David Beckham gives standing ovation to Virat Kohli for record-breaking century
Mumbai, India: The ongoing World Cup 2023 semifinal between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium witnessed a historic moment as Virat Kohli, chasing Sachin Tendulkar's record, scored a century. After completing the ton, Kohli paid tribute to Tendulkar by bowing towards the cricket legend.
Adding to the excitement, former England football captain David Beckham, who was present at the match, joined in the celebration.
Kohli's century, breaking Tendulkar's record, occurred in the 42nd over, and the former Indian skipper, in a display of respect, bowed towards Tendulkar. The cricketing icon was in attendance along with Beckham, who was seen interacting with the Indian cricket team before the match.
Beckham, UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador since 2005, is on a tour in India to advocate for child rights and gender equality, aligning with the global theme for World Children's Day 2023. The footballer expressed excitement about watching Kohli play before the match. After Kohli's record-breaking century, Beckham, along with the crowd, gave the Indian captain a standing ovation.
The Wankhede Stadium not only witnessed a cricketing spectacle but also saw the convergence of sports and entertainment as Bollywood stars Kiara Advani, John Abraham, Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, and Sidharth Malhotra were present in the crowd, along with other film stars.
David Beckham appreciating the great moment in ODI history. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/jimIEMvrjz
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 15, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
