Times of India

Justice has finally arrived for Manoj Kumar Singh and Ravi Srivastava, who vanished in 2000. Their case, unsolved for 25 years, found closure with the discovery of a brown coat. This garment, identified as belonging to Manoj Kumar Singh, was found in Raja Kolander's home. Kolander and an accomplice were convicted for their abduction and murder.

The year 2026 is set to be a pivotal electoral year, featuring crucial assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. These contests will significantly shape the careers of key leaders and test the national ambitions of major parties, influencing the landscape leading up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

The Indian Rice Exporters’ Federation (IREF) urges the Union government to implement targeted fiscal and policy measures in the 2026 budget to bolster India's rice export ecosystem. Key demands include incentives for water-saving farming, support for premium rice varieties, and improved logistics and export finance to enhance competitiveness and farmer returns.

US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, as announced by Donald Trump. The US President confirmed a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader. The elite Delta Force unit conducted the operation. Explosions were heard across the capital, Caracas, with power outages reported. Venezuelan authorities are demanding proof of life.

The United States has captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. President Donald Trump announced the capture following a large-scale strike on Venezuela. Explosions rocked the capital, Caracas, with low-flying aircraft seen. Maduro's presidency has been challenged by the US over human rights abuses and electoral manipulation. The US formally charged Maduro in 2020 and designated his government a foreign terrorist organization in 2025.

Sharing a video from Friday, Tharoor made his position clear on the issue. "Recalling my views on the subject, now that BCCI has deplorably pulled the plug on Mustafizur Rahman," he said. He then questioned the logic behind the move, adding: "And what if the Bangladeshi player in question had been Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar?"

Venezuela accuses the US of attacking civilian and military sites, prompting President Maduro to declare a state of emergency and call for mass mobilization. US officials confirmed President Trump ordered strikes on Venezuelan military facilities, escalating a campaign against the Maduro government amid a regional military buildup and recent seizures of oil tankers.

Europe's push to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earth imports is driving a radical urban transformation in Kiruna, Sweden. Thousands are being relocated as the city's iron ore mine expands, uncovering significant rare earth deposits. This massive project aims to boost European mineral independence and strategic investments.

Kolkata Knight Riders have confirmed that Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released from their IPL squad following instructions from the BCCI. The decision came amid political and public controversy after his signing at the auction. KKR will be allowed to name a replacement player. Despite the turmoil off the pitch, Mustafizur continues to perform well in the Bangladesh Premier League.

A Hindu businessman, Khokon Das, succumbed to his injuries after being attacked with sharp weapons and set ablaze in Bangladesh. Das was waylaid, beaten, and doused with petrol before being set on fire. This incident is part of a disturbing trend of violence targeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Chinese AI firm DeepSeek unveiled a groundbreaking training method, "Manifold-Constrained Hyper-Connections," potentially slashing AI development costs. This innovation challenges the notion that advanced AI necessitates massive computing power, following their previous success with the R1 model. The breakthrough intensifies industry debates on scaling AI, with expectations high for DeepSeek's next model release.

In the wake of 'Dhurandhar's remarkable box office triumph, whispers in the industry indicate that Shah Rukh Khan's much-anticipated 'King' and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's visually stunning 'Love and War' could also be divided into two thrilling installments. With talks heating up, moviegoers might see these epic tales hitting theaters just months apart.

Quick commerce apps are rapidly transforming into a significant beauty marketplace in India, with BPC products now a major growth driver. Beauty sales on these platforms have surged 160% year-on-year, attracting global brands and contributing substantially to revenue for both direct-to-consumer and legacy players.

New York City's newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces immense challenges, including a severe housing affordability crisis and rising living costs. His ambitious plans for rent freezes and affordable housing construction are met with financial hurdles. With a projected budget shortfall and weakening federal support, Mamdani's success hinges on political organizing and navigating a complex economic landscape.

Renowned mathematician Joel David Hamkins has voiced strong doubts about large language models' utility in mathematical research, calling their outputs "garbage" and "not mathematically correct." He highlights AI's frustrating tendency to confidently assert incorrectness and resist correction, mirroring unproductive human interactions. Despite AI's benchmark successes, Hamkins finds current systems unreliable for genuine research collaboration.

Rishabh Pant's place in India's ODI squad is under scrutiny despite his past success. With a new captain and coaching philosophy emphasizing flexibility, selectors face a dilemma. Former players urge consistency, warning against repeating past mistakes and highlighting the need to either fully back Pant or identify a clear backup wicketkeeper before the next World Cup.