When MS Dhoni smashed the six that won the World Cup for India in 2011, it instantly became an iconic moment in cricket and established the man who started out as a railway ticket collector as one of the game's greats.
Hard-hitting, unruffled no matter the pressure, the record of 'Captain Cool' -- and India's most successful captain --- will be virtually impossible to beat.
Holding the inaugural World T20 trophy in Johannesburg, in a half-sleeved India vest in 2007 and hitting that six in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium will forever remain etched amongst the most memorable Dhoni moments.
Many will remember him as an accumulator of runs after being appointed India's one-day captain in 2007, but it was his style which set Dhoni apart.
From humble beginnings in the eastern city of Ranchi, before working as a ticket collector on the railways in Kharagpur in West Bengal, to Indian cricket's poster boy with a fleet of superbikes, Dhoni's life has even been chronicled in a Bollywood biopic.
His countless endorsement deals and TV ads not only made him a sports superstar to rival Sachin Tendulkar but also put him in the Forbes list of the world's richest athletes.
In 2015, his income was estimated to be $31 million.
But he had to keep up the success on the field to fuel such a lifestyle.
N. Srinivasan, the industrialist who owns the Chennai Super Kings, where Dhoni will remain captain in the Indian Premier League despite announcing his international retirement on Saturday, hailed him as the supreme "instinct" player.
"We're awash with data just now," Srinivasan said in a recent interview with the Scroll news website.
"They play videos of every batsman whom they're going to come against and they see how he got out, what's his strength, what's his weakness etc.
"So, MS Dhoni doesn't attend this, he's a pure instinct man. The bowling coach, (head coach Stephen) Fleming will be there and everybody will be there, everyone is giving opinions, (but) he'll get up and go," Srinivasan said.
- Instinct player -
"In the context of instinct, he feels that okay he can assess a batsman or player on the field, that's his judgement."
It is a style that helped Dhoni lead India to the top of the sport after their World Cup triumphs.
His 'keep them guessing' tactics also left fans in frustration over the past year as they waited to see whether Dhoni, who turned 39 in July, would play in the national blue jersey again.
Dhoni, who quit Tests in 2014, last played for India in their semi-final loss to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup.
While India waited for a word from the master, Dhoni went off to serve with the army reserve unit where he is an honorary lieutenant colonel.
But despite his remarkable finishing skills in the middle-order, excellent glove work and sharp reading of the game, it has become increasingly clear that Dhoni would have to let Virat Kohli take complete control.
He stepped down from the limited-overs captaincy in 2017 on the pretext of preparing Kohli as a leader but continued to play a big part in the team's decision making process.
Kohli never shied away from relying on the experience of Dhoni, who was often seen calling the shots from behind the stumps.
India coach Ravi Shastri said that Dhoni's impact on the team had been "massive" and the communication with Kohli "fantastic".
"As a keeper, he has shown over the years that no one is better than him in this format, not just in taking catches, inflicting run-outs or stumpings."
Dhoni was appointed Test skipper after Anil Kumble's retirement in 2008 and to lead the team across formats.
He led by example scoring 4,876 runs including six centuries and 33 fifties in a nine-year Test career that began in 2005 against Sri Lanka.
- IPL highs and lows -
Dhoni stunned the cricket world by quitting Tests in 2014 after finishing as the country's most successful skipper in the five-day format with 27 wins in 60 matches.
But he is also one of the most successful captains in the hugely popular IPL.
Dhoni led Chennai to three titles in the money-spinning franchise tournament and eight runner-up finishes.
He was furious after Chennai were banned for two seasons in 2015 along with Rajasthan Royals when team officials were found guilty of involvement in illegal gambling.
"The biggest crime that I can commit is not a murder, it is actually match fixing," Dhoni said of the ban.
His fans stood by him and Chennai won the title on their return.
A TEAM of ten officials from India's aviation safety watchdog is visiting Air India headquarters for an annual audit, according to a government memo.
The visit comes as the airline faces scrutiny following a plane crash on June 12 that killed 271 people.
Although the audit is not connected to the crash, Air India has received warning notices for compliance lapses in recent days. The airline has also reduced its routes, citing the need for "operational stability" after the crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) team will inspect documents related to Air India's operations, previous audit findings, and action-taken reports, the memo seen by Reuters stated.
The audit team includes several flight operation inspectors and will be led by Adhiraj Yadav, a deputy chief flight operations inspector. Two members of the team are assigned to check compliance with cabin safety norms.
The audit, described as an "annual surveillance and regulatory audit", will be conducted from June 24 to 26. The memo noted that the presence of senior Air India executives is mandatory during the process.
On Saturday, the DGCA issued a warning to Air India for "repeated and serious violations" of pilot duty scheduling rules. The airline was directed to remove three company executives involved in crew scheduling.
Air India said it has complied with the directive.
The airline, which was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022, continues to face challenges in rebuilding its reputation after years of passenger complaints.
Last week, Reuters also reported that Air India was warned for safety rule breaches after three of its Airbus aircraft operated flights despite being overdue for emergency equipment checks related to escape slides.
The cause of the June 12 crash remains under investigation.
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The ink’s barely dry on the ICH E6(R3) guideline. Still, Whitehall Training is already rolling out a fully aligned Good Clinical Practice course — and they’re doing it before most sponsors have even updated their SOPs.
The revamped training package, released last month, is a direct response to the seismic shift in how clinical trials are expected to run under the new GCP R3 rules.
With the European Medicines Agency (EMA) enforcing the guideline from July 23, compliance teams are facing what some insiders are calling a “regulatory landmine field.”
“The industry is still digesting the new principles — we wanted to deliver clarity before the panic sets in,” said Rachel Smith, Director at Whitehall Training.
What’s Changed, Exactly?
The new GCP isn’t just a rewrite. It’s a philosophical reboot.
Gone are the checklist mentalities and one-size-fits-all oversight models. R3 brings a sharper focus on Quality by Design (QbD), risk-proportional trial conduct, and digital integration — all wrapped in a framework that gives sponsors more freedom and more responsibility.
Whitehall’s new course tackles this head-on, offering:
Side-by-side breakdowns of GCP R2 and R3
Deep dives into Critical-to-Quality factors, remote monitoring, eConsent, and data oversight
Custom modules for sponsors, CROs, and investigators, with LMS-ready delivery
The Compliance Clock Is Ticking
The EMA's July enforcement date is just the beginning. The MHRA, FDA, and PMDA are all expected to follow suit before the end of the year. While official timelines vary, the global message is clear: modernise or fall behind.
And that’s got compliance officers scrambling.
“Internal teams are already running gap analyses, but what they need is practical training,” said one EU regulatory consultant familiar with mid-sized pharma onboarding. “This isn’t the kind of thing you can wing in a workshop.”
Annex Anxiety
One of the more contentious elements? Annex 2 — the section dealing with non-traditional trials and digital-first models — remains under consultation. Sponsors operating decentralised or hybrid trials are in limbo, unsure how far they can go before triggering audit red flags.
Whitehall’s course leans into that grey zone, offering scenario-based learning and interpretation frameworks that help teams make judgment calls in the absence of black-and-white rules.
“We’re not waiting on Annex 2 to get moving,” said Nowak. “Clinical research is changing fast, and training needs to lead — not lag — that evolution.”
Who’s Buying In?
Early adopters appear to be mid-size biotech and global CROs, who are rolling out Whitehall’s training as part of wider SOP updates. Meanwhile, legacy pharma is reportedly watching — but moving cautiously, as legal teams pick apart the new language.
The training includes certification upon completion — a likely selling point for audit-weary teams who want traceable compliance records.
What’s Next
Whitehall will host a live webinar on July 10, breaking down the changes and offering a public Q&A. It’s already attracting sign-ups from regulatory affairs, quality, and clinical operations teams — many of whom admit they’re still figuring out how to operationalise the principles.
The move positions Whitehall not just as a content provider, but as a strategic actor in a rapidly shifting clinical landscape.
In their words?
“We’re not selling courses. We’re offering a roadmap through the fog.”
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Paul Sinha will return to Edinburgh Fringe with a show reflecting on his life and health challenges
Comedian and The Chase star Paul Sinha says Parkinson’s disease has inspired his comedy
He will perform his new show 2 Sinha Lifetime at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Sinha previously suffered two heart attacks during the 2022 festival
The comedian uses personal health challenges as material for his stand-up
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition with no known cure
Sinha returns to Edinburgh with health-themed show
Comedian and television personality Paul Sinha has described his Parkinson’s diagnosis as a “comedy goldmine” as he prepares to take a new stand-up show to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the 55-year-old The Chase quizzer said he would be tackling the realities of living with Parkinson’s disease head-on in his set at The Stand Comedy Club.
Two heart attacks during previous Edinburgh appearance
Sinha revealed that during his 2022 appearance at the festival, he suffered two heart attacks—one in the first week and another in the third.
“I was in a room with 400 people in and it all got on top of me,” he recalled. The first heart attack occurred while he was shaking hands with Levi Roots, the creator of Reggae Reggae Sauce, in a bar.
“I didn’t want to cause a scene,” he said. “I thought I might as well just get into a cab to take me to the nearest hospital as quick as possible, which is what I did.”
Despite being sent home after the first incident, Sinha later learned both episodes had been small heart attacks. He decided to carry on performing regardless, fearing financial loss if he dropped out. “Looking back on it, that’s not the right thing to do,” he admitted.
Turning Parkinson’s into punchlines
Sinha, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2019, said he chooses to confront the condition through humour.
“I do lots of jokes about it. It’s as simple as that. You deal with the cards you’ve been dealt, and if you’ve been given a comedy goldmine, as Parkinson’s is, then you deal with it,” he explained.
He added that, to his knowledge, he may be the only comedian at the Fringe discussing their experience with neurological degeneration.
Understanding Parkinson’s disease
According to the NHS, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition in which parts of the brain become damaged over time. Key symptoms include tremors, slow movement, and stiff muscles.
The charity Parkinson’s UK notes that the cause of the condition is still not fully understood, though it is thought to involve a combination of genetic, age-related, and environmental factors. The disease results in the death of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain.
30th anniversary show set for The Stand
Sinha’s new show, 2 Sinha Lifetime, marks his 30th anniversary in comedy. It is scheduled to run at The Stand Comedy Club during the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he will once again use personal experiences to connect with audiences through humour.
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The memorial will be located in St James's Park, next to Buckingham Palace. (Photo credit: Foster and partners)
BRITISH architect Norman Foster has been selected to design the national memorial for Queen Elizabeth.
Foster, 90, known for work that blends technology with nature in modern urban settings, described the opportunity as an "honour and a privilege".
The memorial will include two statues of the late Queen—one on horseback, and another showing her walking arm in arm with her husband Prince Philip.
Queen Elizabeth, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died in September 2022 at the age of 96, after more than 70 years on the throne. She was succeeded by her eldest son, now King Charles.
The memorial will be located in St James's Park, next to Buckingham Palace. A glass bridge inspired by the Queen’s wedding tiara will also form part of the design.
"At the heart of our masterplan is a translucent bridge symbolic of her majesty as a unifying force, bringing together nations, countries, the Commonwealth, charities and the armed forces," Foster said in a statement.
Foster began shaping city landscapes in the 1960s and received the Pritzker Prize in 1999, considered one of the highest honours in architecture.
His notable projects include Apple’s circular headquarters in California, the Millennium Bridge and Wembley Stadium in London, and the Reichstag in Berlin.
In 1997, Queen Elizabeth personally appointed Foster to the Order of Merit, a group limited to 24 individuals recognised for contributions to the arts, literature, science, and learning.
Final plans for the memorial are expected to be revealed next year.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Melee player Joseph ‘Mang0’ Marquez has been released from esports organisation Cloud9
Mang0 released by Cloud9 on 23 June after intoxicated behaviour at streamed event
Incident occurred during Ludwig Ahgren’s Beerio Kart World Cup
Cloud9 cited “zero-tolerance” for harassment
Mang0 apologised publicly and acknowledged his struggle with alcohol
Community reacts with a mix of sympathy and concern
Cloud9 parts ways with Mang0 after over a decade
Professional Super Smash Bros. Melee player Joseph ‘Mang0’ Marquez has been released from esports organisation Cloud9 following inappropriate conduct during a live-streamed event. The announcement came on 23 June, marking the end of Mang0’s 10-year tenure with the team.
The decision was made after Mang0 was seen engaging in drunken and inappropriate behaviour toward women during Ludwig Ahgren’s Beerio Kart World Cup, a social gaming event that was broadcast live online.
Incident leads to swift action
Mang0, while visibly intoxicated, reportedly harassed several female attendees during the event. His behaviour included humping gestures near their faces and pushing a cardboard cut-out of himself into a nearby woman. The actions drew criticism from viewers and attendees, prompting swift responses from both event organiser Ludwig and Cloud9.
— (@)
Cloud9 issued an official statement: “Regardless of tenure or accomplishments, the behaviour demonstrated is entirely unacceptable and directly conflicts with our organisation’s core values. We maintain a zero-tolerance stance regarding harassment or any other form of inappropriate conduct.”
Mang0 responds with public apology
Following the announcement, Mang0 took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express remorse. “No one to blame but myself,” he wrote. “But man, never thought I could hit this low. Probably won’t hear from me for a while. I’m sorry, everyone. Wish I was better.”
In a reply to Cloud9’s statement, he thanked the organisation, saying it had been “amazing” and would always “have a place in my heart.”
— (@)
Mang0 also stated he had spoken with friends about his drinking and intended to quit alcohol immediately. “Feel like I let so many people down,” he added. “Everyone has coddled me for so long and kinda looked the other way when it came to my drinking. I genuinely feel so awful about it.”
History of alcohol use in the community
Mang0 has long been known for his alcohol use, even during Smash events. While some of his previous behaviour—such as having security called on him at Genesis X2—was dismissed as humorous by fans, the latest incident has been seen in a more serious light.
This time, many within the fighting game community (FGC) agreed that the line had been crossed. Ludwig, the host of the Beerio Kart event, has also confirmed that Mang0 is banned from all future events he organises.
Mixed reactions from the Smash community
The Mang0 incident has sparked a divided response from the Smash Bros. community. While some fans expressed sympathy and suggested rehabilitation rather than dismissal, others supported Cloud9’s decision and highlighted the need for accountability in a community that has faced repeated allegations of misconduct.
Several users noted that the Smash scene has faced multiple scandals in recent years and argued that leniency in such cases risks normalising inappropriate behaviour.
What’s next for Mang0?
As of now, Mang0 remains out of competition, with no clear path to return. While he continues to express remorse and a desire to change, it is unclear whether tournament organisers beyond Ludwig will also impose bans or whether sponsors may reconsider supporting him in the future.
Mang0 has stated that he intends to reflect and “redeem” himself over time, but his future in competitive gaming remains uncertain.