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Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: Has Karun Nair played his last Test?
Karun Nair (Getty Image) The lion-hearted cricketer made a famous comeback in England but his middling returns with the bat may go against him CHENNAI: "Dear cricket, give me one more chance." Karun Nair's desperate plea struck an immediate chord with those who had seen the hard-working middle-order batter go through the grind of domestic cricket, year after year. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The Indian team management, often known to be slightly impatient with a lot of things, also seemed to notice, making an exception for the 33-year-old for the five-Test series in England. Inside The Oval: An Exclusive Tour of the Stadium Where India Played the Final Test The Karnataka cricketer, who will return to his home state next season after excelling for Vidarbha, got four Tests in England, batting at positions 3, 5 and 6. His fighting 57 in the first innings at the Oval, when the ball was doing quite a bit, played a significant role in India getting a respectable score. But in a series which has been dominated by Indian batters, a total of 205 runs at an average of 25.67 aren't exactly the returns that Nair may have been hoping for ahead of the series. Poll Should Karun Nair be given another chance in the Indian Test team? Yes, he deserves another chance No, it's time for new talent But then, Sai Sudharsan, who made his debut in the series and is being seen as a long-term prospect, too got 140 runs in six innings. One feels that the team management has decided to persist with Sai as the long-term No. 3 for now, unless something goes drastically wrong. With Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar excelling with the bat, there's only one spot left in the middle-order when India play West Indies at home in two months' time, and there are contenders for that spot. While Sarfaraz Khan has been with the team for a while and has lost weight to look in fine physical shape, Shreyas Iyer is gunning for a red-ball return. The Mumbai batter, who had a fine IPL, is excellent against spin and it is going to be a tough call for the team management and the selection committee when they sit down to discuss Nair's Test future. Former India opener Deep Dasgupta, who was in England as part of the commentary panel, feels Nair isn't exactly a No. 3 batter for challenging overseas conditions. "His feet don't move enough to be successful at No. 3. In that case, the options become limited and when it's a choice for Nos. 6 or 7, there are too many options. It's not just Shreyas and Sarfaraz. Even Axar Patel or Nitish Reddy can come into the picture depending on the nature of the pitches India are playing on," Dasgupta told TOI from London. 'Vulnerable against the short ball' Devang Gandhi, a former national selector and an opening batter himself, too feels there is a serious technical deficiency in Karun's game that may go against him. "At the point of release of the ball from the bowler's hand, Karun's front foot is still in the air. That makes him vulnerable against the short ball, as we found out in this series. There's no doubt he has scored some tough runs, but it has to be taken into account that he couldn't convert the starts that he got," Gandhi said. According to him, the selection process sometimes becomes more of a "case of elimination than selection", and Nair could find it difficult to retain his spot. In such a scenario, the ball could entirely be in the team management's court. It will be very interesting to see how coach Gautam Gambhir looks at Nair's contributions in the series. The 57 at the Oval was indication enough that in Indian conditions against lesser attacks, Karun will get runs. But the call that Gambhir has to take is whether he has seen enough in Nair's game that will help him get runs in New Zealand next year or the WTC Final in England, if India go that far. "We have a core in place and the team should now be built with an eye on the difficult away series in future," Dasgupta said. If that's the case, Nair may well have played his last Test for India. But even if that's true, the half-century at the Oval will never be forgotten by those who have savoured the comeback of this lion-hearted cricketer. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
CNET
22-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
460,000 Student Loan Borrowers Seeking Lower Payments Will Be Denied. What to Do If You're One of Them
The Department of Education will deny nearly half a million student loan borrowers who applied for the lowest repayment plan based on their income. Getty Image/ Zooey Liao/ CNET Nearly half a million federal student loan borrowers who applied for lower monthly payments will be denied by the Department of Education. Based on internal documents obtained by Politico, the department is rejecting 460,000 student loan borrowers who selected the lowest payment option based on their income. For most applicants, that was the Saving for a Valuable Education repayment plan. SAVE was struck down by a federal court in February, so how were people still applying for the plan? It's likely the Education Department is still processing applications submitted before the Trump administration removed the SAVE plan as an option on Feb. 21, 2025, said student loan expert Mark Kantrowitz. As of June 30, the department reported 1.5 million pending applications for borrowers who are seeking Income-Driven Repayment plans. It processed 186,731 applications in June. The Department of Education did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Processing delays are the latest hurdle for student loan borrowers trying to navigate student loan repayment. Millions of SAVE borrowers' loans are currently in a general forbearance, with payments expected to remain on hold until mid-2026. However, the Department of Education announced this month that those loans will start accruing interest again on Aug. 1, so borrowers may be feeling pressured to choose another repayment program. If you've applied for a repayment plan, here's what you need to know about the status of your application and when you could start repayments. Read more: SAVE Student Loan Borrowers Have Less Than 2 Weeks Before Interest Restarts. Here's What to Do How can you find out the status of your loan and repayment plan request? If you applied for a new repayment plan and are denied, your loan processor should notify you when your application has been processed. You can also check the status of your plan request by logging into your account and going to the "My Activity" page. Your application should be listed as In Review, Action Required, Completed or Closed. Although the Federal Student Aid site says processing typically takes about 30 days, it notes you should expect delays due to the high volume of requests. What happens if I'm rejected for a repayment plan? If you applied for an income-driven repayment plan and were rejected, you may be placed in a standard 10-year repayment plan if you don't choose another repayment plan, Kantrowitz said. "That's typically what happens when a borrower is no longer eligible for an income-driven repayment plan." However, you can apply for another repayment plan at this time. The other repayment plans are also in a bit of transition since the passage of the Republican-led Big Beautiful Bill. Existing borrowers can still sign up for the Income-Based Repayment plan. Two other income-driven repayment plans, income-contingent and PAYE, are still options on the federal student loan site, but will be phased out. Existing borrowers will also have the option to enroll in the Repayment Assistance Plan, a new plan that was passed in the bill, but this option won't be available until next year. "The best option for most borrowers who were in the SAVE repayment plan is IBR, since IBR still qualifies for forgiveness, while ICR and PAYE do not," Kantrowitz said. "[Previous] payments made under SAVE, ICR, PAYE, REPAYE and IBR count toward IBR forgiveness." If you're a SAVE borrower who applies for a new repayment plan and it's held up by processing delays, your loans should remain in good standing while you're waiting. However, interest will start accruing next month, so you may consider making interest-only payments while waiting for your application to process.
New Statesman
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Diane Abbott and the truth about British racism
Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Image When she spoke on BBC Radio 4 at 9:30am on 17 July, Diane Abbott was a Labour party member of over 40 years, a political veteran and the Mother of the House of Commons. By the evening of the same day, she had been suspended from the party and had been forced into a defensive crouch, saying it 'is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out'. Somewhere in the middle, we have an argument about race, racism and hierarchies of racism. Not for the first time in recent years, a debate once relegated to academic sociology departments has rocked British public life. On the radio, Abbott doubled down on a letter she wrote to the Observer in 2023 which distinguished the racism black people experience from the prejudice suffered by Irish, Jewish and Traveller people, and which previously saw her suspended from the Labour Party. Speaking to James Naughtie, Abbott said: 'Clearly, there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don't know… I just think that it's silly to try and claim that racism which is about skin colour is the same as other types of racism. I don't know why people would say that.' Considering her original letter compared racism and anti-Semitism to the 'prejudice' faced by redheads, these comments were comparably nuanced. Surely Abbott's claim is a truism: people's experience of racism differs depending on their visible difference from whiteness, the prevailing racial identity of our society. But at the same time, carving racism into fiefdoms of oppression will always be counterproductive. And this speaks to a larger problem with these debates: the personal and the political are never more closely entwined than on the subject of race. As a black woman, I am keenly aware that my outward appearance will affect the way people view me. Whether this is conscious or unconscious, the most conspicuous thing about me is the colour of my skin. Only 4 per cent of people in England and Wales identify as black according to the 2021 census. I exist as a minority within the UK as a whole and that has an impact on my identity, my personality, the decisions I make and the way I move through the world. This is not a question of self-consciousness but material reality. The maternal mortality rate for black women is 2.9 times higher than it is for white women in the UK. Black boys in London are far more likely to be dead before 18 than white boys. This is due to a number of factors, but bias, and stereotyping are part of the same unsettling reality. But it is always short-sighted to minimise the oppression that other racial groups face, as Abbott cack-handedly did in her letter. Travellers and Jewish people also face challenges unique to their ethnic identities, as well as those that are similar to my own. And even within the black community there are discrepancies in terms of the oppression we experience. Colourism is a particular form of discrimination within racial groups, where people with a lighter skin tone are likely to receive preferential treatment over those with a darker skin tone. The layers of nuance – and the level of care required in unpicking them – are infinite. Equivocating over which form of racism is worse is unhelpful; what's more important is acknowledging that these experiences are diverse. The issue with Abbott's words is that they dilute the debate this argument deserves. Her ill-phrased 131-word letter and her brittle answer to this week's questioning lack the scope to explore the ideas gestured towards in her initial statement. They ignore the role that displaying cultural and religious identity play in society, such as those identities that are overt due to religious attire. A Hasidic Jew, perhaps even one in Abbott's constituency of north Hackney, is visibly indentifiable on the street. But Abbott is also a victim of the same tendencies of erasure. Those who have attacked her disregard her personal experiences with racism, the discrimination and prejudice she faced growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. More recently, in 2024, it was reported that Frank Hester, a Conservative Party donor, had said Abbott made him 'want to hate all black women' and that she 'should be shot'. Even today, Abbott's position and prominence put her in the firing line for racist abuse. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Both Abbott's initial letter and comments on BBC Radio 4 fail to acknowledge the personal experiences of racism that people across ethnic minorities face. But that's what most of our discussions around racism do. Ethnic minorities are often seen as monoliths rather than individuals. Abbott's statement simply adopts what is a common posture: to homogenise rather then recognising the push-and-pull factors that influence one's identity and experiences. Our debate shouldn't be about what is wrong with Abbott's statement but rather what is wrong with the way our society perceives, discusses and approaches issues of racism. There are no winners at the oppression Olympics, only losers. The way people talk, the religious attire they wear, and their socio-economic background all affect the way they experience prejudice – and racism. We can't remove individuality and culture from the discussion because instances of racism are always both individual and cultural. That goes for Jewish people, Travellers and people of colour. It also goes for Diane Abbott. [Further reading: Inside Diane Abbott's war with Labour] Related
Scotsman
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Skye parking: Scottish tourist hotspots see number of parking fines more than double in 5 years
Tourist hotspots had some of the highest numbers of parking fines issued. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The number of parking fines issued has more than doubled across Skye in the past five years, Highland Council statistics show. During an Isle of Skye and Raasay committee meeting on Monday, figures were revealed that revealed traffic wardens issued fines worth more than £400,000 last year - many at popular tourist spots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A total of 7011 parking penalties were issued in 2024 - more than double the 2784 issued in 2020. Poor parking has been a long-standing problem on Skye. The purpose of Monday's meeting was to update members on income generated from parking in council car parks in their wards. Fines totalling £430,000 were issued in the most recent financial year - April 2024 to March 2025. Tourist hotspots in particular, including at The Storr, had some of the highest numbers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Parking has been a constant problem on Skye. | Peter Summers/Getty Image Between April 2024 and March of this year, 1346 PCNs were issued at Bayfield (West) car park in Portree. This totalled £81,850. Meanwhile, at Somerled Square car park in Portree, 1125 PCNs were issued totalling £69,500. At the famous Fairy Pools, 184 notices with a total value of £10,250 for roadside parking were given out. At a car park at The Storr 948 PCNs totalling £56,350 were issued. Why is a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) issued and how much are the fines? There are a range of reasons why someone may receive a PCN. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This includes parking on a pavement, not having a valid parking ticket, exceeding time limits in a parking pay and parking in a disabled space without a valid Blue Badge. They can be issued at an initial amount of £50, with a reduced rate of £25 if paid within 14 days. However it can also rise to £150, plus a sheriff officer's charge, if not paid after 70 days. People have the right to challenge a PCN. A report to the Isle of Skye and Raasay committee said on average 70 per cent of parking debts were collected. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Parking at Quiraing in Skye. | Getty Images A council spokesperson told The Scotsman that there were a number of factors that have contributed to the rise of PCNs issued on Skye. They said this includes an increase in the regulated parking areas, an increase in parking restrictions and no waiting restrictions in key locations to prevent routes being obstructed and an increase in the number of Parking Enforcement Officers. Highland Council say key visitor locations generate high PCN numbers 'A number of areas that generate high PCN numbers are around key visitor locations, and it is likely that a significant proportion of the PCNs issued on Skye are to visitors at these locations,' the spokesperson added. 'Parking rule breaking is a concern and the seriousness of this can depend on the area and frequency. 'In many areas, it can cause safety issues, block traffic, and create challenging situations for pedestrians and drivers.'
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
India vs England: After Headingley heroics, Rishabh Pant on the brink of joining cricket's elite in England
Rishabh Pant (Getty Image) NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant is on the cusp of entering an elite club of visiting batters as India gear up for the second Test of the series against England at Edgbaston starting July 2. Following his twin centuries at Headingley, the 26-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is now one ton away from joining a legendary list that includes Don Bradman , Rahul Dravid and Brian Lara. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Pant smashed 134 and 118 in the first Test at Leeds, showcasing a dazzling array of strokes in both innings. Despite India's five-wicket defeat after setting England a target of 371, Pant's audacious shot-making and resilience stood out as the highlight of the match. Poll Will Rishabh Pant score a century in the second Test at Edgbaston? Yes No He now has 808 runs in 10 Tests in England at an average of 42.52, including four centuries. His highest score on English soil - 146 off just 111 balls - came at Edgbaston in 2022, when he rescued India from 98 for 5 and helped post a first-innings total of 416. Though India eventually lost that match, Pant's innings remains one of the finest by an Indian wicketkeeper overseas. Leeds to Birmingham: On the road with TOI Sports If he scores a hundred again at Edgbaston, Pant will become only the seventh visiting batter to score centuries in three successive Tests in England. The exclusive list features Don Bradman, Warren Bardsley, Charles Macartney, Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid and Daryl Mitchell . Dravid remains the only Indian on that list, having achieved the feat in 2002. Pant, who already holds the record for most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper and the most runs by an Asian gloveman in SENA countries, now has a golden opportunity to further etch his name in the history books. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
