Times of India

Uttarakhand faces a growing 'ghost village' crisis as over 1,700 villages become uninhabited. Livelihood scarcity, climate change, and fading traditions drive migration, leaving behind elderly residents and silent fields. Experts emphasize the need for imaginative solutions beyond infrastructure to revive rural life and make villages aspirational again.

In a remarkable turn of events, three Indian Army officers, including a General Officer Commanding, survived a harrowing helicopter crash in the vicinity of Leh. This incident sheds light on the pressing need to upgrade the Army's aging aircraft fleet.

A devastating gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in northern China's Shanxi province has claimed the lives of at least 82 miners. The blast occurred Friday evening, with carbon monoxide levels reportedly exceeding limits prior to the incident. Rescue operations are ongoing as President Xi Jinping has ordered a full-scale rescue and a thorough investigation.

Indian graduates are increasingly pursuing higher education abroad, with nearly 70% planning to study overseas for better exposure and skills. However, most intend to return to India for employment, reflecting growing confidence in the domestic job market. The trend signals a shift from traditional brain drain to “brain circulation” driven by global learning and local opportunities.

New CCTV footage reveals Twisha Sharma at a beauty salon before her death. Investigators are examining her final hours. Twisha's family alleges dowry harassment. A second post-mortem has been ordered. The case is now with the CBI for an independent probe. Her husband has been arrested.

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has issued a blunt ultimatum to his engineers: deliver chips that work on the first tape-out, or face the sack. Speaking at JP Morgan's tech conference, Tan said A0 silicon must go straight to production, B0 is tolerated, anything beyond gets you fired. The Intel CEO, who also told CNBC's Jim Cramer he scrapped reporting silos, is rewriting the chipmaker's design culture to chase TSMC.

Iran's official account in Russia shared a viral video of a Bangladeshi albino buffalo resembling Donald Trump, claiming the animal lost its appetite due to the comparison amid ongoing US-Iran conflict. The buffalo, named 'Donald Trump', has become a local attraction ahead of Eid al-Adha festivities.

A local BRS leader, Chinthalapadi Madhu, was discovered deceased inside a gunny bag near Yerkaram stage in Suryapet district. Police suspect foul play, with the 42-year-old reportedly murdered before his body was abandoned. Madhu had a prior murder case from 2008. Authorities are investigating and searching for the perpetrators.

Akash Maharaj Singh’s viral ‘chit’ celebration became one of IPL 2026’s most debated moments, drawing criticism, trolling and even mockery from fellow cricketers. But behind the celebration was years of frustration, waiting and perseverance across four IPL franchises. From taking 10 wickets in an innings as a teenager to finally earning his chance at LSG, this is the emotional story behind Akash’s moment in the spotlight.

Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke reported his Instagram and other social media accounts were hacked, days after his satirical campaign went viral. The movement, inspired by remarks allegedly made by the Chief Justice of India, gained significant traction online. Dipke had previously claimed to have received death threats.

Following Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's Delhi visit, the Centre has approved Rs 39,000 crore for West Bengal's water resources ministry schemes. Prime Minister Modi pledged support for central projects and economic development, aiming to boost welfare initiatives like Ayushman Bharat and rural employment. Discussions also covered border security with Home Minister Amit Shah.

Tempers flared between Virat Kohli and Travis Head during an IPL 2026 match, escalating into a post-match handshake snub. After a verbal exchange on the field, Kohli notably ignored Head's outstretched hand during the customary greetings, despite warmly acknowledging other SRH players.

Police arrested a 33-year-old man, Karthik, in Coimbatore for the kidnapping and murder of a 10-year-old girl. The girl went missing on Thursday and was found dead on Friday. Karthik allegedly abducted her on a two-wheeler. His aide, Mohan Raj, was also detained. Protests demanding strict action were held, and officials assured a thorough investigation.

The Delhi High Court strongly criticized the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for its stance on Vinesh Phogat's Olympic 2024 disqualification, calling it a "national shame." The court vowed to ensure Phogat's participation in upcoming Asian Games trials, deeming WFI's selection policy "absolutely retrograde" and potentially discriminatory.

The National Testing Agency has activated the NEET UG 2026 refund link on its official registration portal for candidates to submit bank account details for fee refund processing. The facility is available from May 22, 2026, to May 27, 2026, up to 11:50 pm. Candidates must log in to neet.nta.nic.in and provide account details, including IFSC code and account number. Submitted information will be final, with no further changes permitted after submission.

Michael Vaughan has advised Jacob Bethell to return to England from the IPL due to injury concerns and limited playing time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Vaughan believes Bethell should prioritize his recovery and England's upcoming Test series against New Zealand, especially with a national training camp starting soon.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s omission from India’s ODI squad for the Afghanistan series has slipped under the radar. Despite scoring an unbeaten century in his last ODI appearance and playing a key role in reshaping India’s aggressive T20 batting approach after the 2022 T20 World Cup, the 24-year-old has quietly gone out of contention in both formats. With no spot in the India A squad either, Jaiswal finds himself in an unusual limbo despite being regarded as an all-format player and one of India’s brightest batting talents.

Delhi experienced a welcome respite from intense heatwave conditions on Saturday morning with light rainfall and cool breezes. Despite the temporary relief, the IMD has issued an orange alert for heatwave conditions to persist until May 28, with maximum temperatures expected to remain high.