Times of India

NBA legend Michael Jordan is facing online debate after a video showed him touching young Beau Reddick during 23XI Racing's Daytona 500 win. While some deem the gesture inappropriate, others believe he was simply helping the child remove ice from his shirt amidst the jubilant celebration. Neither Jordan nor NASCAR has commented on the viral clip.

Family members of veteran screenwriter Salim Khan were seen arriving at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on Tuesday after the 90-year-old was admitted to the ICU. Superstar Salman Khan arrived along with his mother Salma Khan. Producer Arbaaz Khan was seen with his wife Shhura Khan, while daughters Alvira and Arpita also reached the hospital.

Bihar School Examination Board exams commenced with significant disruptions. A Facebook Live video from a Siwan exam centre raised security concerns. Students across districts attempted to scale walls to enter centres after arriving late. Incidents of cheating were also reported. Authorities are investigating the breaches and ensuring exam integrity.

Over 6,000 students, including 30 Indians, have settled with UCL over Covid disruptions. This paves the way for legal action against 36 more British universities for around 100,000 students, including 217 Indians, who paid for in-person education but received online classes and restricted campus access. Lawyers seek damages for the diminished value of their degrees.

Two Pakistani nationals escaped a juvenile home in Jammu and were arrested 400km away in Ambala Cantonment railway station. They had broken out with a local gangster who injured two police officers. The Pakistani duo planned to flee the country via Nepal. The injured policemen are hospitalized. A fresh FIR has been registered against the trio.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed cautious optimism following Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal's statement on the imminent restoration of statehood. Abdullah highlighted the prolonged wait since the elected government took office, emphasizing that patience is wearing thin. He stressed that statehood is a crucial and sensitive matter, with the Supreme Court also urging its prompt return.

Jammu and Kashmir government will not sterilize monkeys despite crop destruction and public safety concerns. Instead, it plans to promote monkey-resistant crops, solar fencing, and deterrent devices. Farmers are also urged to stop feeding the animals, as the simian population continues to pose a major challenge.

An explosion rocked Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Boonville, New York. Five people were injured in the blast. First responders arrived after reports of a gas odor. A firefighter and one civilian are in critical condition. The church suffered catastrophic damage. Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the explosion.

Despite a challenging start to the T20 World Cup with two ducks and a stomach infection, Abhishek Sharma will look to get going in the dead rubber against the Netherlands. The Indian team's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak remains confident in his aggressive approach, highlighting that opponents' meticulous planning against him is a testament to his threat.

India secured their Super Eight berth in the T20 World Cup with a dominant victory over Pakistan. This marked their third consecutive win, confirming their place in Group 1. India's campaign included convincing wins against the USA and Namibia, showcasing strong batting and bowling performances.

Infosys shares jumped significantly following a strategic partnership with Anthropic, integrating Claude AI models into its Topaz platform. This move aims to address investor concerns about AI's impact on IT services, focusing on sectors like telecom and finance. The collaboration seeks to leverage domain expertise for complex enterprise AI applications, potentially unlocking new service lines and a substantial market opportunity.

Ronda Rousey will return to MMA on May 16 against Gina Carano at the Intuit Dome in California. The featherweight fight will stream live on Netflix, marking the platform’s first MMA event. Rousey last fought in 2016, while Carano retired in 2019. Both shared full statements expressing respect and excitement for the bout.

India has dominated Group A, securing a Super 8 spot. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe advance from Group B, surprisingly eliminating Australia. England, West Indies, New Zealand, and South Africa also confirmed their places. Pakistan faces a crucial match against Namibia for the final berth, with USA and Netherlands also in contention under specific circumstances.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan assured that the India-US interim trade deal safeguards farmers' interests, emphasizing imports only for self-sufficiency gaps. He criticized Rahul Gandhi's allegations as baseless and highlighted past UPA government policy failures. Chouhan also launched Bharat-VISTAAR, an AI platform for farmer support, underscoring the NDA's commitment to agricultural welfare and technology.

Sidharth Malhotra’s father, Sunil Malhotra, has passed away. The last rites were completed in Delhi in the presence of close family members. The actor, along with his wife Kiara Advani, rushed to the capital as soon as he received the news to attend the funeral and stand by his loved ones during this difficult time.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in Delhi for allegedly opening doors of moving vehicles while riding his bike, an act captured in a viral video. Police are searching for his accomplice. In a separate incident, another man was apprehended for performing bike stunts after India's cricket victory.

Veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar asserts Congress historically thrives on internal dissent, warning suppression leads to downfall. Citing Indira Gandhi's Emergency and historical figures like Subhas Chandra Bose, Aiyar argues disagreement, not conformity, is the party's strength. He challenges the current leadership to embrace diverse opinions, fearing doom if dissent is stifled.

India and France elevated their relationship to a "Special Global Strategic Partnership" during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Mumbai. The two nations signed over 20 agreements, expanding cooperation in defense, trade, critical minerals, and innovation, including joint missile production and helicopter assembly.