MANILA, Philippines – Amid a lingering title drought, Scottie Thompson hopes Barangay Ginebra can turn its frustration into fuel as the PBA opens its milestone 50th season.
“I think it’s important for us to come into the season with hunger to win,” Thompson said as the crowd darlings prepare to face the Magnolia Hotshots in their Philippine Cup opener.
https://sports.inquirer.net/642956/pba-scottie-thompson-urges-hungry-ginebra-to-end-drought
Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, one of Bollywood’s most admired on-screen pairs, were seen together once again in Mumbai, this time in the evening, hours after their morning airport reunion created a social media buzz.
### Stylish Arrivals in the Evening
Upon their return, Ranbir was seen sporting a brown jacket over a white T-shirt paired with dark denim pants, while Deepika looked elegant in a white traditional ensemble. The duo hugged and exchanged greetings before walking together, sharing smiles, and talking casually, leaving fans delighted. They eventually headed their separate ways.
### A Day Full of Sightings
Earlier in the day, the duo had crossed paths at Mumbai airport. Ranbir, dressed in an all-black outfit with a cap and sunglasses, and Deepika, in a grey co-ord set with a zip-up jacket, exchanged a warm hug that immediately went viral online.
#### Deepika & Ranbir’s Airport Hug Sparks Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 2 Buzz
Their warm interaction at the airport quickly sparked excitement among fans, reigniting speculation about a possible collaboration for the much-anticipated *Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani 2*.
### On the Work Front
Deepika Padukone is currently busy filming *King*, her sixth collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan. She is also reportedly teaming up with Allu Arjun for director Atlee’s upcoming project *AA22xA6*.
Recently, the makers confirmed that Deepika will no longer be part of the sequel to *Kalki 2898 AD*. In their statement, they mentioned that the decision came after “careful consideration,” adding that a film like *Kalki* demands a higher level of “commitment.”
This isn’t the first time Deepika has faced a roadblock with a major project. In May, reports surfaced that she had been replaced in Prabhas’s *Spirit*, another high-profile film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Shortly afterward, the makers confirmed that *Animal* actress Triptii Dimri had joined the cast.
Ranbir Kapoor, meanwhile, is preparing for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s *Love & War* alongside his wife Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. He will also portray Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part epic *Ramayana*.
—
**Follow Us On Social Media** for more updates from Bollywood and your favourite stars!
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/ranbir-kapoor-and-deepika-padukone-exchange-warm-hugs-as-they-are-spotted-together-again-after-morning-airport-reunion/articleshow/124312880.cms
WACO, Texas (AP) — Connor Hawkins kicked a 53-yard field goal with 31 seconds left to secure a dramatic 35-34 victory for Baylor over Kansas State on Saturday.
The thrilling finish came shortly after Jacob Redding’s go-ahead 66-yard interception return for a touchdown. Baylor rallied twice in the fourth quarter to overcome the Wildcats, showcasing resilience and clutch play down the stretch.
The win adds an exciting chapter to Baylor’s season as they continue to battle in a competitive conference. Fans witnessed a hard-fought game that went down to the wire, highlighting the determination of both teams.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/connor-hawkins-kick-jacob-reddings-195503751.html
The Trump administration plans to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard, Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said Saturday. Pritzker revealed that the guard received word from the Pentagon in the morning that the troops would be called up. He did not specify when or where they would be deployed, but President Donald Trump has long threatened to send troops to Chicago.
“This morning, the Trump Administration’s Department of War gave me an ultimatum: call up your troops, or we will,” Pritzker said in a statement. “It is absolutely outrageous and un-American to demand a governor send military troops within our own borders and against our will.”
A spokesperson for the governor’s office said she could not provide additional details. The White House and the Pentagon did not respond to questions about Pritzker’s statement.
The escalation of federal law enforcement in Illinois follows similar deployments in other parts of the country. Over the summer, Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles as part of his law enforcement takeover in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Tennessee National Guard troops are expected to help Memphis police.
In response, California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued to stop the deployment in Los Angeles and won a temporary block in federal court. The Trump administration has appealed the ruling, which deemed the use of the guard illegal. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has indicated that it believes the government is likely to prevail.
Pritzker called Trump’s move in Illinois a “manufactured performance” that would pull the state’s National Guard troops away from their families and regular jobs. “For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,” said the governor.
He also noted that state, county, and local law enforcement have been coordinating to ensure the safety of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Broadview facility on the outskirts of Chicago. Federal officials reported the arrests of 13 people protesting near the facility on Friday. The facility has been frequently targeted during the administration’s surge of immigration enforcement this fall.
Last month, Trump said he was sending federal troops to Portland, Oregon, calling the city war-ravaged. However, local officials have suggested that many of his claims and social media posts appear to rely on outdated images from 2020, a time when demonstrations and unrest gripped the city following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
City and state officials sued to stop that deployment the next day. U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut heard arguments Friday, with a ruling expected over the weekend.
Trump has federalized 200 National Guard troops in Oregon, but so far, they do not appear to have moved into Portland. They have been seen training on the coast in anticipation of deployment.
___
Associated Press reporter Rebecca Boone contributed.
Thomas Peipert, The Associated Press
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trump-plans-deploy-national-guard-191248616.html
**Kanpur BJP Youth Leader Threatens Man with Pistol During Ramlila Program; Video Goes Viral**
*Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), October 04:*
A shocking video has surfaced on social media showing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth leader allegedly threatening a man during a Ramlila program in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The footage, which is rapidly being shared across various platforms, captures the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader showering money on female dancers and brandishing a pistol when confronted about his behavior.
**Incident Details**
The person identified in the video is Amitesh Shukla, a BJYM leader. The incident reportedly took place in Bhaunti village, situated under the Sachendi Police Station jurisdiction. The Ramlila program was part of the village’s Dussehra celebrations.
According to reports, Shukla was openly showering money on dancers. When bystanders objected to his actions, he allegedly pulled out a gun, pointed it at a man, and threatened to kill him. In the video, he is heard saying,
*”Teri g**nd me abhi chadaunga aur chatse aise marunga. Dus hazar rupaiya maine udaaya, koi udaaya?”*
He then verbally abused the man, saying,
*”Are bhaag bh****ke, tere mele ki maa ki ch*t.”*
**Viral Video & Police Response**
An onlooker recorded the entire incident, and the video quickly went viral on social media. Prompted by the widespread attention, the police moved swiftly to address the situation. Amitesh Shukla was arrested, and further investigations are underway.
**Police Statement**
Deputy Commissioner of Police West, Kapil Dev Singh, confirmed the arrest and stated,
*”The identity of the young man threatening with a pistol in the viral video has been established as Amitesh Shukla. The police have taken him into custody along with the illegal weapon and registered a case against him. So far, no evidence of any political connection has been found. The investigation into the source of the pistol and other facts is ongoing.”*
**Congress Reacts**
The Uttar Pradesh Congress party also condemned the incident. Sharing the video on its official social media accounts, the party alleged a rise in lawlessness and labeled the incident as a clear example of “BJP leaders’ hooliganism.”
The Congress statement read:
*”This video is from Kanpur’s Dussehra fair. BJP Yuva Morcha minister Amitesh Shukla can be seen threatening a young man with a pistol and using abusive language. BJP hooliganism is at its peak right now.”*
—
The incident has once again ignited concerns about public safety and the conduct of political leaders during festive events. Further updates are awaited as the investigation continues.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/tere-mele-ki-maa-ki-bjp-youth-leader-threatens-man-with-gun-during-kanpur-ramlila-arrested-after-video-goes-viral
**Madhya Pradesh Progresses Towards Amrit Harit Maha Abhiyan Targets, Plans New Initiatives for 2026**
*Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)* – Madhya Pradesh has achieved approximately 60% of its target under the Amrit Harit Maha Abhiyan, a campaign aiming to plant over one crore saplings by the end of 2025. The Urban Administration Department (UAD) is already looking ahead, preparing proposals for 2026 with a focus on securing land and introducing innovative plantation concepts across the state.
### Transforming Bhopal’s Seven Hills into Seasonal Floral Landscapes
One of the highlight projects for 2026 is the beautification of Bhopal’s seven hills — Arera Hills, Shyamala Hills, Idgah Hills, Katara Hills, Danish Hills, Neori Hills, and Kaliyasot Hills. The UAD plans to transform these hills with seasonal flower beds, planting between 25,000 to 30,000 flowering plants to ensure year-round bloom cycles.
Six varieties of seasonal plants will be used to keep the hills vibrant throughout the year, aiming to turn Bhopal into a natural floral destination. A senior UAD official stated, “The goal is to make the hills come alive with blossoms season after season, creating a unique natural floral attraction in Bhopal.”
### Addressing Land Challenges for 2026 Plantation Drive
Securing land within municipal limits continues to be a major challenge for expanding plantation activities. While smaller Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have exceeded their targets — such as Chand in Chhindwara at 227%, Dhanpuri in Shahdol at 160%, and Bhedaghat in Jabalpur at 142% — larger cities are lagging behind.
Bhopal, notably, has achieved just 17% of its plantation target, with issues including encroachments in several patches. Of five key plantation patches in Bhopal, three face encroachments: a 19-acre area in Damkheda and two 13-acre patches. However, patches in Jahgariya Kurd measuring 15 and 23 acres remain encroachment-free.
Following directives from the UAD on September 2, ten municipal corporations have collectively marked nearly 500 acres for the 2026 plantation drive. This figure is expected to rise to 700–800 acres by the end of the year.
### Land Identified So Far for 2026 Plantation Drive
– Satna: 100 acres (11 patches)
– Gwalior: 84.79 acres (4 patches)
– Bhopal: 84 acres (5 patches)
– Rewa: 64 acres
– Chhindwara: 61 acres
– Jabalpur: 55 acres
– Ratlam: 25.50 acres
– Burhanpur: 11 acres
– Dewas: 3 acres
– Khandwa: 2.99 acres
Satna currently leads in total land identified for plantation activities.
### Innovative Concept Plantation Drives Across Madhya Pradesh
For 2026, the UAD plans to roll out innovative concept plantations across 416 ULBs. These will include unique models such as Nagar Vans (urban forests), Herbal Forests, Oxygen Parks, and Botanical Gardens. The final designs and plantation types will depend on local conditions and available land resources.
These concept plantations aim not only to increase green cover but also to enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and offer recreational and educational spaces for citizens.
—
*Story by Utsav Gupta*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-news-state-achieves-60-plantation-target-bhopal-hills-to-bloom-by-2026
**After Apple, Google Also Removes ICE Tracking App from Play Store**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 4, 2025, 6:21 PM*
Just a day after Apple removed the app ICEBlock from its iOS App Store, Google has followed suit by pulling a similar app, Red Dot, from the Play Store. Both applications were designed to allow users to report sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents anonymously.
### App Functionalities
ICEBlock and Red Dot enabled users to share real-time information about the locations of ICE agents. Users could report sightings anonymously and receive alerts about ICE presence in their vicinity. These features aimed to help communities stay informed, but critics argued that such apps could potentially put law enforcement officers at risk.
### Google’s Decision and Policy Enforcement
Google’s removal of Red Dot aligns with its policies against apps that pose a high risk of abuse. The company stated that it enforces its moderation policies consistently across all apps that incorporate user-generated content. A Google representative clarified, “ICEBlock was never available on Google Play, but we removed similar apps for violations of our policies.”
This action follows a recent violent incident at an ICE facility, prompting Google to remove apps that share location data of vulnerable groups. Notably, Google mentioned that it did not receive any communication from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding these removals.
### The Debate Over Government Influence and Civil Liberties
Apple’s initial removal of ICEBlock has sparked widespread debate over the intersection of technology, government oversight, and civil liberties. ICEBlock allowed people to anonymously report and view ICE agent locations within an 8 km radius, making it a powerful tool for community awareness.
Reports indicate that the Donald Trump administration applied pressure on Apple, reportedly threatening legal action against the app’s developers. This government involvement has raised concerns about the impact on freedom of expression and the role of tech companies in regulating sensitive content.
As this situation unfolds, it highlights the ongoing challenges tech companies face in balancing user safety, legal compliance, and civil rights in their app ecosystems.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/google-has-removed-this-controversial-app-from-play-store/story
MANILA, Philippines— University of the Philippines stifled National University with a 66-59 win on Saturday in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament held at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Fighting Maroons improved their record to 2-2, handing the Bulldogs their first loss of the young season after a strong 3-0 start.
https://sports.inquirer.net/642947/uaap-up-defense-delivers-as-nu-suffers-first-defeat
The Chaotic AUR is one of the most powerful productivity hacks available for Arch Linux users.
Designed as a set-it-and-forget-it solution, it simplifies package management and streamlines your workflow.
With Chaotic AUR, you can save time and effort by effortlessly accessing a vast collection of prebuilt Arch User Repository (AUR) packages.
This makes it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to boost their productivity on Arch Linux.
https://www.howtogeek.com/i-installed-chaotic-aur-and-saved-hours-of-time/
**Whining Tone Among Opposition Leaders Intensifies**
The number of complaints among the leaders of the opposition camp is increasing as the state government completes two years in office. Alongside the government, the MPCC president and the Leader of the Opposition are also marking their two-year tenure. Congress leaders are hopeful that the high command may consider some changes within the party in the coming days. Consequently, each leader is staking their claim.
Earlier, a former minister expressed his views in a whining tone, targeting both the party’s state in-charge and the MPCC president. Soon after, a former party president took the leadership to task. A senior legislator frequently takes indirect jabs at the leadership whenever the opportunity arises. Adding to the complexity, a former chief minister is reportedly pursuing his own agenda quietly, unhappy with some decisions made by the high command. Since open criticism is not an option, he is working behind the scenes.
However hard they may try, party leadership is not expected to make any changes, at least for now.
—
**”Savings” Is the New Buzzword in BJP’s State Unit**
The new state head of the BJP brings a different style characterized by a focus on plain living and saving every penny. The BJP office incurs a substantial expense on fuel to run vehicles for party leaders. To cut down on these costs, the new state unit head has emphasized the adoption of electric vehicles, and the party is already implementing this advice.
The state unit head has acquired an electric vehicle for his own use and preparations are underway to procure similar cars for other leaders. He believes that switching to electric vehicles will significantly reduce expenditures on petrol and diesel.
Since taking over as the state party head, he has maintained a low profile and limits his use of party facilities, even paying his own hotel bills during official trips. While he has not yet imposed restrictions on others’ expenses, plans to do so are expected soon.
—
**A Former MP Becomes Active Again**
A former Member of Parliament from the state capital has returned to active politics following a favorable court judgment. Previously, after being denied a ticket and with a pending legal case against her, she had maintained silence on public issues.
The court’s acquittal has now encouraged her to re-engage in politics. Her recent statement against a particular caste brought her back into the limelight, though it was met with disapproval from some leaders within her own party. They expressed concern that such comments could disrupt the social harmony prevailing in the state and are wary of turning the state into another UP.
Despite her recent vocal presence, it is widely believed that the BJP will not assign her any significant responsibility.
—
**Tense Trio Faces Uncertain Future Amid Cabinet Expansion Rumors**
The mere mention of a state cabinet expansion has put three ministers on edge. These ministers have been involved in various disputes, and media rumors suggest that all three could be dropped from the cabinet. Consequently, they oppose any expansion and are making every effort to retain their ministerial positions.
One minister has allied himself with a central minister to secure his berth, maintaining close contact with him. Another relies entirely on the support of his political boss, believing only the boss can safeguard his position. The third minister lacks a powerful patron and is instead attempting to retain his post by leveraging caste equations with the head of state.
—
**Ongoing Tug of War Between Minister and Former Minister**
The rivalry between a current minister and a former minister in the state shows no sign of abating. Recently, the head of state visited the current minister’s constituency and announced plans to change the area’s name, following the minister’s recommendations. The minister was delighted by this announcement.
However, the former minister quickly opposed the renaming, rallying protests from a particular caste community whose support politicians nationwide seek. The community petitioned the minister, urging him not to proceed with the name change. Concerned about potential unrest, the government is now hesitant to engage in this dispute.
The current minister perceives canceling the name change as a personal insult and is pressuring the administration to honor the head of state’s announcement. This situation echoes a previous incident where a protest led by the former minister thwarted the current minister’s attempt to create a new district.
—
**BJP’s Singing Ministers Charmer Public with Their Voices**
Several BJP leaders are showing hidden talents for singing, with a minister from Indore leading the charge. He performs both bhajans (devotional songs) and classic Bollywood numbers from the golden era of Indian music.
Another minister from the Chambal region also sings bhajans at public events, with his videos frequently going viral on social media. A woman minister from the state capital similarly enchants audiences with her silky voice during religious functions organized by her followers.
Meanwhile, another minister, who is the daughter-in-law of a former chief minister, is reportedly undergoing vocal training. There is growing anticipation to see how many more BJP leaders will take up singing and showcase their talents at public functions in the near future.
—
*Story by Nitendra Sharma*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/madhya-pradesh-political-punch-whining-tone-tense-trio-bjps-songbirds-more
