Times of India

Cristiano Ronaldo, a global football icon, continues to defy age with his unparalleled goalscoring prowess and relentless ambition. Now 41, he boasts 961 career goals and a trophy-laden career, with the FIFA World Cup still a dream. Beyond the pitch, his commercial empire solidifies his status as a sporting billionaire, proving his hunger for greatness remains undimmed.

Tragedy struck Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills as an explosion at a suspected illegal coal mine claimed at least 16 lives on Thursday. Several others remain trapped as rescue operations are underway. Officials confirmed the blast occurred in the Thangsku area, with one injured labourer hospitalized. The incident highlights the dangers of unscientific mining practices.

Lok Sabha was adjourned amid security concerns over alleged Congress plans to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite his presence. Opposition rejected the claims, accusing the government of stalling proceedings. The Prime Minister is expected to address the Rajya Sabha later.

The Ministry of External Affairs has firmly denied a Bloomberg report alleging National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding a trade deal. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the claims baseless, stating no such meeting occurred. This rebuttal follows recent announcements of a trade agreement between India and the US.

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'Border 2' continues its strong box office journey, crossing ₹291 crore despite a recent dip after its initial surge. The film, which saw a significant boost from the Republic Day holiday, is now earning single-digit figures in its second week. While it held its ground against 'Mardaani 3', the ensemble cast's film is showing signs of slowing down.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Nvidia's Jensen Huang dismiss market panic over AI plugins, calling it overblown. Anthropic's new tools, particularly for legal tasks, triggered significant stock drops. Pichai views AI as an enabling tool, while Huang argues it will enhance, not replace, existing software, urging a focus on core competencies.

India and the US are set to deepen their bilateral ties, with Ambassador Gor highlighting readiness for elevated engagement. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent meetings with US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, covered trade, energy, defense, and critical minerals, signaling a robust economic and strategic partnership ahead.

Microsoft's Commercial CEO Judson Althoff has reshaped his leadership team, promoting four executives to senior vice president roles. This move aims to accelerate AI adoption and enhance agility, as the company navigates a significant AI platform shift. The restructuring focuses on tightening customer feedback loops and empowering faster decision-making to meet evolving market demands.

Abhishek Bachchan, marking 25 years in Bollywood, embraces reinvention as he turns 50. Despite facing numerous flops and public scrutiny, he remains grounded, acknowledging his privilege while crediting his survival to merit. He emphasizes the necessity of constant evolution to connect with new audiences and avoid becoming stale, a lesson learned from observing industry peers.

Mumbai police arrested a father after DNA tests confirmed he impregnated his 20-year-old daughter, who has a mental illness. Hospital staff discovered her five-month pregnancy during a medical examination. The investigation, triggered by the hospital's report, involved DNA comparisons from multiple men, ultimately identifying the father as the sole positive match.

In a troubling incident in Gangavathi, four Muslim youths have been apprehended following their alleged assault on salesman Venkatesh Avalamand. The salesman reported that after confronting him about his association with a Muslim woman, the youths invaded his privacy by checking his phone, demanding he profess love, and recording the encounter.

Tilak Varma made a remarkable comeback from injury, scoring a quickfire 45 off 19 balls in India's T20 World Cup warm-up win against South Africa. Expressing gratitude for his accelerated recovery, Varma credited the BCCI and CoE, feeling immense support from the crowd. The team's aggressive batting energy inspired his free-flowing play, signaling readiness for the World Cup opener.

A 32-hour hazardous materials operation successfully averted a potential propylene gas disaster on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Specialized teams tackled multiple leaks from an overturned tanker carrying 21,000 kg of flammable gas, employing a high-risk decanting strategy and multi-agency coordination to prevent a catastrophic explosion.

Bigg Boss OTT fame Chandrika Dixit accused her husband Yugam Gera of cheating, sharing evidence of his alleged infidelity. In response, Yugam released a video claiming Chandrika has also been unfaithful, questioning her relationship with another man. Both have publicly shared their accusations and evidence.

Gold and silver price prediction: Gold and silver prices have resumed their upward momentum after the recent crash, signalling bullish momentum, says Abhilash Koikkara, Head - Forex & Commodities, Nuvama Professional Clients Group. He shares his views on gold and silver: