Times of India

Tamil cinema's beloved star Ajith Kumar is grappling with profound personal sorrow following the demise of his mother, Mohini Mani. She passed away in Chennai due to age-related health complications. The actor, reportedly traveling abroad at the time, is now making arrangements to be with his grieving family.

RSS Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar downplayed concerns about the satirical "Cockroach Janata Party" (CJP), stating that open debate and differing views are normal in a democratic society. He emphasized India's aware populace, transparent elections, free media, and active public discourse, asserting that institutions and political parties are capable of handling such discussions independently.

President Trump's latest medical report declared him in 'excellent health' and fit to serve, despite advising weight loss and increased physical activity. The report noted his weight has increased, and he takes medication for cholesterol and cardiac prevention. Bruising on his hands was attributed to frequent handshaking while on aspirin.

India is preparing for 'Operation Sindoor 2.0' as Army chief Upendra Dwivedi stated the military posture in response to Pakistan's actions remains in place. The operation, a continuation of last year's retaliatory response to terrorism, involves enhancing synergy among all three services for future warfare. The focus is on cautious deployment and troop protection in border areas.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are on the cusp of defending their IPL title after a dominant IPL 2026 campaign. Under captain Rajat Patidar, RCB finished top of the league and stormed into the final with a crushing win in Qualifier 1. They now face Gujarat Titans, looking like strong favourites to secure back-to-back championships.

LSG had made Rishabh Pant captain after bidding Rs 27 crore for him, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. On the other hand, MI stirred a controversy when they brought Hardik Pandya back to their fold from Gujarat Titans and named him captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, then India’s captain across all three formats.

Deepak Tijori has refuted recent rumors concerning his 'Aashiqui' co-star Rahul Roy's health, stating they are in regular contact and Rahul is "absolutely safe, absolutely fine." Tijori expressed disappointment over the spread of inaccurate celebrity news, a situation he has personally experienced. He emphasized that such reports often lack factual basis and are an unavoidable aspect of their profession.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized what he termed a double standard regarding religious practices, stating that if offering namaz on roads is deemed wrong, then restrictions should apply equally to all faiths, citing Article 25 of the Constitution. He questioned why objections are raised against Muslim prayers but not religious processions of other communities.

Karachi faces a severe water crisis during peak summer, coinciding with Eid-ul-Adha. Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has accused the ruling PPP of gross mismanagement and failure to address the city's chronic water shortages despite 18 years in power. Nearly 70% of the city is reportedly experiencing extended supply disruptions, forcing residents to buy expensive private tankers.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL 2026 dream ended in tears despite his stellar 96, as Gujarat Titans advanced to the final. The young Rajasthan Royals star, who amassed 776 runs this season, was visibly heartbroken after his team's elimination. Captain Riyan Parag lauded his exceptional talent and maturity, predicting a bright future for the prodigious cricketer.

Microsoft is reportedly developing a 'super app' to consolidate its confusing array of Copilot AI tools. This unified platform aims to end customer frustration by offering a single destination for various AI assistants, including coding, chat, and collaboration features. The app, expected by summer's end, will allow seamless switching between personal and work accounts, simplifying Microsoft's AI ecosystem.

A 77-year-old retired defence employee and his bedridden wife were found dead in their locked Nagpur home. The husband likely died first after a fall, leaving his wife to succumb days later to dehydration and starvation in the extreme summer heat. Their tragic end highlights a painful and lonely death due to lack of immediate support.

RCB's Director of Cricket Mo Bobat believes the franchise's new identity matches with Rajat Patidar's. Built on fearless intent and collective contributions, RCB's second consecutive title push is strengthened by the experience of Virat Kohli, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. They will face Gujarat Titans in the final on Sunday.

The UAE's involvement in the Middle East conflict was deeper than previously known, with coordinated strikes on Iran, including energy facilities, even after an April ceasefire. These actions exposed divisions within the Gulf, as Saudi Arabia expressed concerns about escalating risks to regional energy supplies and global markets.

The White House launched a new space-themed website, Aliens.gov, to highlight immigration enforcement actions. Using extraterrestrial imagery, the site aims to showcase arrests of undocumented immigrants and promote President Trump's agenda. It features a live dashboard and interactive map of enforcement activities, drawing criticism for its dehumanizing language.

Mumbai Indians faced a dismal IPL 2026, plagued by persistent dressing room unrest and damaging leaks of sensitive information. This internal turmoil, escalating since Hardik Pandya's captaincy, has frustrated franchise figures and insiders alike. Management is now prioritising an immediate crackdown on these breaches to restore the team's former glory.

IPL auctions are often won on perception in December, but the real story usually emerges months later. While franchises splashed massive sums on Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana and Liam Livingstone, the smartest buys of IPL 2026 quietly came from the Rs 7-9 crore bracket. Jason Holder topped the charts by a distance, Josh Inglis maximised limited opportunities, and Ravi Bishnoi delivered steady returns. Meanwhile, several marquee signings struggled with injuries, poor form and role mismatches, turning auction-night hype into underwhelming seasons.

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