Times of India

Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Mumbai Indians by four wickets in a rain-affected IPL 2026 clash to keep their playoff hopes alive. MI managed only 147/8 after another poor batting display. Manish Pandey scored 45 and Rovman Powell made 40 as KKR chased down the target in 18.5 overs, with Rinku Singh hitting the winning runs.

Tejasvi Singh Dahiya entered the IPL 2026 spotlight as a concussion substitute for Angkrish Raghuvanshi during a Kolkata Knight Riders match. The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Delhi was acquired by KKR for Rs 3 crore after a stellar Delhi Premier League campaign, marking a significant turnaround from being unsold in the previous auction.

Bryson DeChambeau went viral after questioning the Apollo 11 moon landing footage during a podcast appearance. The comments came after he missed the cut at the PGA Championship. Fans heavily criticized his opinion online, while DeChambeau also opened up about possibly choosing YouTube content creation over professional golf in the future.

Russian fighter jets "repeatedly and dangerously" intercepted an unarmed RAF spy plane over the Black Sea, disabling its autopilot and coming within metres of its nose. The Ministry of Defence condemned the "unacceptable behaviour" as the most dangerous encounter since 2022, risking accidents and escalation.

Deepak Chahar humorously mimicked the viral 'chit celebration' trend during MI vs KKR, pretending to pull out an imaginary note after taking a wicket, much to his teammates' amusement. This trend, started by Abhishek Sharma, has seen mixed reactions, with some former cricketers criticizing it as 'rubbish'.

A father in Aligarh allegedly strangled his 19-year-old daughter for speaking to her boyfriend, despite family opposition. He then buried her in a field and pretended she was missing. Police arrested the father after he confessed to the suspected honor killing.

India has reported no Ebola cases, despite the WHO declaring it a public health emergency. The health ministry has strengthened nationwide surveillance and preparedness measures, including sharing detailed SOPs with states and Union Territories. The country has prior experience in handling similar outbreaks.

The Bombay High Court dismissed a husband's divorce plea, stating a wife's failure to perform household chores does not constitute cruelty. Marriage is a partnership, not a service contract, and wives are not 'deemed maids.' The court also awarded the wife Rs 20,000 monthly for maintenance and accommodation.

Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Party is absolute, as evidenced by his endorsements in Texas and Kentucky primaries. Experience and electability are secondary to unwavering loyalty, with dissenters like Senator John Cornyn and Congressman Thomas Massie facing defeat. Trump has reshaped the GOP into a patronage empire where fealty is paramount.

Pradhan orders crackdown on misinformation networks; security and intelligence agencies asked to ensure foolproof conduct

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni used the Hindi phrase 'parishram hi safalta ki kunji hai' to describe the growing India-Italy ties, emphasizing hard work as key to success. The two nations upgraded their bilateral relations to a Special Strategic Partnership, unveiling a Joint Strategic Action Plan for 2025-2029, aiming for a 20 billion euro trade target.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed Cubans on their Independence Day, highlighting severe hardships and blaming the communist leadership, particularly the military conglomerate GAESA, for plundering billions. Rubio offered a new path with $100 million in aid, to be distributed via trusted charities, not GAESA, contrasting elite wealth with public suffering.

Despite gifting $7.1 billion in 2025, MacKenzie Scott was excluded from the Chronicle of Philanthropy's top donor list. Her substantial donations, exceeding Jeff Bezos' lifetime giving, were overlooked due to a lack of public details about Yield Giving's operations. Scott prioritizes private, impactful giving over public recognition.

Salman Agha was officially reprimanded by the ICC for hitting an advertising board with his bat after his dismissal during Pakistan’s second Test against Bangladesh national cricket team in Sylhet. He received one demerit point, his second offence in 24 months. Pakistan also suffered a 78-run defeat as Bangladesh completed a historic 2-0 series sweep.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad has urged state governments to prohibit namaz on roads, citing constitutional and judicial directives. The organization also called on religious leaders to encourage adherence to the law, warning against practices that disrupt public life and traffic. This appeal comes amidst increased administrative scrutiny of public prayers ahead of Eid.