National News

Shafali Verma's explosive 53 off 34 balls against Bangladesh secured her third Player of the Match award in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, placing her among India's elite. She also surpassed 500 career runs with an exceptional strike rate of 133.07, the highest in tournament history for batters with over 500 runs. India comfortably chased down Bangladesh's total, showcasing strong batting performances.

FIFA has issued a five-match suspension to Qatar's Assim Madibo following a dangerous tackle that caused a severe injury to Canada's Ismael Kone in a World Cup match. This shocking incident overshadowed Canada's landmark victory, and while the ban is harsh, it is lighter than the infamous nine-match suspension given to Luis Suárez in the past. Canada's challenge grows as they prepare to compete without their important midfielder.

India kept their Women's T20 World Cup semifinal hopes alive with a commanding five-wicket victory over Bangladesh. Shafali Verma's explosive 53 off 34 balls set the tone for a comfortable chase, despite persistent fielding concerns. Radha Yadav and Shree Charani impressed with the ball, restricting Bangladesh to 136/8. The win sets up a crucial final group match against Australia.

A shocking murder plot has unfolded in Pune, where a fiancée and her boyfriend are accused of killing her fiancé. Ketan Agrawal, a real-estate director, died after being pushed into a gorge at Lohagad Fort. Initially ruled an accident, police now allege his fiancée, Siya Goyal, and her boyfriend, Chetan Chaudhary, orchestrated the murder. Investigations suggest Goyal masterminded the plan, with Chaudhary allegedly assisting in the fatal push.

Tom Latham and Devon Conway etched their names in New Zealand's Test history with a colossal 317-run opening partnership against England at Trent Bridge. This monumental stand, the second-highest for New Zealand in away Tests, saw Latham score 151 and Conway 157, leaving England's bowlers searching for answers on a placid pitch. The partnership shattered previous records, setting a new benchmark in the series.

Sharad Pawar confidently asserts his Nationalist Congress Party (SP) will remain united, dismissing claims of MPs defecting to Ajit Pawar's faction. His daughter, Supriya Sule, challenged the accuser to name the alleged defectors. This comes amid fears of poaching, following similar splits in Shiv Sena (UBT) and Trinamool Congress, where rebels exploited the Anti-defection Act's loopholes. Pawar's party, with 8 MPs and 10 MLAs, faces vulnerability.

Shree Charani etched her name in history, becoming India's leading wicket-taker in a single T20 World Cup edition with 12 wickets. Her stellar performance against Bangladesh, where she claimed two crucial wickets, propelled her past Poonam Yadav's record. Charani's exceptional bowling, coupled with Radha Yadav's three-wicket haul, restricted Bangladesh to 136/8, setting India up for a potential victory.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused the Uttar Pradesh government of shielding "big fish" in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case. An FIR has been registered against eight individuals, but Yadav claims evidence might be tampered with under the guise of an SIT probe, suggesting a pre-determined outcome. This follows allegations of misappropriated funds, prompting a state-formed SIT and a new Supreme Court petition for a CBI-led investigation.

Around fifty years ago, students at a government engineering college in Ahmedabad walked out over a steep hike in their monthly food bill. The cause was parochial; the consequences were not. From an OPEC meeting in Vienna in October 1973 to the midnight broadcast on All India Radio on June 25, 1975, a chain of economic shock, popular fury, political mobilisation, and institutional crisis unfolded without interruption. This report reconstructs that chain from primary sources — and asks, which links are held and which ones are more complicated than they appear.

The FIR was lodged by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust member Krishna Mohan at the Ram Janmabhoomi police station under Sections 306 (theft by clerk or servant), 316 (criminal breach of trust), 317 (cheating) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police sources said. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly embezzled donations offered by devotees at the Ram Temple and misappropriated trust funds through a criminal conspiracy.

As Punjab gears up for the 2027 elections, a complex and competitive scenario unfolds. The AAP government grapples with controversies stemming from a sacrilege video and growing defections. In contrast, Congress is mired in its own turmoil, leaving room for the BJP to assert itself through robust campaigning efforts. The Shiromani Akali Dal’s fight for relevance adds another layer to a politically charged atmosphere, making the upcoming elections unpredictable.

In January 2026, gold prices hit $5595 - a life-time high - they are now trading at below $4,000. The prices are down 7.6% year-to-date. On the MCX, the decline has been lesser - at around 22% - largely due to a hike in import duties.

A shocking Muharram procession stunt in Ujjain saw a van hoisted 40 feet by a crane and detonated with firecrackers before thousands. While no one was injured, police have booked four individuals for endangering public safety. The dangerous display, which went viral online, has sparked serious concerns among locals regarding the potential for mass casualties from such reckless acts.

Prime Minister Modi has urged states to expedite e-Zero FIRs for cyber fraud victims, aiming to streamline complaint registration and bypass jurisdictional hurdles. This push comes amid a surge in organized cybercrime, highlighted by a recent CBI crackdown. The article emphasizes the critical first hour after a fraud, advising immediate calls to the 1930 helpline and online reporting to maximize fund recovery chances.

The MoU was entered into by the Secretary, Education Department, Government of Kerala, and the Additional Secretary, Department of Education, Government of India, and not in the name of the President and the Governor as mandated under Article 299. Hence, the said MoU is a nullity