drop the substance to combat raging wildfires. Authorities have confirmed that thousands of gallons of this powder have been used in the past week to prevent the flames from spreading further. But what exactly is this pink powder, and how does it help contain wildfires?

What is the pink fire retardant?

The substance is Phos-Chek, a fire retardant, widely used across the US since the 1960s. Manufactured by a company called Perimeter Solutions, it is the most-used fire retardant in the world, according to an AP report.

The bright pink hue may look unusual, but it serves an important purpose.

Red flame retardant is seen on a car in the Mandeville Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles
Photo Credit: AFP

A Perimeter spokesperson told BBC that the dye added to Phos-Chek acts as a visual marker for pilots and firefighters, helping them see where the retardant has been deployed.

The colour fades after several days of exposure to sunlight, blending into natural earth tones.

How does the fire retardant work?

Rather than dousing flames directly, Phos-Chek is sprayed in advance of a fire, coating vegetation and other flammable surfaces, according to a report in The New York Times.

This prevents oxygen from fuelling the fire, effectively creating a barrier to slow the spread of flames.

Photo Credit: AFP

The retardant's core components are salts such as ammonium polyphosphate.

The retardant can endure harsh conditions and last longer than water, “doesn't evaporate like dropping water,” Stanton Florea, a spokesman for the National Interagency Fire Center, told The New York Times.

The substance is particularly useful in areas where ground crews face challenges reaching rugged terrain.

Phos-Chek is not without its limitations. High winds can make aerial drops dangerous, and strong gusts may scatter the powder before it reaches its target, reducing its effectiveness.

Are there risks associated with the retardant?

While the pink powder is a powerful tool in combating wildfires, environmental experts have raised concerns about its impact on ecosystems and human health. Emerging research suggests the chemicals in fire retardants, including heavy metals, pose a toxic threat to the environment, according to an NYT report.

Millions of gallons of the substance are dropped every year, potentially harming wildlife, polluting waterways and posing risks to human health, it added.

Photo Credit: AFP

Fire retardants are important for controlling deadly blazes, yet their increasing use, driven by more frequent wildfires linked to climate change, is introducing more chemicals into the environment.

A lawsuit filed in 2022 by Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, a group of current and former US Forest Service staff, alleged that aerial drops of fire retardants violated clean water laws, BBC reported.

A US District Court judge acknowledged these concerns but allowed the Forest Service to continue using fire retardants while it works to secure a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In response to the growing scrutiny, the Forest Service has phased out one formulation of Phos-Chek in favour of a less toxic version. The agency also enforces restrictions on dropping retardants near sensitive environmental areas, including waterways and endangered species habitats.

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Samsung's First Tri-Fold Smartphone Tipped to See Limited Production in 2025

Samsung has reportedly been working on a tri-fold smartphone, which is expected to arrive with two hinges and a large main display. It is expected to come with a 'G-type' triple-folding display, which varies from the S-shaped in-and-out foldable screen seen on the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design model. A recent report has suggested that the South Korean tech giant ...

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Wedding At 200-Year-Old Temple In Madhya Pradesh Sparks Row, Probe On

A wedding held at a 200-year-old temple in Madhya Pradesh's Indore has caused a row, prompting the authorities to order a probe into the matter, officials said on Monday. According to officials, the wedding took place on Sunday at Gopal Mandir in the Rajbada area of the city. The temple has been renovated under the Centre's Smart City project.

Eyewitnesses said the temple premises were decorated for the ceremony, Vedic marriage rituals were performed, and there was a feast for guests.

Locals have alleged that devotees and visitors were inconvenienced, and traffic was also disrupted near the temple.

Photographs from the event have surfaced on social media, with people raising questions about how permission was granted for a wedding at the temple, which was part of the city's heritage.

A photograph of a receipt has also surfaced on social media, which mentions that one Rajkumar Agrawal paid Rs 25,551 to the Sansthan Shri Gopal Mandir, the organisation managing this temple, in connection with the wedding. The receipt with a government seal is dated July 29, 2024.

Officials said an additional district magistrate (ADM) has been ordered to probe the matter.

Indore Smart City Development Limited's chief executive officer (CEO) Divyank Singh said the 19th-century Holkar-era Gopal Mandir was renovated under the Smart City project for Rs 13 crore.

Historian Zafar Ansari said the temple was built by Rajmata Krishna Bai Holkar in 1832 at a cost of Rs 80,000.

"Gopal Mandir was a major centre of charitable activities, especially during the reign of the Holkars. It is unfortunate a wedding ceremony was organised in this temple. Such events can damage this historical heritage," Ansari said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Best Offers on Premium Smartphones During Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2025

Amazon Great Republic Day 2025 sale is now live for all shoppers in India. The sale brings offers and discounts for products across different categories including mobile phones, accessories, laptops, wearables, kitchen products, TVs and other electronic appliances. The yearly sale started 12 hours early for Prime members. Amazon's Republic Day special sale offers addi...

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Truth About Century-Old Skull, Believed To Be Of Cleopatra's Half-Sister

A mystery dating back nearly a century about a skull believed to belong to Cleopatra's murdered half-sister has been solved using modern DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating. The skull, discovered in 1929 by archaeologists excavating a tomb in Ephesos, Turkey, was thought to belong to Arsinoe IV, Cleopatra's half-sister, who was reportedly killed in 41 BCE at the behest of the Egyptian queen's lover, Mark Antony.

The skull was discovered in 1929 during excavations of an "Octagon" tomb in Ephesos, Turkey, by archaeologist Josef Keil and his team. Initially, Keil hypothesised that the remains were of "a very distinguished person," likely a 20-year-old woman, leading to speculations that it could be of Cleopatra's sister. But, new research conducted by specialists at the University of Vienna, led by anthropologist Gerhard Weber, has debunked the longstanding theory. Using advanced scans, DNA analysis, and radiocarbon dating, the team determined that the skull actually belonged to a boy aged between 11 and 14.

"It was long speculated that it could be the remains of Arsinoe IV, the sister of the famous Cleopatra," Science News reported. "However, the latest anthropological analyses show that the remains are those of a boy between the ages of 11 and 14 who suffered from pathological developmental disorder."

Radiocarbon dating indicates the skull dates between 36 BCE and 205 BCE. Genetic analysis suggests the boy was likely a native of Italy or Sardinia, dismissing any connection to Arsinoe IV. After its discovery, Mr Keil transported the remains to Germany and later to Austria, where they have remained ever since.

In 2022, archaeologists found a long tunnel - 1,305 metres long and 13 metres deep - under the Taposiris Magna temple ruins on Egypt's coast. Kathleen Martinez from the University of Santo Domingo, who has been searching for Cleopatra VII's tomb since 2004, said the tunnel might lead to it. While the chance is "one per cent," she called it a possible "discovery of the century."

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Apple Chief Tim Cook, With Rs 544 Crore Salary, Gets 18% Pay Rise

Apple Inc. disclosed an 18% pay increase for Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook ahead of its annual meeting next month, while also saying it opposed a shareholder measure calling for an end to the company's diversity program.

Mr Cook's compensation grew to $74.6 million (Rs 643 crore) in 2024, compared with $63.2 million (Rs 544 crore) the prior year, Apple said in its annual proxy filing on Friday. In addition to executive compensation, investors will vote on four outside proposals at the meeting on February 25. The company opposed all of them.

The measure about Apple's diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts urged the company to consider abolishing the program because it may discriminate against employees and draw lawsuits. The company said the proposal was an inappropriate attempt to restrict Apple's business operations and that it already assesses legal and regulatory risks.

Mr Cook's pay was made up of a $3 million base salary, $58.1 million in stock awards, and roughly $13.5 million in additional compensation. The raise mostly comes from an increase in stock award value.

While Mr Cook's pay is up significantly from last year, it's still a far cry from his total compensation in 2022, which reached nearly $100 million thanks to stock awards. His pay was cut at his discretion in 2023 after pushback from employees and shareholders.

Apple's board of directors said it "made no changes to the amount or structure of Mr Cook's 2025 total target compensation."

Other executives, including Apple's retail chief, former chief financial officer, chief operating officer and general counsel, all made more than $27 million in 2024, representing slight increases from the prior year. Luca Maestri, the ex-CFO, was recently replaced as by Kevan Parekh.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India's Squad Announcement Live: No Kohli-Rohit Surprise, Agarkar Set To...

India's Champions Trophy 2025 And England Series Squad Announcement Live: Fans around the world are eagerly waiting for the announcement of India's squad for the upcoming white-ball series against England and the Champions Trophy 2025. As per a report by the Indian Express, the BCCI selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, is likely to pick both the squads on Friday. After the debacle in the recently-concluded five-match Test series against Australia, where India lost 1-3, many tough calls are likely to be made in terms of squad selection. Some bold calls are likely to be taken.

India's Squad Announcement For Champions Trophy and England ODIs Live Updates:

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Xiaomi Working on Tablet With Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset, Tipster Claims

Xiaomi Pad 7 was unveiled in China in October 2024 alongside a Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro variant. The base model is powered by a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC, while the Pro variant gets a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. A tipster now claims that Xiaomi may launch a tablet with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC soon.

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Microplastics In The Air May Be Leading To Lung And Colon Cancer: Study

From oceans to mountains, microplastics have been found almost everywhere on the planet. These tiny plastics have also been detected in nearly every organ of the human body, including the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and even the placenta. The health implications of microplastics in our systems are alarming and far-reaching. Research has linked microplastic exposure to various illnesses, and now, a study has found a connection between these tiny plastics and lung and colon cancers.

In a paper published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, researchers at the University of California at San Francisco conducted a comprehensive analysis of numerous studies involving mice and humans to investigate the effects of microplastics on digestive, respiratory, and reproductive health. Tiny plastic particles, shed from tyres and degrading plastic waste, are becoming a significant air pollution concern, with potential links to serious health risks.

The study reviewed approximately 3,000 research papers and identified potential links between airborne microplastics and various health conditions. These health conditions include infertility, colon cancer, poor lung function, and chronic pulmonary inflammation. The tiny particles can penetrate deep into lung tissues, potentially creating an environment that fosters DNA damage and cell mutations. Both of these factors are key contributors to cancer development.

Microplastics, defined as particles smaller than 5 millimetres, are pervasive in the environment. Every year, nearly 460 million metric tons of plastic are produced globally, and this number is expected to double by 2050. A substantial source of airborne microplastics is the wear and tear on tyres and roads caused by friction from driving. Over time, these microplastic particles become airborne, posing a potential threat to human health.

"These microplastics are particulate matter air pollution, and we know this type of air pollution is harmful," said Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPH, a professor of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF.

 According to Dr Pooja Babbar, when microplastics are inhaled, they can embed deep within lung tissues, causing chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. These conditions create a favourable environment for cell mutations, potentially leading to lung cancer.

Ingested microplastics can also wreak havoc on our digestive system. They can disturb the gut microbiome, trigger local inflammation, and increase the risk of colon cancer. And if that's not enough, chemicals like bisphenol A and phthalates, commonly found in plastics, can disrupt endocrine functions and promote tumour growth.

To combat the growing issue of microplastic pollution, experts recommend to:

1. Improve recycling methods: Enhance recycling infrastructure to minimize plastic waste.
2. Eliminate single-use plastics: Reduce the use of disposable plastics, such as bags, straws, and water bottles.
3. Raise public awareness: Educate the public about the risks associated with microplastic exposure.

Individuals can also take steps to minimise their exposure by wearing masks in polluted areas and reducing their plastic consumption.

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Google’s Quick Share Reportedly Lets Android Users Scan QR Codes to Transfer Files

Google has introduced a new functionality for its Quick Share feature which makes sharing files between Android devices a more straightforward process, according to a report. It was first announced by the tech company in December and is now reportedly available for use. Users can now scan QR codes in the Quick Share menu to send files to others in the vicinity, negati...

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