Meet Chandrakant Sompura, Man Who Designed The Ayodhya Ram Temple

Just three days are left for the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram temple, which has been constructed on an area of 2.7 acres in Uttar Pradesh Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be taking part in the inauguration ceremony as the 'yajman' or main host. Along with him, thousands of high-profile guests will attend the ceremony that will be broadcast live to millions around the world. The Ram temple will open for the devotees a day after the "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony (January 23). The temple has been constructed in the traditional Nagar style has a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet.

Also Read | Interesting Facts About Ram Temple In Ayodhya

The architect behind the grand temple, Chandrakant Sompura, spoke to NDTV about his vision and how he designed the temple more than 30 years ago.

"Mr Ashok Singhal (former VHP leader) decided in 1988 that the temple should be constructed here and he reached out to GD Birla. Our family had been working with Mr Birla for decades. So I got a call from Mr Birla and he asked me to come to Delhi, visit Ayodhya with him and prepare the design for the temple," Mr Sompura said.

He said designing the Ram temple was an uphill task 30 years back, as he had to prepare drawings using his footsteps as the unit of measurement.

"At that time, we were not allowed to take measuring tapes. I was told just have a look around alone. It was very difficult for me to envision a temple without proper measurement. So, I used my feet and counted the steps. I remembered all the steps - from left to right, across, and replicated the design inside a big hall where I could take proper measurement," he added.

Also Read | Where To Watch Live Telecast Of Ram Temple Ceremony And Timings

The 80-year-old further said that he presented a few plans according to the vision of a grand temple. The final plan was approved and the temple is being constructed according to that, he added.

Mr Sompura comes from a family of temple architects that have designed over 200 such structures.

According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the temple is three-storied, with each floor being 20 feet tall. It has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors. There are five Mandaps or halls, and their names are Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna and Kirtan Mandaps.

The entry is from the east, and devotees will have to climb 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar. The trust also said that there are provision of ramps and lifts for the convenience of the differently-abled and elderly.

Interestingly, no iron is used anywhere in the temple, claimed the trust.

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PAK vs NZ: मोहम्मद रिजवान का बवाली बयान, कहा- मुझे हार नहीं पसंद

पाकिस्तान को न्यूजीलैंड से टी20 सीरीज में करारी हार का सामना करना पड़ा है. चौथे टी20 में लगातार कीवी टीम ने पाकिस्तान को रौंदा. सीरीज में हार के बाद मोहम्मद रिजवान का एक बयान सोशल मीडिया पर तेजी से वायरल हो रहा है.

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Meta's Sheryl Sandberg To Step Down From Board After 12 Years

Meta's former chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, announced that she is leaving the company's board after more than a decade.

One of the most influential women in Silicon Valley, Sheryl Sandberg, 54, will depart the board as the tech juggernaut behind Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram faces increased regulatory scrutiny.

Sheryl Sandberg said on Wednesday that she would not stand for re-election once her term ends in May, but would serve as an advisor to the company thereafter.

"With a heart filled with gratitude and a mind filled with memories, I let the Meta board know that I will not stand for reelection this May," Sheryl Sandberg posted on Facebook.

"Serving as Facebook's - and then Meta's - COO for 14 and a half years and a board member for 12 years has been the opportunity of a lifetime," she wrote.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, thanked Sheryl Sandberg for her work at the social media giant.

"Your dedication and guidance have been instrumental in driving our success and I am grateful for your unwavering commitment to me and Meta over the years. I look forward to this next chapter together!" Zuckerberg commented on her Facebook post.

Sheryl Sandberg resigned as Meta COO in June 2022 after a tenure that included helping steer Facebook to advertising dominance.

A Harvard-educated executive, Sheryl Sandberg joined Facebook when it was still a startup, playing a formative and often public-facing role in its development into a multi-billion dollar advertising empire that acquired Instagram and WhatsApp.

In 2021, the company rebranded as Meta in an effort to focus on its virtual reality vision for the future and move past its reputation as a scandal-plagued social network faced with scrutiny over how it handles privacy and data, as well as accusations that its products may cause harm to teens, public discourse and democracy.

Facebook was about four years old in 2008 when Sheryl Sandberg came on board as a mature, guiding hand at a tech firm with the motto "move fast and break things."

Her job made her not only a recognizable face in tech but also a household name, particularly thanks to her 2013 book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead."

The best seller encouraged women to "lean in" to their careers to reach their full potential and overcome workforce obstacles.

It drew applause from admirers, who credited her with articulating a modern feminist vision, and sharp criticism from detractors who said her lofty position made her out of touch with the grueling personal costs of combining career and family.

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AAP Approaches High Court After Chandigarh Mayor Polls Deferred To Feb 6

The AAP Thursday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the Chandigarh mayoral polls were abruptly postponed with councillors being told that the presiding officer had fallen ill. The administration told the court the elections have been deferred to February 6.

The Congress and the AAP, which have joined hands for the mayoral polls, slammed the BJP, accusing it of not allowing to hold the elections in the wake of its "imminent defeat".

The petition was filed by AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar, who is the candidate for mayor post. The petitioner sought from the court for holding the mayoral polls and appointment of a new presiding officer in place of Anil Masih after he fell sick.

The court refused to grant any immediate relief to the AAP and fixed January 23 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

The matter was listed before the division bench of Justices Sudhir Singh and Harsh Bunger, said Chetan Mittal, the counsel for the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.

During the hearing Thursday evening, the counsel for the Chandigarh administration informed the high court that February 6 has been fixed as the next date for the mayoral polls after assessing the prevailing law and order situation.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal also claimed that they have been informed that elections will not take place on Thursday as the presiding officer has fallen sick.

"It has been informed that elections will not take place today as the presiding officer has fallen sick," claimed Bansal as he accused the BJP of not allowing the polls to take place as the saffron party was to face defeat in the elections.

The polling for the post of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor through secret ballot was to take place at 11 am in the assembly hall of the municipal corporation.

In the 35-member Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the BJP has 14 councillors. It also has an ex-officio member MP (Kirron Kher) who has voting rights.

The AAP has 13 councillors and the Congress seven. The Shiromani Akali Dal has one councillor in the House.

Elections for the three posts are held every year during the five-year term of the House. This year, the mayor's seat has been reserved for the Scheduled Caste category. This time the mayor will be elected for the third term.

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Delhi Man Chased, Shot At After Car Touches Bike While Parking

A minor collision while parking a car led to a fight, a chase and shots being fired in broad daylight in Delhi today. The incident of road rage happened this morning when Jatin Jain, a resident of Haryana's Sonipat, had come to meet his friend in West Delhi's Janakpuri area. While parking his car, he accidentally touched a bike. This led to a fight between the two parties, said the police.

After the fight was over and Jatin Jain was crossing the road, he was chased and shot at by the accused. He is now hospitalised and is being treated.

The police patrolling the spot acted swiftly and arrested one of the attackers. However, the man on the bike managed to escape. The police also recovered the pistol from the spot.

Road rage incidents are commonly reported in Delhi. Yesterday, two men allegedly hit a woman and her brother following a minor argument over a scooter brushing another in Delhi.

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VIDEO: टीम इंडिया के 2 बल्लेबाजों ने 1 ओवर में ठोक दिए 36 रन

रिंकू सिंह ने टी20 इंटरनेशनल क्रिकेट करियर की बेस्ट पारी खेली. अफगानिस्तान के खिलाफ सीरीज के तीसरे और आखिरी टी20 मैच में रिंकू सिंह ने रोहित शर्मा के साथ मिलकर पांचवें विकेट के लिए रिकॉर्ड 190 रन की अटूट साझेदारी की.

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10 Manipur MLAs Ask Centre To Cancel Suspension Of 3 Education Officers In CBSE Affiliation Case

Ten MLAs of the Kuki tribes in Manipur have asked Home Minister Amit Shah to cancel the suspension of three education officers, who face disciplinary action over alleged fraud in clearing requests by 26 schools for CBSE affiliation.

In a letter to Mr Shah, the 10 MLAs said the three officers issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to the schools that applied for Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliation after May 3, the day ethnic violence broke out between the hill-majority Kuki tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis.

The 26 schools are in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi, both hill districts.

The CBSE's bylaws make it a legal requirement for state board schools to get NOCs from the state government before applying for central board affiliation. The Manipur government, before informing the central board about the alleged fraud, had announced that it had not given NOCs to any school since May 2020.

The district-level zonal officers do not have the authority to issue NOCs to schools without the knowledge of the Education Department, the state government had said, and formed a committee to investigate the alleged paperwork fraud.

The 10 MLAs, who have also been demanding what they call a "separate administration" carved out of Manipur, in the letter to the Home Minister said the three education officers acted in the best interests of students and schools amid the violence in the past eight months. The students lost precious months of the academic year, the MLAs said, adding the CBSE should re-affiliate the 26 schools and the three suspended officers should be called back to duty.

The attempt by the 10 MLAs to rescue the three officers who are under investigation is "absurd", an education department officer told NDTV on phone from Imphal today. "They should let the investigation complete. There is a process; there is documentary evidence. No one can short-circuit due process, and later claim innocence before investigation is complete," said the officer, requesting anonymity.   

The three suspended officers are Churachandpur ZEO Jangkhohao Haokip, Kangpokpi ZEO Lhingtinneng, and L Taithui, Deputy Inspector of Schools in the Samulamlan block of Churachandpur ZEO.

The change of the education board from state to central in the two "hill districts" was seen as a soft attempt at formalising a new arrangement, since the clashes began in May 2023.

A Kuki student group in Sadar Hills has sealed the offices of the Kangpokpi ZEO, and the deputy inspector of schools of Saitu and Saikul in protest against the government action. The group wrote "Office sealed by KSO-SH until suspension order is revoked" on sheets of paper and pasted them at the gates of the three government offices.

The student body in a statement appealed for a "swift and impartial investigation into the allegation against Lhingtinnneg Singsit", and the officer who replaced Singsit won't be allowed to work till their demand is met.

In Churachandpur, none of the four newly affiliated schools - before they lost affiliation - had working phone numbers. One had only '0000' as the contact number. Not having working phones and having inconsistent details such as the phone number or address of the principal turning out to be of a relative are violations of the CBSE's bylaws for affiliation.

The Kangpokpi school principals had in December 2023 criticised what they called the authorities' "obtuse focus" on procedures when all that the students needed amid the ethnic clashes and other cataclysmic disruptions was academic continuity, whether CBSE or state board.

At least seven school principals in Kangpokpi district told NDTV on December 20 that their ZEO, who worked under the education department, gave the NOCs.

"The situation in Manipur after May 3 was such that functioning under the state board was becoming impossible. We have to go to Imphal for exam coordination and other state board work. How would that be possible?" one of the principals of a Kangpokpi school freshly affiliated with the CBSE - which was unaffiliated later - had told NDTV on phone in December. The other principals declined to be named.

They repeatedly cited difficulty in coordinating with the education department at a time when battle lines have been clearly drawn on the basis of ethnicity and deep mistrust.

The state government was clear, however, that action would be taken against schools including withdrawing their affiliation if any of them was again found not following due process.

"The principals are not thinking right. What are they implying? Short-circuit administrative processes amid the unfortunate outbreak of violence? No one said NOC won't be given. All of us work for students. Questionable and unethical decisions by some school administrations can't be allowed to harm the future of students," a senior officer in the education department who was among a small team that looked into the initial investigation in the CBSE affiliation matter told NDTV on December 20, requesting anonymity.

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IND vs AFG: रोहित शर्मा वर्ल्ड रिकॉर्ड से 2 कदम दूर, धोनी हो जाएंगे पीछे

IND vs AFG: टीम इंडिया के कप्तान रोहित शर्मा ने बतौर कप्तान टी20 में शानदार वापसी की है. टीम इंडिया ने रोहित शर्मा की कप्तानी में अफगानिस्तान के खिलाप टी20 सीरीज में 2-0 से अजेय बढ़त बना रखी है. अब रोहित शर्मा वर्ल्ड रिकॉर्ड बनाने से महज 2 कदम दूर हैं.

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Court Asks Bengal Cops To Produce Case Diary In Probe Team Attack FIR

The Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal police on Monday to produce the case diary in the FIR filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a mob attack on its officials when they went to search the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh at Sandeshkhali on January 5.

A lawyer, claiming to represent Mr Shajahan, prayed for permission to be added as a party in the matter.

Justice Jay Sengupta directed that the case diary be produced on Tuesday when the matter will be taken up for hearing again.

The Enforcement Directorate raided Mr Sheikh's house on January 5 in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam in West Bengal.

Justice Sengupta noted that a counsel approached the court claiming to represent the accused Sajahan Sheikh, but was yet to have the necessary vakalatnama, a written document which authorises a lawyer to represent a person in a legal proceeding.

"He prayed that his client ought to have an audience here. But, he is not having the vakalatnama at present," the court said.

Justice Sengupta directed that in the event the counsel is able to procure a vakalatnama, he will be at liberty to file an application for addition of party for his client.

The Enforcement Directorate has issued a look out circular against Shajahan Sheikh.

Enforcement Directorate's counsel submitted before the court that the agency found links to Shankar Addhya, who has been arrested by the agency, and Mr Shajahan during its investigation into the alleged ration distribution scam.

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested state's Forest Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, who held the Food and Supplies portfolio from 2011 to 2021, and is at present in judicial remand in the case.

The state's counsel submitted that four people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Enforcement Directorate officials.

Justice Sengupta asked how only four people were arrested when it has been alleged that hundreds were involved in the attack on the Enforcement Directorate officials.

The Enforcement Directorate's counsel also submitted that despite a murderous attack on the officials, milder sections of IPC were given in the FIR filed by the officials of Najat police station, within the area of which Ms Shajahan's house is located, on the complaint by the agency.

The Enforcement Directorate  has stated that three of its officers were injured and their belongings were snatched in an attack on them at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on January 5.

It was stated that vehicles of Enforcement Directorate officials and the CRPF personnel were also damaged by the mob.

Another single bench of the high court had on January 11 ordered an interim stay on proceedings in an FIR against Enforcement Directorate officials who went to search the premises of Mr Shajahan.

The Enforcement Directorate had moved the court praying for quashing of the FIR lodged at the Nazat police station in North 24 Parganas district against its officials, claiming that false allegations were foisted against them.

In the FIR, one Didar Baksh Molla, stated to be a caretaker of Sheikh's residence, accused the Enforcement Directorate officials of theft, outraging modesty and beating women and children when they went to raid Shajahan's house on January 5.

Three FIRs were registered on that day in connection with the incident.

The first FIR was lodged by Didar Baksh Molla, at 10.30 am, a second FIR was filed suo motu by the Nazat police on the incident on the basis of a general diary by a sub-inspector of the police station at 1.30 pm and the third was by the ED at around 8.10 pm.

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Nitish Kumar Attends Lalu Yadav's Makar Sankranti Feast Amid Rift Rumours

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday treated himself to a Makar Sankranti feast hosted by RJD president Lalu Prasad, belying recent speculations that the alliance between the two had hit a rough patch.

Mr Prasad's younger son and heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the state's deputy Chief Minister, expressed delight over the visit of the chief minister and made light of the speculations of a rift in the ruling Mahagathbandhan.

"We were pleased to have at our place the honourable chief minister on a day we have been, since long, treating people to 'dahi chuda' (flattened rice with curd), items made of 'til' (sesame) and 'konhre ki sabzi' (pumpkin stew). Other colleagues in the cabinet have been dropping in as well. We welcome them all," said Yadav, who briefly interacted with the posse of journalists.

The young RJD leader blamed the opposition BJP in the state and a section of the press for speculations of a trust deficit which grew strong ever since Mr Kumar took over as the JD(U) national president, replacing Rajiv Ranjan Singh "Lalan" who gave up the post-mid-term.

"Ever since Lalu-ji and Nitish-ji joined hands, the BJP has been scared. Also, we are running a government that has delivered on its promise of job creation on a large scale. As such, there is no need for any explanation on the various theories that have been doing the rounds," asserted Mr Yadav.

Notably, a section of the press had claimed that Lalan ran afoul of Nitish Kumar after he allegedly hatched a conspiracy to dethrone the latter so that Mr Yadav could take over as the CM.

Lalan has reacted by slapping legal notices on the outlets concerned and claimed that he relinquished the top party post to focus more on his Lok Sabha constituency and that it was upon his request that Kumar, the JD(U)'s de facto leader, agreed to take over as the party chief.

Interestingly, Lalan also walked beside Kumar when the two leaders emerged from the CM's residence and walked down to 10, Circular Road, the government bungalow allotted to Prasad's wife Rabri Devi, in her capacity as a former chief minister.

The elderly couple flashed a broad smile at Mr Kumar, who caused a flutter with his optics, but chose not to take any questions from journalists while sauntering back from the RJD leaders' place.

A host of other senior leaders from the JD(U) also turned up at the feast, including ministers Ashok Choudhary, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Sanjay Kumar Jha besides state unit chief Umesh Kushwaha.

Mr Yadav, who held fort engaging with the media contingent, was asked about the perception that the JD(U) was running out of patience by the "delay" in finalisation of a seat-sharing formula because Mahagathbandhan partners were coming up with competing claims.

"How do you know that such a formula has not been arrived at in Bihar? Who knows, it may have been finalised," cryptically said the RJD leader, whose party has been entrusted with negotiating, on behalf of junior partners Congress and Left, with the JD(U).

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Why Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu Is Talking Tough: Explainer

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's demand that India withdraw its troops stationed in the country by mid-March is the newest in the anti-India rhetoric in the island nation that has started over the last few years. The number of troops -- 88 -- is too few to be a threat, which is what their presence is being portrayed as.

The troops have been stationed in Maldives since 2010 as part of a bilateral ties that involve training of Maldivian troops in combat and reconnaissance. They also provide help with humanitarian aid and medical evacuations for the residents of the remote islands.

Domestic politics of Maldives

President Muizzu is widely seen as a pro-China leader, a departure from his predecessors who pursued a pro-India policy. One of the key slogans for his campaign was "India Out'. The coalition government of the People's National Congress & the Progressive Party of Maldives party is currently following the pro-China policy to remove what they call the Indian influence.

Ahead of the Presidential election held in Maldives at the end of September, supporters of the People's National Congress of President Muizzu had pushed a narrative that the Ibrahim Mohamed Solih-led Maldivian Democratic Party was influenced by India.

The formal demand for troop removal was first made around two months ago -- shortly after the Muizzu government came to power in September, riding on an anti-India agenda.

Anti-India build-up

India's gift of two military Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters helicopters to Maldives for rescue ops have been portrayed as creation of military presence.

An agreement for the UTF Harbour Project agreement, signed in February 2021 -- under which India was to develop and maintain a harbour and dockyard at Uthuru Thilafalhu near Maldives capital Malé -- has been a subject of intense speculation. A section of local media claimed that the project would eventually lead to the building of an Indian naval base there.

Fuelled by social media, a diplomatic row with India started as Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's widely circulated post about his visit to the Lakshadweep islands. Three ministers who made harsh comments, were, however, removed.

China factor

President Muizzu's demand for the removal of Indian troops was also made days after his visit to China, when the two nations upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

China is interested in expanding its influence in Maldives owing to its strategic position in the Indian Ocean. The islands are located on the one of the busiest maritime trade highways through which nearly 80 per cent of China's oil imports pass.

Maldives and China have signed 20 important agreements during President Muizzu's visit. China has given Male an aid of 130 million dollars which will be spent on the development projects.

Should India be concerned

The foreign ministry is yet to comment on Male's demand for troop withdrawal.

Former foreign minister Shashi Tharoor has warned about the increasing proximity between China and Maldives.

"There is no doubt about the fact that China has been attempting to expand its influence throughout our periphery. They have been increasingly influential in everyone of our neighbouring countries, everyone, without exception," he said.

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क्या वर्ल्ड कप या आईपीएल के मैच फिक्स होते हैं, जब BCCI उपाध्यक्ष से पूछा सवाल

इस बात में कोई शक नहीं कि भारत में क्रिकेट के करोड़ों दीवाने हैं. लेकिन यह बात भी सच है कि देश में ऐसे भी लोग शायद करोड़ों में ही हों, जो इस खेल को शक की निगाह से देखते हैं.

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"Beyond Human Control": Sonu Sood's Plea After Being Stuck At Airport For 3 Hours

With a dense fog blanket wreaking havoc on flight operations amid the ongoing winter season, actor Sonu Sood shared a scene of horrifying chaos in the waiting area of an airport. 

The actor, known for his goodwill, urged the started passengers to treat the crew of airlines with kindness.

In a post on X, the actor wrote, "The weather Gods have their own moods, beyond human control!! I have been patiently waiting for the last 3 hours at the airport. I know it's difficult but request everyone to be polite with the airline crew. They are doing their best! Often times I see visuals of people behaving very rudely with them. We need to understand some situations are beyond anyone's control and everyone deserves to be respected."

See the post here:

The weather Gods have their own moods, beyond human control!! I have been patiently waiting for the last 3 hours at the airport . I know it's difficult but request everyone to be polite with the airlines crew.They are doing their best! Often times I see visuals of people behaving… pic.twitter.com/C0T8t8c3oQ

— sonu sood (@SonuSood) January 14, 2024

The post has amassed over 31,000 views on X along with an array of comments from the netizens. A user wrote, "You are simply Great Sonu Sood, Sir."

"Politeness, responsible and patient is in our genes, we are forgetting it, we need to just restore it," another user expressed.

Earlier, actor Radhika Apte shared her ordeal at an airport when she and other co-passengers were locked inside the aerobridge after the flight was delayed. The actor did not name the city or the airlines.

Sharing photos and videos on Instagram, the 'Sacred Games' actor said that the passengers were put in the aerobridge after the flight was delayed and the airlines staff locked them in.

"Today morning I had an flight at 8:30. It's 10:50 now and the flight has still not boarded. BUT the flight said we were boarding and put all the passengers in the aerobridge and LOCKED IT," she said.

Radhika Apte shared a clip of several people behind a locked glass door. Some of the passengers were seen talking to the security staff in the aerobridge.

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VIDEO: लाइव मैच में गेंद लेकर भागने लगा शख्स, फखर ने जड़ा बड़ा छक्का

फखर जमां ने न्यूजीलैंड के खिलाफ दूसरे टी20 मुकाबले में अर्धशतकीय पारी खेली. हालांकि उनका ये अर्धशतक टीम के काम नहीं आया. मेजबान कीवी टीम ने हैमिल्टन टी20 में पाकिस्तान को 21 रन से हराकर 5 मैचों की सीरीज में 2-0 की बढ़त बना ली है.

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From Coal Miner's Son To Taiwan's President-Elect: All About Lai Ching-te

Pugnacious, stubborn, and a "pragmatic worker for Taiwan's independence", veteran politician Lai Ching-te will step into the international spotlight as the democratic island's next president to navigate an increasingly turbulent relationship with China. 

The 64-year-old Harvard graduate rode to victory in Saturday's election on the promise that he would defend Taiwan's democracy and resist Beijing's claims on the island.

His win delivers an unprecedented third consecutive term for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and in his victory speech Lai hailed it as a "victory for the community of democracies".

"We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy," he said.

He has vowed to continue outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen's policies of building up Taiwan's military capabilities as a defence deterrence against a potential invasion from China. 

But his outspokenness -- which he has moderated in recent months on his path to the presidency -- has drawn the ire of Beijing. 

China regards him as a "stubborn worker" for Taiwan's independence and a "saboteur of peace", warning that the soft-spoken politician would be the cause of "war and decline" for the island.

"There are strong doubts on China's side about his deep-seated convictions", said Mathieu Duchatel, head of the Asia programme at Montaigne Institute in Paris, adding that at this stage, "(Lai) wants above all to reassure".

Son of a coal miner 

Unlike most of Taiwan's political elite, Lai rose from humble origins. 

Born in 1959, Lai was raised by his mother alongside five other siblings in a rural hamlet in New Taipei City, after his coal miner father died when he was a toddler.

After he graduated from Harvard University, he returned to work in a hospital in southern Taiwan before turning his attention to politics in 1996 during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. 

"My defining moment came as China's military adventurism... threatened our shores with live fire exercises and missiles," he wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal last July. 

"I decided I had a duty to participate in Taiwan's democracy and help protect this fledgling experiment from those who wished it harm."

He served as a lawmaker, a mayor of the southern city of Tainan and a premier before he was tapped to be vice president to President Tsai Ing-wen, whom he will now succeed.

Under Tsai's two-term tenure relations with China plummeted -- with all high-level communications cut off -- as she defended the island's sovereignty and refused to acknowledge Beijing's claim over it. 

During his campaign for office, Lai stuck to her stance that Taiwan is "already independent", and does not need to formally declare itself separate from China. 

He has also said he is willing to have exchanges with China "on the preconditions of parity and dignity", explaining that closer ties for economic prosperity should not be traded for Taiwan's sovereignty. 

"Accepting China's 'one-China' principle is not true peace," he said, referring to a Beijing doctrine that Taiwan is a part of China. 

"Peace without sovereignty is just like Hong Kong. It is a false peace."

'Much fiercer'

During his time as premier, he was more vocal than Tsai about the issue of independence, which some say has top allies like the United States -- Taiwan's main weapons provider -- concerned about how he will handle relations with China. 

"The question will be to what extent Lai can stick to the cautious and moderate pathway carved out by Tsai," said Amanda Hsiao of the International Crisis Group. 

Sarah Liu of the University of Edinburgh said a Lai administration would continue on a path of "less economic reliance on China". 

"Through strengthening its international standing, Taiwan will gain more allies to further consolidate its democracy," she said. 

Tsai made a reference to his pugnacity in a campaign ad released this year ahead of the poll. 

"You are much fiercer than I am... you step up and fight with others," she said in a slickly edited commercial that showed the two driving along a picturesque highway. 

"But I did it for the safety of my country... because protecting Taiwan's democracy is the most important," Lai responded before Tsai handed him the steering wheel. 

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