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lodibet999 Former member of the state backward classes commission during the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government Juluri Gowrishankar filed a public interest litigation (PIL) petition in the state high court on Saturday challenging the redesigning of the“Telangana Thalli” (Mother Telangana) as proposed by the ruling Congress party in the state. The Telangana activist filed the petition ahead of the opening of the new statue in the state secretariat on Monday. The upcoming inauguration will be done by chief minister A Revanth Reddy and has kicked up a political slugfest with the opposition BRS criticising the statue’s design saying that it does not represent Telangana’s identity. “The existing design of the statue was widely approved and appreciated by all sections of the people. Any changes in the design will deeply hurt the sentiment of the Telangana people,” Gowrishankar in the petition, which is expected to come up for hearing on Monday. The existing statue of Telangana Thalli, designed during the BRS regime in 2014, has the image of a goddess sporting a pink silk saree and wearing glittering gold ornaments like long necklace, bangles and waistband, besides a crown on the head. She has Bathukamma (a floral arrangement symbolising Telangana folk festival) in the left hand and cobs of maize and jowar in the right hand. “It is a symbol of our identity, created through consensus among Telanganites from all sections during the Telangana movement. It includes all elements that are truly Telangana,” the BRS said in a post on X. However, the redesigned statue of Telangana Thalli, the image of which was released to the media by the government on Friday, depicts her as a simple woman without any divine appearance. Draped in a green coloured cotton saree, the Telangana Thalli has simple-looking ornaments and ordinary bangles. She has cobs of maize and pearl millet in the left hand, while her right hand has a gesture of ensuring protection to the people. BRS working president K T Rama Rao told reporters that the redesigned statue deviates from traditional representations. He pointed out that the new statue lacks a crown, which undermines the divine and symbolic essence of Telangana Thalli. “It excludes Bathukamma, a symbol deeply intertwined with Telangana’s cultural identity. The statue’s hand gesture resembles the Congress party’s emblem, suggesting an attempt to politicize a cultural symbol,” he said. He accused the Congress leader Revanth Reddy of attacking Telangana’s history and identity out of political vendetta against BRS chief KCR. The Congress leaders defended the redesign of the statue. The state Congress committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the new Telangana Thalli statue reflects the rural ethos of Telangana, while the one projected by the BRS represented the feudal culture. “The statue reflects a humble Telangana woman, symbolising the state’s agrarian roots, dressed in a green saree with millet and paddy in hand,” he said. Another senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be quoted, said it was ridiculous on the part of KTR to say that the hand gesture symbolises the Congress party. “It is a gesture of reassuring the people. If the gesture reflects the Congress, does it mean Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala or Lord Lakshmi Narasimha of Yadagirigutta, who also have similar hand gestures, are the Congress leaders?” he asked. He said Telangana’s identity transcends specific iconography like a crown or Bathukamma and instead focuses on representing the resilience and simplicity of its people. Meanwhile, the Telangana government formally invited KCR and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president G Kishan Reddy for the function to unveil the redesigned statue of Telangana Thalli at Secretariat on Monday. On behalf of the chief minister, his cabinet colleague Ponnam Prabhakar, along with advisor (protocol) Harkara Venugopal and senior officials of the protocol department, drove down to the farmhouse of KCR at Erravelli in Siddipet district and extended the invitation to formal chief minister. Later, he also met Kishan Reddy at his residence in Hyderabad and requested him to attend the event. Similar invitation was extended to AIMIM president Asadduddin Owaisi, people familiar with the matter said.

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Florida State is set to host Florida on Saturday evening in the 68th meeting between the in-state rivals. The Gators and Seminoles have played every year since 1958, except for 2020 when leagues around the nation adjusted their schedules to include conference-only games in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Florida leads the series with a 37-28-2 record, but modern games have favored Florida State. The Seminoles are riding a two-game winning streak and have come out on top in nine of 13 games since 2010. Seven of those wins have come by at least two possessions. But this year's "Sunshine Showdown" tells the story of two programs headed in opposite directions, especially when considering preseason expectations. Florida coach Billy Napier entered the year on one of the hottest seats in college football , and a relatively lackluster start did not do much to help his case. Since the administration reaffirmed its faith in Napier, though, the Gators have ripped off two straight SEC wins against ranked opponents. In Week 13 they downed Ole Miss 24-17, snapping a six-game losing streak against top-10 teams. Florida State, on the other hand, entered the year as a top-10 team fresh off a 2023 campaign in which it finished the regular season 12-0 and won the ACC championship. The Seminoles dropped their season opener against Georgia Tech and have been in a spiral since, with a 2-9 record and just one win against an FBS opponent. How to watch Florida vs. Florida State live Date : Saturday, Nov. 30 | Time : 7 p.m. ET Location : Doak Campbell Stadium -- Tallahassee, Florida TV: ESPN 2 | Live stream: fubo (Try for free) Florida vs. Florida State: Need to know Freshmen in the spotlight: For the first time in series history, both Florida and Florida State will start freshmen quarterbacks in Saturday's game. DJ Lagway , the No. 1 signal caller in the class of 2024, has been a mainstay in the Gators' rotation all year, but he took the starting job when incumbent Graham Mertz suffered an ACL injury on Oct. 12 against Tennessee . Lagway has given Florida fans plenty to be excited about during his time on the field. He's thrown for 1,477 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 105 yards thus far. His arm talent is apparent any time he uncorks a deep ball, but his accuracy on long throws is impressive for a quarterback this early into his collegiate career. Florida State was put into its own tough quarterback situation in October when DJ Uiagelelei injured his throwing hand. The Seminoles have tried a couple different options in the wake of Uiagalelei's setback, which led to freshman Luke Kromenhoek earning his first career start in Week 13 against Charleston Southern . Kromenhoek completed 13 of his 20 passes for 2019 yards and three touchdowns in the win. A lot on the line for Florida State: Florida State is far from bowl contention at this point, but the Seminoles still have plenty to play for -- even beyond bragging rights against a top in-state rival. The Seminoles have a chance to avoid losing 10 games for the first time since 1974 and just the third time in program history. Florida State snapped a six-game losing streak in Week 13's win against Charleston Southern, so the Seminoles are on the right track. They have already become the third FBS team since 1998 to win their conference and then finish last in that same conference the following season. Florida State is also the first ACC program to take sole possession of 17th place in the expanded league. Florida can improve postseason stock: Florida already secured bowl eligibility by beating Ole Miss, but Saturday is a prime opportunity to notch another win and improve its standing in the bowl bidding process. The Gators have not won seven games since 2020, when they went 8-4 and made it to the Cotton Bowl under former coach Dan Mullen. They also haven't had a winning record under Napier, so improving to 7-5 in the regular season will ensure that Florida finishes above .500 for the first time in four years. Florida vs. Florida State prediction, picks Florida has been on a tear recently, but really the Gators have been better than their record indicates all year. Key to the late-season turnaround is a defense that, despite some mounting injuries -- especially in the secondary -- has vastly improved in short order. The Gators held two really good offenses under 20 points in their last two wins against LSU and Ole Miss. Now they face a Florida State offense that has averaged a woeful 11 points per game against FBS opponents. The Seminoles have eclipsed the 20-point mark just twice this season, and one of those was in a recent win against Charleston Southern. Florida should be able to pick its score and cover the line on sports betting apps . Pick: Florida -16.5 (-110) All sports betting odds via BetMGM Sportsbook . Check out the latest BetMGM promo to get in the game. SportsLine's proven computer model is calling for multiple outright upsets in Week 14 of college football . Visit SportsLine now to see them all , plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times.

Article content PARIS — Howling winds couldn’t stop Notre Dame Cathedral ‘s heart from beating again. Recommended Videos With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches. The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Ile de la Cite, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies. The restoration, a spectacular achievement in just five years for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline — and a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron’s, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises. Monumental feats of restoration Inside, 42,000 square meters of stonework — an area equal to six soccer pitches — were meticulously cleaned, revealing luminous limestone and intricate carvings. Overhead, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” were used to rebuild the spire and roof, restoring the cathedral’s iconic silhouette. The thunderous great organ, with 7,952 pipes ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide, resounded for the first time since the fire. Its newly renovated console, boasting five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, was a marvel of restoration, reawakening a cornerstone of Notre Dame’s identity. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Guests gradually filing into the cathedral for the evening reopening ceremonies were awestruck by the renovated interiors, many whipping out cellphones to capture the moment. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said Francois Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, which raised nearly half of the (euro)900 million ($950 million) in donations for the restoration. He last visited in 2021, when the cathedral was cloaked in scaffolding. “It was somber,” he said. “It’s night and day.” The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian pastor who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.” The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ “It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument_it is a magnificent sign of hope.” RECOMMENDED VIDEO The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace. Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.” Historical details enrich the occasion Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western facade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history. Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide. Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof. But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. “We went from night to light,” said one of the workers in the movie. Macron’s political woes The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to embattled Macron, whose prime minister was ousted this week, plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil. The French president, who has called Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope,” will address the gathering. He had hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership. Macron’s presidency now faces its gravest crisis after the government’s collapse this week in a historic no-confidence vote that toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The vote followed months of political gridlock after snap elections in June. Calls are now growing louder from opposition forces for Macron to resign. But he vowed Thursday to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he’ll name a new prime minister within days. As France struggles with economic woes and social unrest, Notre Dame’s rebirth celebrations form a stark contrast. Security is tight for this global event Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year. The Ile de la Cite — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris_ is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump. Public viewing areas along the Seine’s southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens. For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.Fyodor Lukyanov: These two countries show us what happens when democracy fails itself

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