Home Blog Page 673

Otni Butman: South Africa’s best death bowler, watch T20 World Cup at home | Cricket News

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
Otni Butman: South Africa’s best death bowler, watch T20 World Cup at home | Cricket News

Otni Butman: South Africa's best death bowler, watch T20 World Cup at home
South Africa’s Ottneil Baartman reacts during the second T20 international cricket match of the India vs South Africa series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh. (PTI Photo/Shiva Sharma) (PTI12_11_2025_000532B)

New Delhi: South Africa’s T20 World Cup preparations have been marred by injury problems. Ryan Rickton Tristan Stubbs was substituted Tony DeZorzi and Donovan Ferreira. David Miller missed the series against West Indies but is considered available for the 20-team tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.But there was considerable confusion in the bowling department. Ottneil Baartman was left out of the squad despite taking five wickets, including four wickets, in three matches against India in December.

Ottneil Baartman press conference: Missed T20 World Cup squad | SA20

The decision to exclude Bartman became even more controversial when he claimed he was unaware of the decision. This is in stark contrast to Luan Dele Pretorius, who despite not being in the squad, received a call from selectors.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!The conflict escalated further when selectors convener Patrick Moroney said he had called Bartman after he was left out of the squad. At the same time, he did reveal the decision to exclude Bartman.

india south africa cricket

South Africa’s Ottneil Baartman bowls during the third T20 cricket match between India and South Africa in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, December 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

“Unfortunately, in the makeup of the team, there’s no room for (Longi) Ngidi and Bartman. They bowl at more or less the same pace and have the same change,” Morrone told SportsBoom.“So, you have to select a player and O’Tneil was very clear in our conversation on January 1 that he is part of the substitute list and he will be monitored. If the need arises then we will push his button if the need arises.”Even though his legs were tied very tight later in SA20, Good luck Already done. The same goes for 19-year-old Kwena Maphaka, although he took just 4 wickets in 8 games in the recently concluded SA20 campaign.Bartman, on the other hand, emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the SA20 competition. The 32-year-old took 20 wickets in 9 games at an average of 13.55 and an economy rate of 9.13. He scored a hat-trick in five attempts against Pretoria Capitals, his only strike of the season. Ngidi, by the way, is another player to score a hat-trick this season.A string of wickets in the fourth edition made him the highest wicket-taker in SA20 history with 61 wickets – just one ahead of Marco Jansen – at an average of 15.15 and an economy of 8.32.Voices questioning Bartman’s exclusion from the T20 World Cup squad have found a familiar tone in former South Africa seamer Dale Steyn.The Proteas legend, who worked with Bartman for three seasons as bowling coach at Eastern Cape Sunrisers, wrote on social media: “He is the highest wicket-taker in SA20, won the league twice and reached the final, and let me remind you, this is a comparison [competition] There are 4 international players (usually batsmen) and all PROTEAS! He’s number one,” Steyn wrote on Twitter. “That’s top quality but he will be sitting at home this 2020/20 season.“

A late bird from the ostrich capital of the world

In a country where cricket is a rich man’s game and players are drafted from elite private schools and academies, Bartman, 32, is an outsider. He was born in the small town of Oudtshoorn in the Klein Karoo region, nicknamed the “ostrich capital of the world”.One of two children raised by a single mother, Bartman grew up without a father figure. His mother, Maria, was the breadwinner and ensured that neither child went to bed with an empty stomach.

IND vs SA: 2nd T20I match

New Chandigarh: South Africa’s Ottneil Baartman bowls during the second T20 international cricket series between India and South Africa at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh. (PTI Photo/Shiva Sharma) (PTI12_11_2025_000514A)

“My mother was both a mother and a father. I never had a father figure. I met my father, but he was never around for me,” Bartman has previously said.“Raising me with nothing and having me here means the world to me. Without her, I wouldn’t be here.“It means a lot to me. Even though she had nothing, she made it all work. I can’t help but get emotional, but it’s awesome to be able to raise two kids the way she did. The most important thing to me right now is that I know I’m playing for my family.”His first introduction to cricket was at the local Bridgeton Sports Ground, where his cousin Douglas played for the United Stars Cricket Club. Television didn’t exist until Bartman was a teenager, and it was Bartman’s only tryst with the sport. Everything he learned off the field was replicated back home, on the streets, with his friends.The dream of playing for the Proteas meant he needed to leave Oudtshoorn, where top-flight domestic cricket remains absent. After playing provincially for the South West and Northern Cape, he moved to the Free State before joining the more favored Dolphins in KwaZulu-Natal.

IND vs SA: 1st ODI match

South Africa’s former center fielder Ottneil Baartman celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket of India’s Washington Sundar during the first ODI cricket match between India and South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, Jharkhand. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)(PTI11_30_2025_000306B)

It took ten years of hard work in domestic cricket to gain recognition and be selected for the national team. In 2021, he was called up to the South Africa Test team, but did not make the match squad. In the same year, he became the inaugural recipient of the Makhaya Ntini Cricket Power Award.The right-arm seamer will finally get his due in May 2024 against the West Indies. Soon after, he made his ODI debut against Ireland in October. Despite participating in the 2024 T20 World Cup, Bartman has played only 23 international matches, taking 30 wickets at an average of 23.2.Although he has spent most of his time on the sidelines for the Proteas, the 32-year-old has excelled in SA20 and T20 franchise cricket. Paarl Royals paid R5.1 million (Rs. 5.1 million) for him in the 2025 SA20 auction. Elsewhere, he has featured in the IPL with Delhi Capitals, the England T20 Blast with Hampshire and as an injury replacement for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket (MLC).Now that he is a father, his goal is the same as his mother’s – to put family first.

IND vs SA: 1st ODI match

India’s Kuldeep Yadav (left) is congratulated by South Africa’s Ottneil Bartman after winning the first ODI cricket match of the series between India and South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, Jharkhand. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore) (PTI11_30_2025_000571B)

“My daughter, my son, my wife are all home now. I guess they’re screaming when they come home now, but yeah, it means a lot to my family,” he said after scoring a hat trick and a whistle this season.“I’ve barely seen them in the last four months. Obviously, I was in Pakistan and then I went to India from there and then straight from there, it was the SA20.“Then, probably from here, I go back to the domestic team. So, probably it’s them (his family) because they sacrifice a lot. I don’t see them that often, but, yes, they support me off the pitch.”

Huzhuman likes Mohammad Shami

Ironically, Bartman, who is part of South Africa’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad, was rewarded for his 18-wicket haul in the second season of SA20. Bartman had yet to feature for his country when the squad was announced, but he took five wickets in the match, including four against the Netherlands. His shining moment came against Nepal, where he successfully defended his title by seven points in the final round.Since then, he has played just 11 matches in the South 32 T20Is, taking 13 wickets in the process. Unlike Ngidi and his colleagues. Bartman prides himself on being slower and having a diverse arsenal, but Bartman relies on his ability to let the ball slide through him.In the Indians’ case, it would have been a different story if the ball had come faster, stayed low, and gone under the batsman’s swing arc.

polling

Do you think Otni Buteman deserves a place in South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad?

Steyn early on likened Bartman to an Indian seamer who, despite doing his job effectively in domestic cricket, also fails to get his dues.“He reminds me of Mohammad Shami, his seams are down, his wrists are good, his lines are very straight, so he rarely bowls a short wide cut, or a ball that falls down the leg. Similar to Anrish Nortje, his lines are barrel straight, his seams are very good. There are few issues with him, he is easy to coach, he is very easy to zone in a particular area, which is important when you are playing at the highest level,” said the legendary bowler.Unfortunately, all this means nothing as South Africa sit at home with their best white-ball bowlers heading into the T20 World Cup.

‘Abhi still has a long way to go’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi humbly says after conquering the world. cricket news

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
‘Abhi still has a long way to go’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi humbly says after conquering the world. cricket news

‘Abhi is too far’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s humble words after conquering the world
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (ICC Photo)

New Delhi: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi summed up this historic night in simple and heartfelt words – be grateful for the moment, be proud of your contribution and stay awake for the journey ahead. “Abhi bohot dur tak hai jaana,” the teenage star wrote after scripting one of the most extraordinary performances in Under-19 World Cup history.Sooryavanshi scored a brilliant 175 off just 80 balls to help India beat England by 100 runs in the final in Harare on Friday to win the ICC Under-19 World Cup for the sixth time. His batting was a stunning blend of fearless batting and maturity beyond his years – completely eclipsing England’s Caleb Falconer’s heroic century.

T20 World Cup: ‘God changed my destiny’ – Mohammad Siraj on emotions of lucky comeback

After India opted to bat, Suryavansh produced a record-breaking masterclass, hitting 15 fours and 15 sixes to propel his team to a daunting 411/9. Skipper Ayush Mhatre scored a composed 53 while Abhigyan Kundu’s brisk 40 ensured that India never lost momentum. England struggled after a promising start, slipping from 142/2 to 177/7. Falconer had a lonely battle with 115 off 67 balls, but that target proved too far off as England’s wait for a second U-19 title stretched into 1998.Later, the young batting prodigy from Samastipur in Bihar posted a picture with the trophy on Instagram and recalled the moment. “I really enjoyed being there and glad I could contribute to this win, which will always hold a special place in my heart,” he wrote, expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support. The Indian team dominated the match and earned critical acclaim from the cricketing fraternity. Virat KohliHe, who captained India to the U-19 Championship in 2008, praised the team’s continued excellence at the age-group level while head coach Gautam Gambhir Claim: “The bright future is here.”For Sooryavanshi, though, the message is clear – this is just the beginning.

China conducts secret nuclear test days after Galwan clash in June 2020: US | India News

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
China conducts secret nuclear test days after Galwan clash in June 2020: US | India News

China conducts secret nuclear test days after Galwan conflict in June 2020: U.S.

New Delhi: The United States has accused China of carrying out a secret nuclear explosion test on June 22, 2020, just days after a clash in the Galwan Valley that killed 20 Indian soldiers, an allegation it said underscores the need for a new global arms control framework after the expiry of New START.On June 15, 2020, a week before the alleged nuclear test, Indian and Chinese troops clashed in Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed, while reports at the time estimated Chinese casualties at more than 35.U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas G DiNanno said China used technology designed to evade international monitoring systems when conducting nuclear tests. “China has conducted nuclear explosion tests, including preparations for tests with a specified yield of hundreds of kilotons…China has used decoupling – a method that reduces the effectiveness of seismic monitoring – to hide its activities from the world. China conducted one such nuclear test on June 22, 2020,” DiNanno said in X.The date cited by US officials comes a week after the June 15, 2020, standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the clashes, while intelligence reports at the time estimated Chinese casualties at more than 30.

Allegations surface after New START expires

DiNanno’s comments came as New START, the last nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, officially expired this week, leaving the strategic arsenals of the world’s two largest nuclear powers unfettered for the first time in more than five decades.Di Nanno said: “The restrictions on warheads and launchers in the New START Treaty, signed in 2010, will no longer apply by 2026. By then, one nuclear state is expanding its nuclear arsenal at a scale and speed not seen in more than half a century, while the other nuclear state will continue to maintain and develop a large number of nuclear systems without being restricted by the terms of the New START Treaty.”He said the treaty imposed uneven restrictions on nuclear powers.“…Almost all U.S. deployed nuclear forces are subject to New START, while only a small portion of Russia’s much larger stockpile…China has exactly zero nuclear weapons,” he said.

US urges new nuclear architecture

Di Nanno said China’s so-called secret tests, Russia’s violations and the growth of global nuclear stockpiles made it necessary to seek a new arms control framework suitable for today’s threats.“The combination of Russia’s series of violations, the build-up of global stockpiles, and flaws in the design and implementation of New START has created an urgent need for the United States to call for a new architecture to deal with the threats of today, not those of bygone eras,” he said.He added that Washington was now able to strengthen deterrence while remaining open to meaningful negotiations.“The United States is no longer constrained by the political and military environment of 2010 and the treaties they entered into, and in response to the destabilizing behavior of these other countries, the United States can now finally take steps… to strengthen deterrence on behalf of the American people and our allies,” DiNanno said.

Promote trilateral talks with China

After the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the United States once again called on China and Russia to conduct trilateral nuclear arms control negotiations. Washington has said any future deal must include Beijing, but China has firmly rejected the demand.China has denied U.S. accusations of secret nuclear tests and said it will not participate in disarmament talks at this stage, saying its nuclear arsenal is still far smaller than that of the United States and Russia.

Trump had earlier hinted at testing

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously hinted at similar accusations but gave no details. On October 31 last year, Trump said Washington would begin nuclear tests “on an equal basis” with Moscow and Beijing, but did not elaborate on the nature of such tests.Analysts warn that the end of New START marks a turning point for global nuclear stability, with the lack of formal restrictions raising the risk of a new arms race amid rising geopolitical tensions and mistrust.

Three major political parties compete for power in Thailand’s early election

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
Three major political parties compete for power in Thailand’s early election

BANGKOK: Thai voters went to the polls on Sunday in a snap election seen as a three-way contest between progressives, populists and old-fashioned patronage politics. The fight for the support of 53 million registered voters comes against a backdrop of slow economic growth and rising nationalist sentiment. Although more than 50 parties are participating in the election, only three parties – the People’s Party, the Democratic Party and Pheu Thai – have the national organization and popularity to win the election. The 500 elected members elect the next Prime Minister by a simple majority. No clear winner is expected, with local polls unanimously showing that no one party can secure a majority, making a coalition government necessary. While the progressive People’s Party is seen as poised to win a majority, its reformist politics are not shared by its main rivals, who could exclude it by joining forces to form a government. Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut’s People’s Party is the successor to Kadima, which won a majority in the House of Representatives in 2023 but was forced to disband when conservative lawmakers blocked the formation of a government. The reformists softened their platform by continuing to promise sweeping reforms to the military, police and judiciary, appealing to young people and urban voters. Legal restrictions have allowed it to shelve demands for legal reform that imposes harsh penalties for criticism of the monarchy, while re-emphasizing economic issues. Softening its politics could weaken its core support, which was already in jeopardy because the last election positioned it exclusively as an alternative to the previous nine years of military-led governments, a situation it is unable to exploit effectively this time around. Meanwhile, the military’s reputation has been boosted by a surge in patriotism that emerged during last year’s border conflict with Cambodia, and its critical stance against the military could become a political liability, said Napon Jatusripitak, director of the Center for Politics and Geopolitics at the Thailand Future think tank in Bangkok. The Pujaitai party, led by current Prime Minister Anutin Chavilakul, is seen as the main defender and first choice of the royalist military establishment. Anutin has been prime minister since September last year after serving in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was forced to step down over ethics violations in his handling of relations with Cambodia. In December, when he was threatened with a vote of no confidence, he dissolved parliament and called new elections. A subsequent border conflict with Cambodia allowed Anutin to reinvent himself as a wartime leader after his approval ratings initially sank due to floods and financial scandals. His campaign focused on national security and economic stimulus. Bhumjaithai is seen as the party most likely to form the next government, benefiting from an electoral strategy of old-style patronage politics and a machine adept at grassroots organizing in the vote-rich northeast. Thaksin’s political machine Pheu Thai Party is the latest political tool of billionaire former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, adopting the innovative populist policies of its predecessor, the Thai Rak Thai Party. The Thai Rak Thai Party was in power from 2001 to 2006, when it was ousted in a military coup. Thaksin-backed parties made several electoral comebacks but were eventually ousted by conservative-leaning courts and state regulators. It has softened its politics in the 2023 elections to return to power after being judged by the previously hostile royalist military establishment as an acceptable alternative to the more progressive Kadima party. The conservative court system acted on it anyway – ousting two prime ministers in two years and ordering Thaksin jailed on old charges. The party is currently campaigning on populist promises of economic recovery and cash handouts, and has nominated Thaksin’s nephew Yodchanan Wongsawat as its main candidate for prime minister. Sunday’s vote includes a referendum asking voters whether Thailand should replace its 2017 military-drafted constitution. The vote was not on the proposed draft but on whether to authorize Parliament to begin a formal drafting process, which would require a number of further steps to come to fruition. Pro-democracy groups see the new charter as a key step in reducing the influence of non-elected institutions such as the military and judiciary, while conservatives warn it could lead to instability.

AI content on Australian tourism website has tourists chasing non-existent hot springs |

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
AI content on Australian tourism website has tourists chasing non-existent hot springs |

AI content on Australian travel website has tourists chasing non-existent hot springs
Artificial intelligence content on Australian tourism website leaves visitors searching in vain for non-existent Tasmanian hot springs

An Australian travel website was forced to pull content and issue a warning after tourists began arriving at a remote Tasmanian town in search of hot springs that were never there, despite a destination invented entirely by artificial intelligence and listed online as a must-see in 2026.The fictional location, called Weldborough Hot Springs, was featured in a Tasmania Tours article titled “The 7 best hot spring experiences in Tasmania in 2026” websitedescribes a “secluded forest retreat” that offers “a peaceful escape” and “an authentic connection with nature.” The website claims that walkers will see pools of water “rich in healing minerals.” The problem, as bemused locals soon had to explain, was that Weldborough had no hot springs at all.

Confused tourists, confused locals

Weldborough is a small settlement in north-east Tasmania, known for its pubs and proximity to forests and rivers. However, after the article was published in July 2025, visitors began asking how to get to the advertised pool, often at the Weldborough Hotel, the town’s best-known landmark.

Weldborough Hotel

Weldborough Hotel/Photo: Trip Advisor

Local tavern owner Christie Probert Tell Australian Broadcasting Corporation This inquiry soon became a daily occurrence. “Actually, two days ago, I met a group of 24 drivers from the mainland who actually took a detour to come to the hot springs,” she said. Instead, Probert found herself explaining that the only nearby waterway was the Weld River, which she described as “icy cold” and “definitely not a hot spring.” “Honestly, they’re more likely to find a sapphire than… to find a hot spring,” she said, adding that she jokingly promised a free drink to anyone who managed to find the mysterious pool. “If you find the hot springs, come back and tell me and I’ll give you beer all night long, but they still haven’t come back.”

“Our AI is completely screwed up”

Tasmania Tours is operated by Australian Tours and Cruises, a New South Wales-based company that operates several travel booking websites. Its owner, Scott Hennessy, acknowledged the error and said the article, along with other AI-generated posts, had been removed.

weldborough

Due to complaints and growing confusion, this article was removed along with other AI-generated content

“Our AI is completely screwed up,” Hennessy said, explaining that the company has outsourced some marketing content to third parties that use AI. While posts are usually reviewed before being posted, some went live while he was overseas.“We’re trying to compete with the big guys, and part of that is keeping our content fresh,” he said. “We don’t have the capacity to write enough content ourselves, which is why we outsource some of the functionality. Sometimes it’s perfect, really good, and does what you want it to do, and sometimes it’s completely wrong.”Hennessy stressed Tourism Tasmania was a legitimate business selling genuine tours and not a scam website. “We’re not a scam, we’re a married couple trying to do the right thing for people… We’re legitimate, we’re real people and we employ sales people,” he said. He added that all AI-generated blog posts are now being reviewed.

AI travel advice faces growing problems

Wellborough’s case is not isolated. Travel experts say so-called “AI hallucinations,” in which systems confidently spin facts, are increasingly sending people to the wrong places or offering unsafe advice. Tourism Southern Tasmania’s Anne Hardy said research showed about 90 per cent of AI-generated itineraries contained at least one error, while more than a third of travelers now relied on AI to plan their trips. Errors often include incorrect opening times, inaccurate descriptions, and in this case, the destination simply doesn’t exist. There have been reports of similar incidents internationally, including tourists trying to visit a non-existent canyon in Peru and tourists in Malaysia looking for an AI-generated cable car attraction. For Weldborough, the incident brought unwanted attention and a steady stream of disappointed visitors. For travelers more broadly, it’s a stark reminder that, no matter how convincing the language or imagery, not everything generated online reflects reality on the ground.

BJP mocks NC’s call for ‘special status’ for J&K, says no return to Article 370 | India News

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
BJP mocks NC’s call for ‘special status’ for J&K, says no return to Article 370 | India News

BJP mocks NC's call for 'special status' for J&K, says no return to Article 370

Jammu: The National Governance Congress (NC)’s insistence on restoring the “special status” of J&K since it formed the government in 2024 faced a strong rebuttal from the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday, which argued that there was no such term in the Indian constitution and dismissed the call as having “no status”.“Tell me where the words ‘special status’ for J&K are in the Indian constitution. If they can find it, I am ready to face any punishment,” opposition leader Sunil Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party told the rally.The bold move comes in response to North Carolina MP Javed Hassan Baig’s demand for special status during the chief minister’s budget speech on Friday. Omar Abdullah. Baig thinks the word will go down in history Article 370which defined the constitutional relationship between the erstwhile state of J&K and the Union of India.Baig said Article 35A, derived from Article 370, is more important as it guarantees land rights and government jobs to J&K employees. He further argued that the constitution of J&K, which exists under the Constitution of India, confers internal autonomy to the region while external sovereignty has been given to the Union.Baig explained that Article 370, Article 35A, the J&K Constitution and the J&K flag together constitute the so-called “special status” and this is what NC needs to be restored to.Sharma countered that the NC’s demand must be backed by clear constitutional provisions while claiming that “Article 370 has been buried”. “What is special status? Where is it mentioned? It is not mentioned anywhere. Many states seek special packages and incentives, which can include employment or development schemes. They can be termed special status,” Sharma said.Outside Parliament, Sharma reiterated that there was no mention of “special status” when J&K joined or merged with India and accused NC of misleading voters.On November 6, 2024, shortly after NC’s election, Parliament passed a resolution seeking to restore “special status” without clarifying what the term meant. In May last year, a major National Council meeting chaired by President Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution to restore special status and full statehood to J&K. The resolution also does not define the phrase.Former CM Mehbooba Mufi’s PDP and Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference (PC) had earlier asked the NC to clarify its stand.

Who is Will Lewis? WaPo CEO abruptly resigns after massive layoffs

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
Who is Will Lewis? WaPo CEO abruptly resigns after massive layoffs

Will Lewis, publisher and CEO of The washington posthas announced his resignation. Lewis informed staff of his decision in an internal message on Saturday, just days after the paper announced layoffs of about a third of its newsroom staff.

Washington Post CEO Will Lewis has resigned after two years, days after the paper laid off a third of its newsroom staff.
Washington Post CEO Will Lewis has resigned after two years, days after the paper laid off a third of its newsroom staff.

Read more: Prince Harry accuses Washington Post CEO of covering up Sun scandal

Who is Will Lewis?

Will Lewis, 56, is a British journalist and media executive who was appointed chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post in 2023.

Before joining The Washington Post, Lewis worked in news and media management in the United Kingdom and the United States, holding leadership roles at Dow Jones & Company and The Wall Street Journal. He held senior editorial positions at prominent British tabloids before moving to American media, but not without scandal.

His resignation comes just three days after The Post laid off about a third of its staff, citing cost-cutting efforts to reposition the financially troubled publication.

In an internal email to Post staff obtained by the Guardian, Lewis wrote: “After two years of transformation at The Post, now is the perfect time for me to resign.”

He further thanked Jeff Bezos in the email, writing: “I want to thank Jeff Bezos I am grateful for his support and leadership during my tenure as CEO and publisher. The agency couldn’t have asked for a better owner. “

Lewis has been criticized for his leadership and absence from all-hands meetings where the layoffs were revealed.

Read more: Fired Washington Post reporter shuts down troll who said ‘go back to India’

Will Lewis Family and Salary

Details about his personal life are generally kept private, and Lewis rarely talks publicly about his family outside of industry profiles. When he was elected CEO, he mentioned his wife, Rebecca, by name on his WaPo profile.

Axios reported in 2024 that Lewis and his wife, Rebecca, spent more than $7 million on a Georgetown home. washington There are six bedrooms and seven bathrooms and the family currently lives there.

He is known to hold several honorary degrees and is recognized internationally for his contribution to journalism, including a Knight Bachelor in 2023 as part of the UK Resignation Honors.

The exact figure of his salary has not been publicly disclosed.

Amit Shah reviews development project progress, reiterates Modi govt’s commitment to building prosperous J&K | India News

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
Amit Shah reviews development project progress, reiterates Modi govt’s commitment to building prosperous J&K | India News

Amit Shah reviews development project progress, reiterates Modi govt's commitment to prosperous J&K

Jammu: Under Prime Minister Narendra ModiThe Government of India (GoI), under the leadership of the Government of India, remains firmly committed to the vision of building a developed and prosperous jammu and kashmirfederal minister of interior Amit Shah He said this while chairing a high-level meeting on Saturday to review the progress of development projects in the Union Territory.LG Manoj Sinha, CM Omar Abdullah, Union Home were present in the meeting. Secretary Govind Mohan, J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and DGP Nalin Prabhat and other senior officials.The Home Minister noted that development projects in UTs have made unprecedented progress due to the sustained and dedicated efforts of the Modi government, but J&K needs to fully exploit the potential of its hydropower projects. He added that special attention should be given to achieving 100% saturation of government welfare schemes and ensuring that the benefits of all projects reach the intended beneficiaries.Shah stressed the need for aggressive marketing of J&K tourist destinations to fully tap the tourism potential here. He assured that the Center would provide all possible assistance to plans to develop new tourist destinations in the region.He stressed the need to focus on developing sports infrastructure and setting up sports academies to link youth with development and said efforts would be made to ensure investment of Rs 200 crore for the purpose. Shah, who is also the Union Cooperation Minister, called for steps to be taken to promote the development of the dairy industry in J&K through the National Dairy Development Council.The home minister said that India is steadily moving towards the Viksit Bharat goal of 2047, the 100th anniversary of India’s independence, and the Indian government will continue to fully support J&K in achieving this goal.“Jammu and Kashmir has for the first time been brought under the ambit of the National Special Assistance Scheme for Capital Investment in the financial year 2025-26, enabling capital projects to receive interest-free loans for a period of 50 years,” he said, stressing that enhanced fiscal discipline would help stabilize the fiscal deficit of the Union Territory.

What exactly led to layoffs at WaPo? Former employees point to Jeff Bezos’ ‘blank check’ era

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
What exactly led to layoffs at WaPo? Former employees point to Jeff Bezos’ ‘blank check’ era

Katherine Boyle, a former Washington Post staffer and co-founder of American Vital, took to social media to offer candid criticism of the Post’s evolution. Jeff Bezos.

Katherine Boyle criticized the evolution of The Washington Post under Jeff Bezos, claiming its focus shifted from local politics to broader, less relevant reporting. (Bloomberg)
Katherine Boyle criticized the evolution of The Washington Post under Jeff Bezos, claiming its focus shifted from local politics to broader, less relevant coverage. (Bloomberg)

Boyle left the Post more than a decade ago and shared some stories about mishandling in the newsroom. She said the paper’s transformation from a “for Washington, for Washington” ethos into a sprawling enterprise pursuing expensive and less relevant coverage has created larger problems that have now led to massive layoffs.

On Wednesday, February 4, The Washington Post laid off nearly a third of its newsroom staff. The newspaper has closed its newsroom. sporty desks and significantly reduced international desks.

Read more: Fired Washington Post reporter shuts down troll who said ‘go back to India’

Boyle’s criticism of Post’s strategic shift

In the X post, Boyle reflected on the newspaper’s newroom culture before Bezos’ acquisition. She recalls that the paper once had a clear local and national focus. Her motto at the Washington Post at the time was “For Washington, for Washington.”

After Bezos purchased the newspaper from the Graham family, the motto was replaced by the now-famous slogan “Democracy dies in darkness.”

Boyle detailed that Bezos’ ownership was “the opposite” of the newsroom’s assumption that Bezos would change. She described Bezos’ ownership ultimately leading to what she calls the “blank check” era.

“He poured tons of money into a cash incinerator. He gave The Washington Post a beautiful new building,” Boyle wrote. She further added, “He subsidized every part of the newspaper, even the parts that had no readers. For more than a decade, he gave newsrooms a blank check.”

She said the costly expansion of international operations, podcasts and video content had diluted the Post’s focus. Critics argue that these investments also make journalists less adaptable to sustainable strategies as digital media consumption changes.

“Instead of adopting a reality-based strategy, the Washington Post newsroom is very accustomed to its billionaire benefactors always giving them everything they want,” Boyle wrote.

Read more: Pulitzer Prize winner among 300 reporters fired by Washington Post

“Post’s brand was and is Washington politics”

Boyle emphasizes the brand washington post Start first.

She wrote, “The Post’s brand was and is Washington politics. It is the seat of power in America. It should focus on covering politics from its first place in Washington, D.C.”

She further said that the Post “should not be distracted by anything else” and that the Post’s strongest area has always been politics. “It lost Sport to The Athletic. It lost International to The Times,” she wrote.

She pointed to the newsroom’s lack of strategy, writing: “The old Washington Post died decades ago. Pretending that Bezos killed it is untrue.”

However, Boyle writes hopefully in her advice: “The Post can still own politics, and every story, feature and reporter should be dedicated to covering it. But it needs to stop pretending the world hasn’t changed 20 years ago and start listening to its readers again.”

Over 1.7 crore tourists, including 36,000 foreigners, to visit J&K in 2025: Govt | India News

WEB DESK TEAM
-
0
Over 1.7 crore tourists, including 36,000 foreigners, to visit J&K in 2025: Govt | India News

Government: Over 170 million tourists, including 36,000 foreigners, to visit J&K in 2025

Jammu: Over 1.7 billion tourists, including over 36,000 foreign tourists, will visit Jammu and Kashmir in 2025, the government informed the Assembly on Saturday.In a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the tourism ministry gave the number of tourists who visited the union territory between January 1 and December 31, 2025 at 1,77,65,390. Among them, 36,410 were international tourists and 1,77,28,980 were domestic tourists.Replying to a question on whether the government has set a fixed target for the number of international and domestic tourists to J&K by 2026, the government said the tourism department has not yet set a specific target, adding, “Sustained and concrete efforts are being taken to increase the inflow of domestic and international tourists over the existing numbers through various promotional and development initiatives.”“On the question on the resumption of international flights at the Srinagar Airport, the government replied that the Sheikh Alam International Airport in Srinagar is fully equipped with all the infrastructure and facilities required to handle international flight operations, including immigration, customs, security and passenger handling arrangements.“The launch of international flights depends on the operational and commercial decisions of each airline. The airport is always fully prepared to facilitate international flight operations when airlines decide to start operations,” the government said.Regarding the homestay program and the challenges associated with it, the government said the program has been largely successful, increasing accommodation capacity, creating local jobs and encouraging community participation in the tourism industry. “Given its positive impact, the program may be expanded to other potential areas,” the government said.“Key challenges include lack of awareness, capacity constraints and infrastructure-related issues, which are being addressed through awareness campaigns, capacity building initiatives and coordination of infrastructure support with relevant authorities,” the government said.

1...672673674...702Page 673 of 702

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv