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India Today
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Indian-origin BBC journalist Naga Munchetty accused of bullying, misconduct
Indian-origin BBC presenter Naga Munchetty is facing allegations of bullying and inappropriate off-air behaviour. The 50-year-old has reportedly been reprimanded by BBC bosses over two incidents in the past three years. One of these involved a crude comment made during a break, where Munchetty allegedly used a slang term for a sex act and directed it at a another incident reported in 2024, Munchetty allegedly accused a junior female colleague on BBC Breakfast of stealing, an accusation insiders claim was false. The confrontation reportedly occurred behind closed was humiliating. There was no evidence, no apology. The woman left not long after, completely demoralised," an insider told The Sun, adding that this was not an isolated case: "It really is the tip of the iceberg." The 2022 incident reportedly shocked those present in the studio, prompting management to speak to Munchetty.A senior producer is said to have reprimanded her, although no formal disciplinary action followed. One insider described the moment as "crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional," adding that the person targeted "felt embarrassed".These revelations come amid heightened scrutiny of the BBC over workplace misconduct, with multiple allegations emerging involving senior Times recently reported that the BBC Breakfast editor, Richard Frediani, is currently under formal investigation for bullying. Staff have been asked to share their experiences of working on the programme, according to Deadline, a UK has taken extended leave following accusations that include shouting at staff, kicking a bin, and pressuring news teams not to save major stories for evening bulletins. One particularly serious allegation claims he shook a female the controversy, Munchetty appeared on air on BBC Breakfast on June 20 (Friday), co-hosting alongside Charlie Stayt. Reports indicate that she had previously raised concerns with BBC leadership about Frediani's conduct, even as allegations about her own behaviour within the BBC told The Times that Munchetty and Stayt had a strained relationship with Frediani, with minimal communication between them. "Fredi has no relationship with Charlie and Naga, which is weird when they are half of his frontline presenting roster," a senior figure in Salford said. 'It appears he doesn't like them and they don't like him for whatever reason, they don't talk to each other," he to the reports, a BBC spokesperson said, "While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values. We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed."
Daily Maverick
6 hours ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
University of Johannesburg secures spot in Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings' global top 30
University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi said the prestigious rankings 'measure a university's contribution towards the realisation of sustainable development; it is the impact we have as a university on people'. The University of Johannesburg is now the leading sub-Saharan Africa institution in addressing global challenges through the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is according to the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. The University of Johannesburg's (UJ) strong performance in the 2025 rankings, climbing 13 places from its 2024 position of 36th to an outstanding 23rd place globally, highlights its excellence in areas such as environmental sustainability, social inclusion, economic growth and global partnerships — affirming its role as a transformative force in higher education. The university is now ranked among the top 30 universities in the world out of 2,318 institutions evaluated. UJ also performed well in the individual SDG top 10s, taking second place for SDG 1 (no poverty), fourth place for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and joint fourth for SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). 'We want UJ to be the best university for the world' Daily Maverick spoke to the UJ Vice-Chancellor Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, who said this milestone was not easy to attain; however, it showed the impact that the university had on people from different communities in South Africa. Mpedi gave examples of some of the work done. 'Through the UJ societal impact project in Limpopo, we adopted villages and a high school, working with generous donors. We are addressing food insecurity. 'We've got carriages that we have set up there, helping gogos, but there are children in a high school called Hanyani High School; they leave home at 4am to be at school at 8am. We have assisted with internet and water,' said Mpedi. Another example included work done in the Eastern Cape. 'There's a village where we set up hydro panels. There was a water issue, and through these hydro panels we harvest water from the atmosphere; these hydro panels harvest 8,000 litres of potable water,' said Mpedi. Speaking about eradicating poverty, Mpedi said challenges such as poverty, hunger, and unemployment must be dealt with by coming up with new solutions. 'Many of our students are the first generation to come to varsity, and student hunger is a big issue. We have a feeding programme for our needy students, and it's not a lousy meal. It's like Cheesy Rice and peanut butter, and we work with generous donors; also, the university invests some of its money… 'We've got lots of free land that is not being used. The aim is to show people that you can grow your food,' said Mpedi, who has held several senior academic and leadership positions. He served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Law, followed by his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic. Since 2023, Mpedi has been the vice-chancellor and principal of the university. For the Impact Ranking achievement, he thanked the students and his staff who had worked brilliantly. 'I would say to them, 'Thank you so much. The hard work is making a huge difference out there. It's giving people hope.' We are transforming lives,' said Mpedi. Among other African universities that have made it to the top 100 is the University of Pretoria, which is now ranked 63, down from 42. Nigeria's Afe Babalola University is in joint 84th position, up from the 101-200 band. DM
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Council tax bills 'set to rise in Southern England' under Labour plan to send more taxpayers' money to the North
Council taxpayers in the south of England could see their rates rise as the government seeks to send more money to the North, it was warned today. Local Government Minister Jim McMahon this morning unveiled proposals to 'modernise' they system and send more than £2billion 'to the places and communities that need it most'. Critics fear that this means that central government funding will be sent away from the South to poorer areas in the North and Midlands - with southern councils forced to make up the shortfall by increasing tax locally, or cut services. One told the Times: 'There is no doubt at all that it is going to be polarising. 'For a lot of councils in richer parts of the country the current system works quite well for them and they're going to lose funding. 'A lot of councils in rural areas are also worried that they will see their funding diverted into deprived urban areas.' But supporters argue that poorer areas have been relatively overtaxed and underfunded compared to the South, where many affluent areas charge lower tax rates. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, pointed out that the owner of a Band D property in Hartlepool pays £2,498.53, while the owner of a £10 million mansion in Wandsworth pays just £1,980.15 in the same band. 'Asking those residents to contribute closer to what people in the North are already paying is reasonable,' he added. 'In fact, a full revaluation of council tax bands, which we believe is long overdue, would have resulted in even higher bills for many London boroughs, where properties are routinely placed in bands far lower than they would be under a fair system.' In a written statement to MPs today Mr McMahon said too many areas 'have felt the combined impact of reducing government support and low historical tax bases from which to raise income, coupled with high levels of need driving up demand for services'. 'It is not fair that people in these places too often see council tax bills hike while neighbourhood services which make areas clean, safe and decent have felt the brunt of reductions,' he said. 'The current funding system is a decade old and reinforces the divide between deprived places and the rest of the country – that's why we are taking action where previous government failed.' Last week the Spending Review revealed that the average home's council tax bill will increase by £359 by 2029. Ministers are working on the basis that councils will increase the rate by 5 per cent a year for the next three years. The rise will fund the settlement for local authorities, which includes social care – an issue on which Labour is yet to outline its policy.
India Today
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Gavaskar, Sachin, Dravid or Kohli: Who's India's best? Sherlock Holmes investigates
The sun rose over 221B Baker Street, embracing the morning air with warmth. Inside, the faint aroma of burnt toast and strong coffee battled with the smell of tobacco from Sherlock Holmes' John Watson, bleary-eyed from a late night in a Soho disc, stumbled into the sitting room. He found Sherlock Holmes buried deep in the day's edition of the Times. Design Credit: ITGD Editorial Design advertisement'Morning,' Watson muttered, stretching his torso to shake off the stiffness of a night spent chasing whisky and women. Holmes didn't look up. Watson, curiosity roused, sidled up behind him, peering over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of what held the detective's attention. 'The great Sherlock Holmes,' Watson chuckled, 'reading about the Indian cricket team? Now who would've thought the old chap had a drop of cricket in him?'Holmes set the paper aside and leaned back in his leather lounge chair. Reaching for his violin, he plucked a single, resonant note. It was F-minor, a subtle message.'Come on, mate,' Watson pressed, grinning. You can't duck my questions like a Bumrah bouncer. "What's with the sudden interest in Indian cricket?'advertisementSherlock set the violin beside a polished human skull on the desk. 'Elementary, my dear Watson. I am unravelling the case of the fabulous four.'Watson raised an eyebrow. 'The fab four? What's that, old chap?'Holmes' lips twitched into a smirk. 'The question gripping journalists from Mumbai to Manchester: who is the greatest Indian Test batsman amongst the big four: Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid, or Kohli? I intend to solve this puzzle.' Watson's eyes lit up. 'Who do you reckon it is?'Holmes reached for his pipe. 'It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. You risk twisting facts to suit theories, rather than theories to suit facts. Make a cappuccino, Watson, and we'll examine the evidence.'Watson smiled, heading for the kitchen. 'Tricky business. Fans will cry bias, whatever you conclude.' He paused, scribbling a note for his voice was stern. 'There is no 'truth' in cricket, Watson. Only facts. Those who let emotions cloud judgment are fans. Those who weigh facts dispassionately are pundits. No pundit fears a fan's ire.'advertisementWatson's smile froze. Holmes' icy gaze reminded him: when the detective's mind whirred, best not to a cappuccino beside Holmes, Watson settled for a mystery to rival their greatest cases. SHERLOCK HOLMES INVESTIGATES 'Who do you rank as the best?' Holmes sipped the cappuccino.'Never saw Gavaskar bat. I'm fond of Virat Kohli.''Recency bias,' Holmes smirked. 'A common error of the short-sighted. Look at the data.'Watson chuckled heartily. 'Data is like a bird—it'll sing the tune you fancy''We shall see.' Holmes rose and activated a digital projector. A chart flashed on the sitting room's screen, comparing the fab four's Test batting averages. 'Observe, Watson. Kohli's 46.85 trails Tendulkar's 53.79, Dravid's 52.31, and Gavaskar's 51.12.'Watson's brow creased. "Kohli played the least number of Tests, and was the earliest to retire, despite fitness and modern equipment. He has the lowest average among the fab four.'advertisement'Indeed. Now consider SENA–South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia—where pitches favor pace and swing, testing a batsman's mettle.'Another slide appeared, showing SENA averages. Watson frowned. 'Kohli's lowest outside Asia. News to me.''I omitted the West Indies, Watson. In Kohli's era, their Test side was less formidable than in Gavaskar's day.''Hold on. I'm curious about the Caribbean. Let's see those figures.'The projector shifted, revealing Kohli's average in 11 West Indies Tests. Watson's jaw dropped. 'Kohli's at the bottom again.' 'I am impressed, Watson,' Sherlock clapped slowly. 'There is one more piece of evidence–their batting in the five years before retirement. Guess what?'Watson sighed. 'Bottom again.' advertisement'Precisely. What does this suggest?' Holmes tapped tobacco into his pipe.'Fading reflexes? Declining motivation, waning drive to succeed?' Watson muttered.'Yes, and a slump. Post-Covid–damn that virus–Kohli faltered, nicked off-stump deliveries, and fell to spinners like Nathan Lyon.''You have a point, Holmes.''The power of facts. Deduction's law,' Holmes smiled. 'Kohli's Test record—low average, lesser longevity, final years' dip—places him fourth. I'd consider Vengsarkar or Sehwag, but let's keep our suspects to four.''So, Kohli isn't the greatest?''Figures don't lie. Eliminate the impossible, and what remains, however improbable, is truth,' Holmes replied, his voice low. 'He is a modern titan, with a hunger for big scores. But not the greatest.''Another cappuccino?' Watson asked, stirring his coffee.'No, a double espresso. This calls for a shot of nostalgia,' Holmes said, lifting his violin. Watson sipped in silence. The chase for truth had begun. The game was afoot. Holmes was playing his favourite game: deduction by data placed Kohli below the triumvirate—the saviour (Gavaskar), the destroyer (Tendulkar), and the protector (Dravid).But Watson wasn't done. 'Holmes, let's test the public. I'll post a poll on my blog about Kohli's legacy, then we'll tackle the other three.'Holmes raised an eyebrow. 'A public vote? Sentiment may cloud judgment, but proceed.'Watson posted at once:In a few hours, India's Test cricket will see a generational all eyes are on the future team, Virat Kohli's retirement has ignited a # would you place Kohli in the list of Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dravid and himself?Vote here:— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) June 19, 2025Share your vote! #FabFourDebate and stay tuned for Part 2 of this Sharma, our guest author, likes to write on cricket, cinema, music and politics. He believes they are InMust Watch
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Federal agents denied entry to Dodger Stadium
Department of Homeland Security vehicles with masked agents were stationed Thursday morning outside Dodger Stadium, in another sign of the raids sweeping Southern California. It is unclear what operation the federal agents were carrying out or whether anyone in that area was arrested. Images of the vehicles immediately played out on social media and fueled speculation about their activities. The agents declined to say why they were at the stadium when asked by a Times reporter. The vehicles appeared to be staging near the downtown parking lot entrance to the stadium, which was empty Thursday morning except for a small contingent of local media. According to multiple people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly, agents were denied entry to the Dodger Stadium grounds when they attempted to enter the parking lots. The parking lot is not owned by the Dodgers, but is considered Dodgers property by the team. It is owned by the team's former owner, billionaire Frank McCourt. The team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Dodgers have been under pressure since the raids began earlier this month to make a statement in support of immigrants. On Wednesday, the team said it intended to announce plans Thursday to assist the immigrant communities recently impacted in Los Angeles. Singer and social media personality Nezza sang a Spanish version of the national anthem at Dodger Stadium, in an act of protest against the immigration raids, despite being asked by a team employee to sing in English.
