Times of India

A former merchant navy captain, Nagesh Kumar, has been apprehended for allegedly orchestrating a cyber slavery ring. He is accused of luring Indian youths with false job promises to Cambodia, where they were forced into fraudulent call centers. The racket, exposed by victims, involved trafficking individuals to Southeast Asia and exploiting them for financial gain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vehemently denied reports suggesting the government was considering a cess or tax on foreign travel. He stated there was no truth to these claims and reiterated the commitment to improving 'Ease of Doing Business' and 'Ease of Living' for citizens, dismissing any notion of imposing such restrictions.

President Trump stated the US agreed to a ceasefire with Iran as a favor to Pakistan, accepting the truce at Islamabad's request. This comes as Pakistan seeks to mediate the US-Iran crisis, despite reports suggesting it may have provided logistical support to Iran, raising questions about its neutrality.

Experts have hailed the MOUs, calling them game-changing for India’s energy security in the long-term. The importance of having strategic petroleum reserves has been brought to light with stark clarity due to the US-Iran war.

Sandalwood actor Chaithra Achar bravely responded to a vulgar online troll by tagging Bengaluru City Police, leading to the troll deleting his post and apologizing. This incident highlights the ongoing cyberbullying faced by women in the entertainment industry, with past cases involving actors Ramya, Rajini, Karunya Ram, and Mansi Joshi.

Following the Madhya Pradesh High Court's ruling that the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex is a temple of Goddess Saraswati, caveat pleas were filed in the Supreme Court. These precautionary legal notices were lodged by Hindu litigants anticipating a challenge to the verdict from the Muslim side.

Meta is reportedly laying off 8,000 employees, about 10% of its workforce, despite record profits. This 'Year of Efficiency' has bred dread as funds shift from staff to AI infrastructure, with billions earmarked for AI development. Employee morale is at historic lows, with some even hoping for layoffs due to generous severance packages.

Elliotte Friedman’s latest insider comments have made Auston Matthews’ long-term future with the Toronto Maple Leafs a hot topic in the NHL. Matthews wants to see more belief in the direction of the franchise toward the Stanley Cup before signing long-term, Friedman revealed. Matthews’ belief in the team’s future ambitions, with John Chayka reshaping the organization’s plans, could be very impactful on Toronto’s offseason decisions.

Akash Singh made an immediate impact in his IPL 2026 debut for Lucknow Super Giants, taking two crucial wickets inside the powerplay. He celebrated by displaying a special paper message, which quickly went viral. The left-arm pacer dismissed CSK's Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson, shifting momentum in LSG's favor.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal has strongly criticized RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's suggestion for continued dialogue with Pakistan. Sibal labeled the remarks as 'obnoxious' and questioned the RSS leader's standing to make such statements. He highlighted the perceived double standard in political reactions to dialogue proposals.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt declared the era of manual code writing is over, citing AI's explosive power. He believes programmers still using traditional methods are behind, as AI enables individuals to build powerful applications previously requiring large teams. This shift is causing a sell-off in software stocks, with companies needing to adapt quickly to survive.

Accenture CEO Julie Sweet defended making AI fluency a promotion requirement, likening the rapid shift to the 2010s digital transformation. The company proactively signaled this change, investing heavily in AI training and reskilling its vast global workforce. Sweet emphasized transparency and providing tools before altering evaluation criteria, acknowledging some employees may not adapt.

Taiwan asserted that U.S. arms sales are protected by American law, aiming to reassure its citizens after the Trump-Xi summit. Taipei emphasized its commitment to deepening strategic ties with the United States, stressing that military assistance is not a negotiable concession with China.